HAVING burst onto the scene as Vic Metro’s captain and MVP in the title-winning Under 16 side of 2023, Jack Dalton is perhaps flying under the radar heading into his top-age campaign. A syndesmosis injury at the start of last year couldn’t stop him from helping Sandringham take out a third straight flag, and now the midfielder is going from strength-to-strength following a “really positive preseason”.

Dalton has had plenty of mentors to lean on along the way. His grandfather, Paul Briglia played alongside the great Bob Skilton at South Melbourne from 1959-61, while a growing number of teammates have already realised the dream of being drafted to AFL level. We sat down for a chat with Dalton during the Coates Talent League preseason testing, where he equalled the all-time Yo-Yo Test record (22.4).

PRESEASON Q&A

Q: Jack, what are some of your memories from starting out in football?

JD: I started playing in Under 8s at East Melbourne Knights Junior Football Club. I played all my juniors from Under 8s to Under 15s there. Had heaps of fun with my good group of mates, always had a close friends group that played there from primary school all the way up to senior school. That was good fun and we had some good memories, no flags or anything but some pretty solid wins in the finals and whatnot.

Q: After a disrupted preseason last year, how it been this time around?

JD: Really positive. I obviously had the navicular stress fracture injury last year, but been all good this year so far and tracking along well. It’s been good fun.

Q: You ended up coming back to win the Coates Talent League flag last year, how has that experience set you up for your top-age campaign?

JD: It was an amazing experience playing in that flag. Learning off some of the best; Levi Ashcroft, Murphy Reid, Taj Hotton, Luke Trainor. Just learning the professionalism of how they go about it has really put me in good stead for this preseason and the upcoming season.

Q: Do you keep in touch with some of those draftees and former teammates?

JD: Yeah, of course. I keep in touch with Luke Trainor, Taj Hotton, ‘Murph’… they’re always all ears so I can always reach out to them, which is a great support.

Q: How would you describe your strengths as a player?

JD: Strengths-wise I’m very clean at ground level with my hands. My work rate and running ability are definitely my strengths, and probably my kicking when I get going. Just being able to bite off some kicks and open up the game.

Q: Are there any things you’re looking to improve on?

JD: Definitely my explosive speed. My first three steps out of the contest is the main one for me.

Q: Having played on the wing last year, are you looking to get back to the inside?

JD: Yeah, of course. I’m looking to get back inside and probably stay predominantly inside, then play a bit of half-forward, wing, or wherever the recruiters want to see me.

Q: Do you watch a lot of footy? 

JD: Not massively, but I’m still a big supporter.

Q: Which AFL club do you support?

JD: Sydney Swans… my grandfather [Paul Briglia], who I have big respect for him, played 16 games for South Melbourne in about 1960, so it runs through the family.

Q: Are there any players you look up to and try and mould your game on?

JD: Lachie Neale is one, with his cleanliness. He’s the same size as me so I look at him with how he goes about it. Also Errol Gulden with his work rate and his kicking. 

Q: Which teammates do you think we should look out for to have a big season?

JD: I want to say Ollie Griffin… he’s been killing it in the intraclubs. We’ve probably played  three intraclubs and he’s kicked about 10 goals, so he’s done pretty well. George Dimer, a bottom-ager – he’s gone pretty solidly… Oh, and Jack Hayter, number 49.

Q: What kind of goals have you set up for the year?

JD: Just to play all the National Champs games and to play consistent footy throughout the whole year. Then hopefully we can bring a flag home to Sandringham again.