Jade Gresham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jade Gresham |
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Gresham playing for Essendon in 2025
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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 24 August 1997) is a talented Australian rules footballer. He plays as a small forward 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.
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Jade Gresham's Early Life and Junior Football
Jade Gresham grew up in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. He is of Yorta Yorta Indigenous Australian heritage. As a young player, he played junior football for the South Morang Football Netball Club. He also played for the Northern Knights Football Club in the TAC Cup, which is a competition for young players.
In 2015, Jade was chosen by St Kilda in the AFL draft. He was the 18th player picked overall.
Jade Gresham's AFL Career
Playing for St Kilda: 2016–2023
Jade Gresham made his first AFL appearance in 2016. This was in Round 1 of the 2016 AFL season against Port Adelaide. The game took place at Adelaide Oval.
During his first year in 2016, Gresham played 18 games. He kicked 11 goals and averaged about 15 disposals per game. Disposals mean how many times a player gets the ball. He was even nominated for the 2016 AFL Rising Star award. This award recognizes the best young players in the league. He earned this nomination after a great game against Geelong in Round 14. In that game, he kicked a goal that was considered for "Goal of the Year."
Before the 2017 season, Jade signed a new contract. This meant he would stay with St Kilda until the end of the 2019 season. In 2017, he played in all 22 games for the Saints. He kicked 30 goals and averaged 14 disposals.
In 2018, Gresham again played in all 22 games. He was the leading goalkicker for the Saints, scoring 35 goals. This included a career-best six goals in one game against Richmond. He also received another "Goal of the Year" nomination in Round 13. This was for a great goal in a game where the Saints came back from a big deficit to beat the Gold Coast Suns.
Jade played 19 games in 2019. He started to become one of St Kilda's best young players. He averaged 22 disposals per game. In May 2019, he signed another contract. This kept him at the club until at least the end of 2023.
The 2020 season was different because of COVID-19. The game quarters were shorter, and there were fewer regular season matches. Jade played the first 11 games and was an important part of the Saints' midfield. However, he got a stress fracture in his back. This injury meant he could not play for the rest of the 2020 season.
Gresham started the 2021 season well. He played in the first three rounds. He had 28 disposals against GWS and 29 disposals and a goal against Melbourne. But in Round 3 against Essendon, he seriously injured his Achilles tendon. This injury needed surgery and a long recovery. It meant he missed the rest of the 2021 season.
Playing for Essendon: 2024–Present
On October 13, 2023, Jade Gresham joined the Essendon Football Club. He signed a three-year contract as a free agent. This means he was able to move to a new club without St Kilda getting a player in return. St Kilda received a draft pick as compensation.
Jade Gresham's Personal Life
Jade Gresham is an Aboriginal Australian from the Yorta Yorta people. He and his mother, Michelle, helped design St Kilda's special Indigenous Round guernsey (jersey) in 2017.
Jade's father, Jamie, played junior football with North Melbourne Football Club legend Brent Harvey. Jade has said that Harvey was a big influence on how he developed as a player before he was drafted into the AFL.
Images for kids
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Gresham playing for Essendon in 2025
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Gresham playing for St Kilda in 2019
