Saint Jade Gresham ready for midfield move and Dan Hannebery can help his transition

ST KILDA has returned to the training track determined to avenge its 2018 campaign, and exciting forward Jade Gresham says the arrival of Dan Hannebery can help he and the Saints make a big move next season.

AFL Round 22. 18/08/2018. St Kilda vs Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium. St Kilda's Jade Gresham charges past Hawthorn's Ben McEvoy. Pic: Michael Klein

ST KILDA has returned determined to avenge its disappointing 2018 campaign, according to exciting small forward Jade Gresham, who is eyeing a shift into the midfield next season.

Gresham is planning to pick the brain of premiership recruit and former Swan Dan Hannebery, who had his first training session with his new teammates yesterday.

And he said he is more than ready to play sponge and soak up as much as he can from the new Saint.

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“(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, and hopefully get a full pre-season which I haven’t really had since I’ve started,” Gresham said.

“It’s good to be back day one and running and hopefully I can have a good pre-season and get into the midfield. That’d be good.

St Kilda players take off for a time-trial at Moorabbin. Picture: Tony Gough

“I’ve definitely got a lot of improvement in me, especially my running. I’m going to latch onto a few of the older boys and train with them and do what they do off the field as well.”

Hannebery kept a close eye on today’s time trial for first to fourth-year Saints, with Jack Sinclair, Jack Lonie, Ed Phillips and Rowan Marshall all impressing.

“(Hannebery) has obviously come back a bit earlier, which is awesome, and I’ll definitely hang onto him,” Gresham said.

“He’s obviously been around a pretty successful club, so I’ll pick his brains and hopefully train alongside him.

Jade Gresham chats to Paddy McCartin. Picture: Tony Gough

“He’s a ripping fella and I’m looking forward to him being part of the club.”

St Kilda finished 16th this season, notching just four wins for the season.

Gresham said the younger brigade was ready to take the reins of responsibility and that he believed the team’s fortunes were ready to turn.

“Our consistency (was an issue) and us younger players have got to improve and push the older guys,” he said.

Recruit Dan Hannebery was an interested observer. Picture: Tony Gough

“We can’t rely on Jack Steven and Seb Ross anymore — it’s got to be us younger boys that have got to lead the way.

“We’ve spoken about that and we’re ready to step up.”

The 21-year-old travelled to Bali and Europe over the off-season with a handful of teammates, even engaging on training sessions in exotic locations like the deck of a boat in Croatia.

Nathan Lonie tries to break a tackle. Picture: Tony Gough

“We had a good group where we could train, so it was good to train and get stuck into things,” he said.

“It was nice, with a few mountains (in Europe) and stuff which made it a bit easier, but it was good.”

Originally published as Saint Jade Gresham ready for midfield move and Dan Hannebery can help his transition