Rowan Marshall wasn’t even on St Kilda’s list when he first realised Jade Gresham could turn into something special.
It was late June of 2016 – still another five months before the pair would meet for the first time – and just Gresham’s 10th senior game, but it was a sign of what was to come from the then small forward with a limitless ceiling.
The Saints, rank outsiders at the time against the top-of-the-table Geelong, had almost coughed up its narrow three-quarter time lead – and ultimately the four points – before Gresham announced himself to the competition in the game’s final moments.
A hurried pick-up from tight in the pocket, a graceful sidestep past Premiership defender Tom Lonergan and a decisive snap while hugged tight against the boundary was the spark the Saints needed, with another goal from Jack Steven consolidating the win from the clouds.
It’s been burned into Marshall’s mind ever since.
“I’d love to stitch him up with an off-field story, but on-field it’s hard to go past that goal against Geelong in his first year,” Marshall told saints.com.au with a laugh.
“I wasn’t even on the list at the time, but I remember him getting it in the pocket, selling Lonergan the candy and then running around and snapping it through… it would have gone close to Goal of the Year I reckon.
Marshall, who was playing VFL for North Ballarat at the time, joined St Kilda’s list a few months later, uniting with Gresham for the first-time on-field in Round 18, 2017 against Sydney.
The two have become best mates in the ensuing seasons, having lived together for the past three years and spending extended time abroad in the pre-COVID world.
It’s no surprise to hear that Gresham and Marshall form part of the cornerstone for St Kilda’s vision of sustained on-field success, with their potential in terms of influence and output yet to be fully known.
Frustratingly, however, the pair have played just 45 matches side by side after six seasons at the club. Stress fractures in Gresham’s back sliced his 2020 campaign in half, before a snapped Achilles tendon three games into 2021 put a line through the comeback.
Marshall too has had his injury battles over the past year with a foot stress and plantar fascia injury, the latter of which ruled him out for almost six weeks.
Gresham’s first month of 2022 after two injury-hampered seasons only accentuates the enormous room he has to flourish as a player.
The No. 4, who will play his 100th game this Saturday against Gold Coast, has burst out of the blocks to kick off the year, averaging 25 disposals, 11 contested possessions and five inside-50s to go with six majors.
“He’s definitely added something that we’ve been missing a little bit over the last year,” Marshall said.
“He’s definitely got that X-factor and can turn games on his head. We’ve seen it in the past, but I think he’s just going to keep doing that moving into the future.
“No one wants to be injured, but it was almost a blessing in disguise really. He’s been able to learn a lot about the game and his body, and it’s just obvious that he’s dominating now.”
Marshall has witnessed first-hand the lengths Gresham has gone to in order to elevate his game.
Diet and nutrition have become just as important to the 24-year-old as his gym work and training preparation, with extensive work alongside club dietician Daljia Jovanovic getting him to the peak of his performance.
While the odd takeout meal would float through the Gresham-Marshall household in previous seasons, Gresham is now “very strict” with what he eats and cooks, according to Marshall.
Physically, Gresham ensures regular water recovery sessions along Elwood Beach, irrespective of another impending winter.
“He’s always been talented, but I think he’s just gone to another level off-field which has helped his on-field performance I reckon,” Marshall said.
“He’s become a real professional. I guess he’s learned a lot about his body the last couple of years obviously with the frustrating run of injuries, but he’s been able to understand how to prepare for games and what it takes to be that real professional.
“He was generally pretty good at the off-field side, but he’s almost gone to that obsessive level now. It just gives him the confidence in a way come game day to know that he’s prepared better than his opponent.
“When he runs out there, he knows that he’s done everything possible to get himself up and he knows there’s nothing more he could have done.”
