BALRANALD’S Jason Gillbee is off to the big smoke, with the 18-year-old being rookie listed by the Greater Western Sydney Giants on Wednesday afternoon.
Gillbee went undrafted on Monday and Tuesday night, but always knew he was a good chance to be drafted as a category B rookie to the Giants as a NSW zone selection.
So it proved, with the utility told he’d be selected by his new club late Tuesday night.
The realisation he would be fulfilling a life-long dream hadn’t yet sunk in for the former Balranald and Bendigo Pioneer player when speaking with The Guardian.
Gillbee wasted little time in sinking his teeth into life as a professional footballer.
“It’s a bit of a weird feeling to be honest,” Gillbee said.
“I’m genuinely happy, absolutely ecstatic – but I think once I get up to Sydney it’ll sink in.
“It’s a pretty surreal feeling so far, but of course the hard work’s only just beginning now too.”
Gillbee flew up to Sydney along with his fellow draftees on Thursday morning and was set to begin his career as a Giant this morning with a medical and testing, before a main training session on Monday.
There will be plenty of familiar faces to greet Gillbee – including NNW United’s Brent Daniels – with Gillbee already good friends with the Giants’ No.1 draft pick Aaron Cadman.
“I’m really lucky that I already know Aaron really well through the AFL Academy – we spent a bit of time together and joked how great it would be to actually play together,” Gillbee said.
“He’s so easy to get along with and is a great player as well.
“I also know Max Gruzewski from the combine, Harry Rowston and Nick Madden who I played with at the Allies, and then Toby McMullin I know from my time with Vic Country as well.
“It’s going to be enjoyable no matter what, but when I have good mates at the club already, it’ll just make that transition easier.”
While hard work and dedication are attributes that have helped Gillbee get to this point – along with his speed, endurance and ability to play any position on the ground – the region’s newest AFL footballer was also quick to praise those who had helped him along the journey, especially from his home club.
“It all started for me back in Balranald and I owe a lot of where I am now to my junior coaches who kind of pushed me through my early stages of development – along with mum and dad of course,” Gillbee said.
“Everyone back home in Balranald have been awesome to be honest – all my coaches over the years have had a huge influence on me and I’ve had a lot of messages from back home today.
“If I was to single someone out, I’d probably say Cam Barrett is someone who had a big impact on me – he was my first senior coach and he instilled a lot of confidence in me at such a young age.
“Gavin Campbell is another one who’s always been around the club and been a major influence, as well as Kane Farnsworth – but all my junior coaches have been fantastic.”
While Gillbee’s football career started at Balranald, including playing five senior games with the Roos in 2019 as a 14-year-old – it was at the Pioneers where he elevated his game to another level.
While many people had a hand in his development at the Pioneers, AFL Academy and Allies, Gillbee singled out the Pioneers’ former talent manager David Meade, who lost his battle his battle with cancer in October this year.
“‘Meady’ was fantastic, he was the one who originally got me to Bendigo and I really couldn’t have got here without him – I’m sure he’s up there and pretty proud right now,” Gillbee said.
“He told me a story not too long ago that he was watching a V/Line Cup Under 15s game in Mildura that I was playing in years ago.
“He said that at the time I wasn’t even on the radar of the Pioneers and my name hadn’t been put forward by anybody.
“He said he just saw this tall, skinny kid who looked like he moved alright and he just saw something in me and put me on the list straight away.
“Him getting me down to Bendigo was the best thing for me – he made me believe in myself because in the early days I was probably lacking a bit of confidence, but he made me believe that I belonged.
“He made it fun and he was so easy to talk to and he’d do just about anything for you just to help get the best out of yourself – he was an incredible man and he’ll certainly be missed.”
While moving to Sydney and playing professional football will no doubt be big change for Gillbee, his new club will also be undergoing major changes – with Adam Kingsley starting his first season as head coach.
With everybody starting fresh, Gillbee sees it as a big positive – and will no doubt be looking to prove himself to his new coach and team mates when he hits the track for the first time on Monday.
“I think with Adam (Kingsley) being new to the club and a new coaching structure, I think everyone will be out to impress,” Gillbee said.
“Everyone’s starting from scratch, so if I can come in and train really well and impress from the get go, then I think that’ll put me in a good position.”
