New football horizons beckon for  determined late-bloomer Martin Gleeson

The lightly-built teenager made his Hampden league senior debut for Koroit in round one, 2011.

He didn’t look back, going on to play every game — including three finals — in a strong Saints line-up.

It made TAC Cup club North Ballarat Rebels take notice. 

The Rebels picked Gleeson in their 2012 squad as a top-age player and he repaid their faith, establishing himself as a key player across half-back who could fill roles in the midfield and forward line if needed. 

A late developer, Gleeson was overlooked for the Hampden under 15 schoolboys’ and Rebels’ under 16 programs.

He also missed out on a Rebels spot as a bottom-age under 18 player. 

Gleeson said it never dented his self-belief or dimmed his AFL dream.

“You hear of people who only have one year and are picked up as top-agers,” he said.

“It’s a lot harder to go when you don’t get into Rebels as a bottom-ager but there are people who have gone just playing top-age, so there is always a bit of hope there. You never know.

“It has always been a dream since I was a young kid but I suppose in previous years when I was just playing with Koroit I didn’t think it would happen.

“And then playing up there this year, it’s a bit more professional and you realise how much you want to go to the next level.”

Gleeson credited his break-out year at Koroit, when he played under Chris McLaren, for his ability to settle into the TAC Cup system this season and play every game as the Rebels won through to a preliminary final.

The nephew of former Carlton premiership player Adrian Gleeson played a handful of under 18 games under McLaren in 2010 before cementing his spot in the Saints’ senior side the following season. 

 “He gave me the opportunity to play, kept faith in me and taught me new things — to have confidence and believe in your own ability,” Gleeson said.

McLaren said he always saw something special in Gleeson.

“As a young junior between 14 and 16 he showed a lot of ability but was very small and light,” he said. 

“As a bottom-age under 18 player he started senior pre-season and everything he did impressed people.

“As the pre-season went on, even though he was light and skinny, we thought he’d play senior footy this year.

“He got better and better and was one of our more important players.”

McLaren, who has invited the Gleeson family to watch the AFL draft at his house, said the level-headed 18-year-old had the attributes to play at the elite level.

An all-round sportsman, Gleeson also played basketball growing up and still plays cricket.

“He is a clever player, with his ability to mark a football from an opposition kick a real highlight,” McLaren said.

“Playing at half-back, his ability to chop off is as good as I have seen.

“His kicking is elite and his skill level is high and for such a little frame, he’s courageous.”

McLaren said Geelong triple premiership player Paul Chapman spotted Gleeson during an AFL community camp in Warrnambool some years ago.

“He pointed at Marty and said ‘who is this kid?’,” McLaren said.

“He noticed him straight away and he was under 16s.”

Gleeson moved from his family’s Koroit farm to Ballarat at the start of the 2012 school year  to complete year 12 at St Patrick’s College. The former Emmanuel College student had an inkling he’d make the Rebels squad but still had his “fingers crossed”.

“I found out start of March. If I didn’t make it I would have a been a bit disappointed,” he said.

Once named in the Rebels’ 45-man squad, Gleeson grabbed his chance.

“At the start of the year I was just hoping to make the list and play round one,” he said.

“I was very happy and as the year went on I wanted to finish top five in the best and fairest and I think I finished fifth so I was pretty happy with that in the end.”

Gleeson made his debut in round one and averaged 13 disposals across his 19 games.

He gathered a season-high 30 touches against Gippsland Power in June.

With a focus on attack from defence, Gleeson averaged 4.2 handball receives a game. 

“At the start of the year I didn’t get many but I worked with the coaches and wanted to get two a quarter,” he said.

“That was something I wanted to do, being the type of player I am.

“I am more of an outside, running player. I like to run and use the ball. 

“I have a bit of pace. I am still working on my power off the mark but I have a bit of pace when I get going.”

At 70kg, the 186cm Gleeson is one of the lightest prospects in this year’s draft pool.

His Rebels’ teammate Dom Barry weighs in at 66kg and was snapped up by Melbourne during the trade period. 

“I need to get a lot stronger and put a lot of weight on and get my contested footy and that kind of stuff up too and improve my tackling pressure around the footy,” Gleeson said. 

Gleeson, who rated his dad John as one of his biggest influences, has spoken to 10 AFL clubs, including four interstate teams.

If he’s overlooked in both the national and rookie drafts, Gleeson, who played two seasons at under 14 level with Warrnambool and District league club South Rovers, hopes to play for Rebels as a 19-year-old.

But if all goes to plan, he will have to retire his cricket whites and leave his Koroit teammates halfway through the Warrnambool and District Cricket Association season.

“I am sure they won’t be too angry if I have to leave,” he smiled.

The AFL national draft is tomorrow night.