While other first-year players in the competition have attracted attention for flashy performances, St Kilda’s Jade Gresham has gone about his business quietly, gradually building week by week.

Highly rated internally for his work off the ball as much as with it in hand, the 2015 first-round pick has quickly established himself as a reliable member inside the Saints forward setup.

With ten games under his belt, including the last eight in succession, and this week’s Rising Star nomination following his eye-catching performance against Geelong, Gresham says he is growing with more and more exposure to senior football.

“Every game I play I feel like I’m getting better and better, so the more games I play I guess the better I’m going to get. I’ve got to just take it one week at a time and just play my role,” Gresham told saints.com.au on Tuesday afternoon.

Pressure for spots in the small forward role is so fierce at the minute that 2015 regulars Jack Lonie, Jack Billings and Jack Sinclair are all currently plying their trade at Sandringham. And it’s that competition that is helping push Gresham along.

“It’s a good thing. You’re always on your toes every game, you’ve always got to be playing your bit. I reckon it’s good competition,” Gresham said.

And while he is currently executing his role up forward effectively, Gresham has his eyes set on more time in the midfield in the years to come. After all, it was the reason why the Saints selected him last November.

“I’d like to think in the next few years I’ll hopefully push my way up into the midfield. But I’ve just got to get my endurance up. I’m loving my forward role at the moment but hopefully in time to come I’ll play midfield,” he said.

Now more than half a season into his first year in the system, Gresham concedes the biggest challenge he has faced in his short time in the game is recovering between games and training sessions.

“Just getting my body right each week to week, just getting ready for all the trainings and what not, so I’d probably just say that aspect (has been the biggest challenge),” he said. 

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