If Saturday night is a preview of what’s to come, then we are in for an enthralling ride with emerging small midfielder-forward Jade Gresham.

In just his tenth senior game, Gresham flaunted some of the elite qualities that saw him plucked by St Kilda late in the first-round of last year’s National Draft.

Composed with ball in hand and comfortable throughout an intense affair, Gresham produced the finest performance of his short career in an effort that could acquire a Rising Star nomination this week.

The 19-year-old collected an equal career-high 16 possessions (six contested), eight inside 50s, seven score involvements and kicked a crucial game late in the game to suggest he could be a big game player in the future.

“It was good to play against one of the best sides in the competition. I always pride myself in coming up against the best so it was good to get out there and play against the Cats,” Gresham told saints.com.au after St Kilda’s three-point on Saturday night.

In the aftermath of St Kilda’s sixth victory of 2016, Gresham revealed the Saints desperately sought a win over a top-eight side, after disappointing efforts against Adelaide and West Coast in recent months.

“We really made an effort; we really wanted to take a scalp this week. We thought no better way than coming up against the Cats. It was just good to get the win, to get the four points,” Gresham said.

“It was really hot, they’re a quality side. I thought our boys coped with the pressure pretty well. I thought it was good for four quarters.”

After debuting in the opening round, Gresham was dropped the week after and had to bide his time before being recalled in Round 6. Since then, the former Northern Knights captain has played all eight games.

Having acclimatised to life at the elite level, Gresham says last week’s bye allowed him to freshen up and reset ahead of the second half of his debut season.

“I feel pretty good. The bye (allowed me) to freshen up a little bit mentally and physically. I’m feeling really good at the moment,” he said. 

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