Ask most football supporters which Saint has managed to constantly improve and more often than not the answer is Sam Gilbert.
Ever since making his debut in late 2006, Gilbert has come along in leaps and bounds and now sits comfortably as one of the more valuable players in one of the league’s strongest teams.
The modest 23-year-old disputes that view of his standing at the Saints but he does think his potential is still to be reached.
“I think there is a lot of improvement. Our whole side can improve as well. Personally I can work on my kicking, my marking can get better and my fitness can get better,” Gilbert told saints.com.au.
“There is a lot that can improve.”
Gilbert has been one of St Kilda’s best players in the opening two rounds as a rebounding defender. He played the role well last year but the absence of Sam Fisher through injury has placed extra responsibility on his shoulders, which he seems to enjoy.
“It has probably freed me up a bit. Chips is one of the best rebounding defenders in the competition. When he’s not in the side it’s probably more on me to do it,” he said.
Gilbert is yet to cop a hard tag and says that is more to do with the company around him than anything else.
“I think they let me go. I think they want me to get the ball. We’ve got a few good players in our side like Jason Gram and Brendon Goddard,” he said.
“I’m sure they don’t want them running through the backline so they can’t take all of us out. I’ve been a bit lucky.”
The Saints’ back line has undergone some changes in the past year, with the departures of Max Hudghton and Matt Maguire ushering in a new era.
“Players have come in and filled the role Max has left like Zac Dawson who has played well. As for Goose Maguire, Jimmy Gwilt has come in and played a similar role for the team. But they were also great characters around the club and that is missed as well,” he said.
“I’m more than happy playing down back. I like the role, as a player you’ve got to do your role for the team.”
A Gold Coast native with his best football ahead of him, Gilbert could make an obvious target for the AFL’s 17th team.
But it seems the Gold Coast would be wasting their time trying to get Gilbert to leave the red, white and black. He signed a contract extension with the Saints in April last year and has no plans of moving.
“I think they’d know I’m happy at the Saints. I don’t think they’d bother too much about it,” he said.
