Jade Gresham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jade Gresham |
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Gresham playing for St Kilda in 2019
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Jade Gresham | ||
| Nickname(s) | Gresh | ||
| Date of birth | 24 August 1997 | ||
| Original team | South Morang Football Netball Club(NFNL)/Northern Knights (TAC Cup) | ||
| Draft | No. 18, 2015 National draft | ||
| Position(s) | Small Forward | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Essendon | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Career highlights | |||
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Jade Gresham, born on August 24, 1997, is an Australian rules football player. He plays for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Before joining Essendon, he was drafted by the St Kilda Football Club in 2015. He was picked as number 18 in the 2015 AFL draft.
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Early Life and Junior Football
Jade Gresham grew up in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. He is from the Yorta Yorta Indigenous people.
He started playing junior football at the South Morang Football Netball Club. Later, he played for the Northern Knights Football Club in the TAC Cup competition. These teams helped him get ready for professional football.
AFL Career Highlights
Playing for St Kilda: 2016–2023
Jade Gresham started his AFL career with the St Kilda Football Club. He played his first game in 2016 against Port Adelaide.
In his first year, 2016, he played 18 games and kicked 11 goals. He was even nominated for the 2016 AFL Rising Star award. This award goes to young players who show great talent. He also kicked a fantastic goal that was a contender for "Goal of the Year."
Jade continued to play well in 2017, playing all 22 games and kicking 30 goals. He signed a new contract, showing his commitment to St Kilda.
The 2018 season was a big one for Jade. He played all 22 games again. He was St Kilda's top goalkicker, scoring 35 goals. In one game, he kicked a career-high six goals. He also received another "Goal of the Year" nomination.
In 2019, Jade became one of St Kilda's best young players. He averaged 22 disposals per game, meaning he got the ball a lot. He signed a long contract to stay with the Saints until the end of 2023.
The 2020 season was different because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Games were shorter, and there were fewer matches. Jade played 11 games but then got a back injury. This injury meant he could not play for the rest of the season.
In 2021, Jade started the season strongly. However, he suffered a serious injury in Round 3. He ruptured his Achilles tendon, which is a major leg injury. This injury required surgery and kept him out of the game for nine months.
Joining Essendon: 2024–Present
After his time at St Kilda, Jade Gresham moved to the Essendon Football Club. He signed a three-year contract with Essendon on October 13, 2023. This move was as a free agent, which means he could choose his new club.
Personal Life
Jade Gresham is proud of his Aboriginal Australian heritage. He is part of the Yorta Yorta people. He and his mother, Michelle, helped design St Kilda's special Indigenous Round guernsey (jersey) in 2017. This jersey celebrates Aboriginal culture.
Jade's father, Jamie, also played football when he was younger. He played with Brent Harvey, a famous player from the North Melbourne Football Club. Jade has said that Brent Harvey was a big influence on how he developed as a player.
