On the brink of completing his second full pre-season in four years, Seb Tape is showing he is ready to emerge as a top-tier defender in the AFL. 

“In the past I have been held back with a bad run of injuries, but it has been great to stay out on the track and consistently train with the main group this summer,” Tape told goldcoastfc.com.au.

The quietly-spoken Gold Coaster has become one of the more vocal advocates at the club, taking another step up in Arizona, where he was voted the best performing player for his leadership and training excellence. 

While a decision on the player leadership group is yet to be made, Tape says he would embrace the opportunity if it presented itself, but added there were a handful of emerging players ready to take the reins. 

“Leadership is something at the forefront of my mind, I am using my voice more and doing my best to help drive the sessions and encourage my teammates around me,” Tape said.

“Dion Prestia is also leading the way on the training track which has been great to see, as has the likes of Tom Lynch and Danny Stanley.

“Pleasingly, the whole group is growing collectively, which is only going to make us stronger as a football club.”

Tape said the benefits of four pre-seasons were beginning to show, with much of the playing list now undertaking the same workload of a mature AFL list.

“A lot of the boys have developed now, and know what to expect from their bodies.

“They have coped with the training and recovery mechanisms in place and I think that falls back to experience.

“Our bodies are conditioned for what it takes to compete in the AFL.”

A terrific shut-down defender, Tape has strong ambitions to improve his rebounding in 2014, striving to provide more support to his midfielders. 

“I definitely want to add more of an offensive game, and work off my man a bit more as opposed to playing as that 100% defensive shut-out role,”

“So hopefully I can look to work towards that.”