EMERGING Essendon footballer Martin Gleeson believes the Bombers can turn their pre-season restrictions into a positive.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bombers will field a depleted side against St Kilda in Morwell on Saturday, and the following week against Greater Western Sydney, to protect the identity of players from its 2012 list serving provisional doping bans.
Several former AFL-listed players, including Adelaide forward Jared Petrenko, Melbourne onballer James Magner and St Kilda tagger Clinton Jones, have joined Essendon as pre-season top-up players.
Gleeson, 20, was drafted to the Bombers from Koroit in November 2012.
The former North Ballarat Rebel said Essendon’s next generation needed to step up in the practice matches and stake a claim for round one.
“Obviously it’ll be a younger group playing NAB Cup and that is a great opportunity for us to go out and showcase what we’ve been doing pre-season and it’s an opportunity to lead the club,” Gleeson told essendon.com.au
“Not many kids our ages and other clubs would get to do this, so we see this as an opportunity to lead this great club.”
Gleeson said he was ready to challenge for a regular spot in the Bombers’ best 22.
The slender 186-centimetre wingman made his AFL debut in round one last season and played seven of the first eight games before he was relegated to the VFL.
Quad and groin injuries dogged the second half of his campaign before he received a call-up in round 23 and held his spot for the Bombers’ elimination final loss to North Melbourne.
“I’ll obviously put my hand up for round one first and foremost but will go out and show them what I can do the next three or four weeks,” Gleeson said.
“I’d like to try build on what I did last year and play a few games and be a regular member of the senior side.”
The skilful utility played as a rebounding defender and on a wing last season, using the game nous which stood out during his time at Koroit to great effect.
Gleeson focused on body strength in the off-season and hopes added muscle will help him against bigger opponents.
“It is my third year now so I feel like I have the game plan down pat and physically it is probably the best I have felt in my three years,” he said.
“I haven’t done a pre-season til this year and I have ticked off most sessions and I’m stronger, weigh more than I ever have and am fitter so I am really excited to go now.
“I have been doing about five gym sessions a week so I’ve been in there most of the time.
“It’s good, all the boys get around you and help you out when they can, so I have been smashing the weights.”