AFL: St Kilda star Jade Gresham reveals how meditation helped him cope with back-to-back serious injuries

St Kilda’s Jade Gresham is playing career-best football after recovering from successive serious injuries that ruined his past two seasons

Jade Gresham is in career-best form for St Kilda after a difficult two years with injury. Picture: Getty Images

St Kilda dual-threat Jade Gresham turned to meditation to help overcome the mental challenge of dealing with two serious setbacks in as many seasons.

The Saints star has emerged from injury hell to be a key driver in his club’s resurgence this year after a disappointing 2021 campaign.

Gresham’s first step was finding a way to win his private battle.

He barely missed a match in his first four-and-a-half seasons, after arriving as a first-round pick from the loaded 2015 draft class, which included Jacob Weitering, Clayton Oliver and Harry McKay.

But a back stress fracture cut Gresham down halfway through the 2020 campaign before an achilles tendon rupture ended his season in round 3 last year.

Jade Gresham dukes it out with Trent Cotchin during the Saints’ victory at Marvel Stadium on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s been a tough year-and-a-half but you’ve got to take positives out of what happened,” Gresham told News Corp.

“You learn a lot of things being out of the game for a bit. I like to think I’ve learned a lot about myself and how to get my body right.

“I had a really good pre-season and hopefully that holds me in good stead this year.”

The last setback came just as he was transforming into the match-winner he was against Richmond on Sunday, when he collected an equal-personal-high 32 disposals, 18 contested possessions and 10 score involvements.

Gresham’s brilliant performance coinciding with a statement victory over the Tigers, after the Saints kicked 10 consecutive goals to erase a 25-point deficit, made it more satisfying.

Jade Gresham was a strong performer against Richmond. Picture: Getty Images

He’s played in more losses than wins in his 98-game career and missed out on St Kilda’s 2020 finals campaign because of his back injury.

It was in those types of moments when he leaned on the Saints’ head of mental health and wellbeing, Ben Robbins, who suggested he try meditation.

Gresham now devotes a few minutes each day to mindfulness.

“I took it upon myself for probably the last year to do some meditation every day,” he said. “It just gets you in the present and you stop thinking about the outcome.”

The Saints eased the 24-year-old into the pre-season but he was still running upwards of 10km per session from the start before resuming full training post-Christmas.

Jade Gresham learned plenty about himself during his 18 months out of the game. Picture: Getty Images

Gresham feels as fit as ever and is spending almost 60 per cent of his game time as a midfielder this season, resulting in him averaging 27 disposals through three rounds.

“I have high expectations on myself, so I wanted to come in and play my best footy and there’s no excuses, really,” he said.

“Before my injuries I was playing a bit more midfield, so hopefully I can continue that, while also playing a bit of forward as well, but I like to think I can have a good balance between both positions.

“It’s tough mentally seeing your mates play and missing out on finals but I’m keen to get stuck into this year and hopefully win some games.”