Former Koroit player and now Essendon star Martin Gleeson has been announced as an ambassador for the Saints football academy.

Gleeson was taken by the Bombers as pick 53 at the 2012 AFL national draft after playing all his juniors and a season of senior football at Koroit. He has now played 51 AFL games, including 20 this year. He has signed a new two-year contract with the Bombers.  

Gleeson will be joined as ambassador for the academy by Melbourne onballer Bernie Vince.

The academy is being headed by three-time Koroit premiership coach Adam Dowie.

Assisting Dowie will be another former Koroit coach in Brian Brown and former Hampden interleague coach Nick O’Sullivan. The man who took over the senior coaching role at Koroit from Dowie, Chris McLaren, will also be involved as will senior players at the club. 

Koroit Football Netball Club junior president Alistair McCosh said Gleeson and Vince will introduce current AFL training techniques into the program being offered along with attendance at specific sessions.

“The establishment of the academy has been a joint initiative of the junior and senior football areas,” McCosh said.

“The aim of the Saints football academy will be to focus on improving the young footballer’s skills, game sense and off-field preparation around nutrition, recovery and cross training programs.”

Koroit has a strong track record with the transitioning of junior players into senior ranks with 11 players from the 2016 premiership team having come through the club’s juniors.  

McCosh said the academy is aimed at footballers from the ages of 14-18. Participation in the academy is by application to the club. The academy will commence in the first week of November and will run for 15 sessions, completing in March of 2017.