Leslie on rise to new heights
INJURED Suns tall Sam Day says the AFL world is only just starting to find out what he has always known about rising defender Jack Leslie.
Day said Leslie had all the attributes to become a top defender in the competition as he continues to put a quiet first three years at the Gold Coast behind him and cement his place in the team’s best 22.
“He has been really good to watch,” Day said of Leslie’s career-high nine games this year.
“He has been behind Rory (Thompson) and (Steven May) in the last few years but has been training with them.
“He is a super athlete, my height (197cm) and has all the attributes but he just hasn’t had his opportunity.
“Now that he has played a few games and got that experience under his belt, he is learning every time he goes out on the field.
“He has been really good for us. If he can be that third tall or the next one to come in then we probably don’t have to reshuffle as much if one of the key guys do go down.
“I think he will continue to grow and be good for us.”
The absence of Day through a season-ending hip injury and Thompson’s own
quad and hamstring problems presented Leslie’s chance to make an impact at AFL level.
The former No.20 draft pick played just six scattered AFL games in his first three years at the club as the Suns lamented not having a quality back-up to May, Thompson and Day.
Suns coach Rodney Eade knows Leslie, 22, has a lot of development ahead of him but his ability to hold his own this season has ensured there is added depth in that area.
Eade said May rivalled Richmond’s Alex Rance as the best defender in the AFL earlier this week but Day said it was Leslie who reminded him most of the Tigers ace.
“Jack moves in a similar way to Alex Rance with the way he spoils and goes hard at every contest,” Day said.