When Jade Gresham landed at St Kilda after being taken at pick No. 18 last November, the renowned ball magnet was confident he could play some senior football in his debut season. Just how much, he wasn’t sure.
After 14 rounds, with ten games of senior experience next to his name and now a Rising Star nomination, the former Northern Knights captain is looking increasingly confident at the level.
Gresham, 18, credits the influence of St Kilda Coach Alan Richardson on his development this year, with the senior mentor and his band of assistant coaches instilling belief within the classy small midfielder-forward.
“I had a bit of confidence (I could play senior football this year), but Richo and the coaching staff have been really good with us younger boys, (they’ve) just backed us in just let us go and just let us play our game. I think they’ve been great in my development,” Gresham told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday morning.
Despite gradually building across the last couple of months, two moments of brilliance against Geelong on Saturday night have been etched into the memory banks of supporters.
The first was on a forward flank where Gresham baulked Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield before pinpointing a leading target inside 50. Then, in the dying minutes of the last quarter, he gathered a ball deep in the pocket, sidestepped Tom Lonergan before finishing from an acute angle.
Gresham has already made a habit of kicking miraculous goals and admits his coaches have encouraged him to use his instinctive step more often in the future.
“I think ever since I was a little kid I’ve had it (ability to sidestep), I’ve just got to bring it out a little more the coaches keep telling me, just use it and keep backing me in,” Gresham said.
Ahead of Saturday afternoon’s encounter with the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium, Gresham says the Saints have taken confidence from registering a big scalp and now need to prove themselves on the road, away from Etihad Stadium.
“It gives us a bit of confidence as a young side. We really had a focus last week; we wanted to take a scalp. It gives us a lot of confidence, we just have to back it up this week against the Suns,” he said.
“Our last few away games we’ve struggled a bit so we’ve just got to go about the week like we have. We just need to take how we played on the weekend and bring that form in.”
Limited Edition History Book: Celebrating 50 Years 1966-2016 The Archives Edition
