With his sharp turn of speed and strong-bodied attack on the football, Jack Leslie is making quite the impression on teammates and coaching staff.
At 199cm and 93 kg, 19-year-old Leslie boasts the size capable of playing senior AFL football.
And although the extreme heat conditions have made for a tough introduction, the former Gippsland junior is enjoying training in high humidity on the Gold Coast.
“I absolutely love it on the Gold Coast,” Leslie said.
“It’s great because after you consistently train in the heat you get used to it. So when a Victorian team travels north, and comes up here to play, they won’t be used to it. “
Playing the bulk of his junior footy in the ruck, the Gold Coast SUNS are looking to reinvent Leslie as a combative tall defender, a change that will only benefit the club according to Development Coach Josh Fraser, revealing Leslie’s no-nonsense, aggressive-natured approach down back had taken him by surprise.
“The area that Jack has really impressed with most has been his appetite to improve at both ends of the ground,” Fraser said.
“His attitude to training has been super, and he is giving himself a real opportunity to develop into a bona fide AFL football player.”
Sharing the praise, Leslie said there was no greater tutor than the 200-gamer, telling goldcoastfc.com.au that he had already learned valuable lessons from the 1999 No. 1 Draft pick.
“He was tall like me, and has given me some great tips on contested marking and ground work, so it has been a worthwhile experience that’s for sure.”
On the training field, Leslie said Tom Lynch had taken his fellow Victorian under his wing, helping the incoming youngster build a more potent offensive game in front of goals.
“Tommy has been great for me when I’ve gone up forward, really directing me on where to go,” he said.
With the NAB Challenge series now under a month away, Leslie is hopeful of earning a possible pre-season debut match, but insists his main goal right now is developing and improving through the AFL system.
“At this stage I am just hoping to play a NAB Cup match, and afterwards hopefully try and get a game during the season.
“But it is only my first season, I need to improve so that’s what I am looking at achieving first and the rest will take care of itself.”
