The Next Step: Elite forward Jade Gresham ready to become one of St Kilda’s best midfielders
In the lead-up to the launch of the SuperCoach Team Picker, The Phantom looks at a number of young stars ready to take the next step in 2019. First up is a forward, ranked elite by Champion Data, who could become one of St Kilda’s best midfielders.
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In the lead-up to the launch of the SuperCoach Team Picker, The Phantom looks at a number of young stars ready to take the next step in 2019.
It’s time.
After three years playing predominantly as a small forward, St Kilda’s Jade Gresham, who Champion Data rank as the Saints only elite player, believes he is ready to transition into a full-time midfielder.
“(I’ve been) mainly playing forward the last three years and pinch hitting in the midfield … hopefully this year I’ll do a lot of work in the midfield,” Gresham said at the start of St Kilda’s 2019 campaign.
Sure, there are plenty of aspiring young midfielders out there but new midfield coach Brendon Lade has backed Gresham’s statement declaring the 22-year-old “will spend more time there” in 2019.
And The Phantom thinks he’s ready, too.
In his draft year of 2014, the Northern Knights captain averaged 29 disposals, 12 contested possessions and 146 SuperCoach points per game.
On numbers, he was the best-performed midfielder in the TAC Cup.
No draftee to play at least five games was better.
Gresham had regular AFL midfielders Clayton Oliver, Tom Phillips, Darcy Parish and Jacob Hopper covered.
But in his first two seasons in the competition, the creative Gresham was used in the forward line.
And with a good effect, booting 41 goals and assisting 28 others in his first 40 games.
In 2018, Gresham’s midfield minutes increased and he tallied 22 more clearances and 72 more disposals than the previous season.
Despite the slight shift in his role, Gresham, who finished fourth in St Kilda’s best-and-fairest, eclipsed his 2017 goal-kicking numbers, kicking a team-high 35 goals in 2018 and ranking tenth in the competition for total scoreboard impact.
Gresham’s potential as a full-time AFL midfielder — who can be damaging forward of centre — became obvious late in the season.
In his first 56 games, Gresham tallied 24 disposals or more on just two occasions.
The first-round draft pick reached that mark in four of the final six games of 2018, with performances against Richmond and GWS the highlights.
In round 18 against the Tigers, Gresham posted 110 SuperCoach points, on the back of 24 disposals, 10 contested possessions, seven clearances, five tackles, seven score involvements and two goals.
A week later, Gresham tallied 25 disposals, eight contested possessions, seven score involvements, two goals and 113 points, after attending a season-high 11 centre bounces against the Giants.
He was so statistically impressive, Champion Data have Gresham listed the 10th-ranked general forward in the game.
Sure, he needs to continue to improve his endurance but, this summer, Gresham is hoping to complete his first full pre-season since being drafted in 2015.
At 177cm, Gresham isn’t a tall midfielder but he’s the same height as Docker-turned-Lion Lachie Neale.
It took Neale four years to average three figures in SuperCoach and 2019 will be Gresham’s fourth year in the competition.
With an increased midfield role, which should see him win more football, and his ability to still impact the scoreboard while doing so, The Phantom expects Gresham, who added 13 points to his averaged in 2017, to push three figures next season.
While he’s unlikely to match Neale’s ball-winning ability just yet, Gresham will kick more goals, which might see him become a more-damaging midfielder in time.
Jade Gresham
2019 position: Forward
Estimated price: $430,000
The Phantom’s predicted 2019 average: 100
2016
Disposals (ave): 15
SuperCoach (ave): 61
Total goals: 11
2017
Disposals: 14
SuperCoach: 66
Total goals: 30
2018
Disposals: 18
SuperCoach: 79
Total goals: 35
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