Hallam-raised Geelong footballer Tom Gillies soaks in the Gabba atmosphere before his first AFL game against Brisbane last Saturday night.By Marc McGowan
LIFE will never be the same for Hallam-raised footballer Tom Gillies after making his AFL debut for Geelong in Brisbane on Saturday night.
Gillies has been in great form for the Cats’ VFL side in his rookie year, but it was a raft of injuries at Kardinia Park that triggered his rapid ascension to the senior team.
The 19-year-old key defender was in Geelong’s initial squad last Wednesday and quickly realised he was a chance to debut as his team-mates started dropping like flies.
“The first squad was named on Wednesday and, with all the injuries that were happening, I was getting pretty worked up about it,” he said.
“I didn’t sleep very well on Thursday or Friday night, but once the game started it was fine.”
Gillies also had to deal with a mountain of well-wishers once news of his selection filtered through.
The former Dandenong Stingray’s long-time girlfriend Jamie was the first to hear from Gillies and his family was not far behind.
Cats officials paid for his parents, Peter and Jenny, to fly up to Brisbane and his brother, Aaron, and sister, Alyce, and their partners also made the trip for the match.
Alyce’s boyfriend Michael moved heaven and earth to be there.
He was holidaying in a small Northern Territory town called Borroloola when he found out and had to make a nine-hour drive to Darwin to catch a flight to Brisbane.
Michael eventually arrived in Brisbane at 5.30am on Saturday.
Gillies was thrilled to have so much support.
“A few people have come out of the woodwork, but it’s good to have everyone’s support behind you,” he said.
“I was pretty happy Michael got there because he’s been a good supporter of mine over the last couple of years.
“It was good everyone could get there.”
Gillies’ father Peter was ‘over the moon’ to see his son playing at AFL level after watching him take his first steps in the sport for Traralgon-based Tedas Junior Football Club.
“I knew he could play football in his junior years, but the only thing that used to get a bit under my goat was that he never got recognised … until the last couple of years,” Peter said.
“Both Jenny and I are really proud that he’s actually got to where he wanted to go because he’s the one who’s had to do the hard work.”
Gillies found himself opposed to Lions youngster James Polkinghorne early, but he also had stints on premiership stars Daniel Bradshaw and Tim Notting.
He finished with 12 possessions – five in the third quarter – at 100 per cent efficiency, but said accountability was his main focus.
“I wasn’t really thinking about my offensive game or my touches,” Gillies said.
“I was just concentrating on my opponent and how they impacted on the game more than anything.”
Gillies knows it will be tough to keep his place for Saturday’s clash with Melbourne considering the likely returns of fellow defenders Matthew Scarlett and Darren Milburn.
But, whatever the result, he knows he will be better for the experience.
“There are a lot of the guys to come back and it’s a strong team, so I’m not really expecting to hold my spot,” Gillies said.
“I just have to go back and play well in the VFL and take what I’ve learned from my one game of AFL.
“I’ll go back to the VFL and pass on what I’ve learned to the other guys and make the VFL team better.”
