Gymnastics background gives Cory Gregson a unique edge as he chases draft dream

DYNAMIC Glenelg youngster Cory Gregson has the wow factor to make him an enticing prospect for AFL scouts.

07/11/14 - Glenelg AFL draft target Cory Gregson.Picture Dean martin

THERE is a moment in most top AFL draft prospects’ careers when recruiting scouts are forced to stand up and take notice.

It is what SA under-18 coach Brenton Phillips calls the “wow factor’’.

That moment for exciting Glenelg midfielder/forward Cory Gregson came in this year’s schools knockout grand final between his victorious side, Sacred Heart, and Prince Alfred at Norwood Oval.

“Cory came through a pack, fed the ball out to a teammate, chased it through and got it handballed back to him in a congested area,’’ Tigers’ talent manager Brenton Hole recalled.

“Then he got heavily bumped, did a forward somersault, came out of it and as he was coming up he steered this perfect handball to a bloke running past.

“It was brilliant, electrifying, and was right in front of the main grandstand. People just jumped up and thought wow.’’

Gregson’s balance and agility, which Hole describes as “superb’’, comes from his gymnastics background.

The 18-year-old spent a decade — from ages four to 14 — training to be a gymnast with Marion’s Gym Jets.

A long-time State representative, he won multiple national titles before giving the sport away, along with cricket, to concentrate on his football.

Now Gregson, a pocket dynamo at 175cm and 72kg, is hoping the years of arduous training on the gymnastics floor will give him a unique edge on the football field.

Cory Gregson in action for Glenelg. Picture: Tom Huntley

“It’s definitely helped me with my core strength, having that balance around packs and keeping my feet,’’ he said.

“It’s enabled me to be able to pull a trick out every now and then, especially when I’m being tackled.

“When I’m about to fall over I’m able to do a forward roll, get back to my feet and get out of traffic with the footy.

“Teams aren’t really prepared for that because it doesn’t happen too often in the AFL.”

Gregson, who played five league games for the Tigers this year and was a key member of SA’s championship-winning under-18 side, has that X-factor ability which Hole says should ensure he is drafted.

“Cory’s one of the quickest blokes I’ve seen with the ball in hand,’’ Hole said.

“He doesn’t test as if he is the fastest animal in the world but he has always shown, right from the under-13s, that he is almost uncatchable when he’s got the ball and is running with it.

“And he’s just such a strong kick for a little bloke. He can easily boot the ball 60m.

“He probably needs to win a bit more of the ball but I would be very surprised if he doesn’t get picked up because of his X-factor qualities.’’

Gregson has been interviewed by 11 AFL clubs and says “accumulating more of the ball’’ is the next step in his development.

He said being drafted would “mean the world to me’’.

“I’ve put so much hard work in and mum (Kym) has done so much for me to get where I am today,’’ Gregson said.

“It would be a great reward for both of us and the culmination of a lifelong dream.’’

ROAD TO THE DRAFT

CORY GREGSON

Club: Glenelg

Age: 18

Height: 175cm

Weight: 72kg

Position: Midfielder/small forward

Draft verdict: 41-65

SAY WHAT: “Cory’s an electrifying player who has got that X-factor talent. He can do things that a lot of other players can’t.’ - Glenelg talent manager Brenton Hole.