DASHING Essendon half-back Martin Gleeson is keeping his fifth-year ambitions simple.
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The Koroit export is vying to continue his steady improvement, en route to a place in the Bombers’ regular 22.
Gleeson donned red and black 20 times last season in the absence of a brigade of banned Bombers stars and produced his signature run off half-back to emerge as one of the club’s brightest prospects.
The 22-year-old, who returned home to Koroit’s Victoria Park to conduct a clinic on Friday night, said he was delighted to be back in competitive mode ahead of the AFL’s pre-season series.
He said his goal for the upcoming season was to simply continue improving.
“I’m definitely improving still and I’m only young so I have plenty of that left in me,” Gleeson said.
“I’m going to try to get better every week and fingers crossed I can play as many games as I can from the start to the end of the season.”
Despite the hype surrounding the return of the previously banned Bombers, Gleeson told The Standard the club was intent on using the momentum positively towards on-field success.
“Everyone is up and about at the moment. We’ve got all the guys back and there are also some new draftees at the club who will offer some excitement as well,” Gleeson said.
“There will be a few changes to last year in that half the side is different but we can’t wait to get out and to play footy together.
“We just want to start building something.”
FAST FACTS ABOUT MARTY GLEESON
- Recruited with pick 53 in 2012 AFL National draft
- Averages 17.7 disposals at AFL level
- Averages 3.5 rebound 50’s per game
- Recruited from North Ballarat Rebels/Koroit Football Club
Gleeson said while last season – without the likes of captain Dyson Heppell and leader Jobe Watson – was tough, he grew as a player and leader.
“I had to take a bit more responsibility and I try to help out the newer and younger guys where I could,” he said.
“They’re all willing to learn and they all listen. They form a good part of the environment at the club.
“It’s a really good environment to be a part of at (Essendon) at the moment.”
Gleeson, who was selected with pick 53 in the 2012 national draft, averaged 17.7 disposals and 5.4 intercepts in Essendon colours last season. He said the majority of talk out of the club’s Tullamarine base had centered around playing styles.
“We haven’t (spoken too much about goals), instead we’ve just spoken about how we’d like to play. With everyone fit and firing, who knows what could happen?,” he said.
“It’s such an even competition now and I think that became obvious with the way the Bulldogs went last year. “If you put yourself in the right position at the right time of the season, anything can happen.”
Gleeson and Essendon will travel to Mackay to play Gold Coast on Sunday.