“Early days it was probably a bit different, they didn’t understand the rules of AFL, neither did I but they now love it and my whole family goes as much as they can and my cousins and family, they all love to get along.”
Now the 26-year-old is set to play a decade of football at St Kilda after signing on for another three years at the club.
“This is my seventh year and just as a player I’ve just enjoyed to see the other boys develop and get to where we are.”
The appointment of new coach Scott Watters has brought change this year with a host of new players and coaches contributing to a more open culture at the club.
“I think the biggest change would be that it’s a bit more relaxed and a bit more of a licence to play attacking football so I think that’s kind of spread through the whole club which is good.”
In his time at the Saints, Gilbert says being involved in that ‘one day in September’ is a memory he would never forget.
“It would have to be the grand finals, sadly we didn’t get the win but just to play on those days and the parade leading up to that is just an experience in itself and to the young players at the club that’s something we can hopefully verbalise to them and try and get them to one day.”
The utility player wants to set the example for the younger boys and hopes to one day lead his teammates to the ultimate glory.
“We’ve got fantastic leaders at the St Kilda Football Club so if I was lucky enough to be a leader then that would be great, otherwise I’m just happy to play my part.”
