‘I was from a small country town, potato and dairy and not much to do. We had four sticks in the ground and basically took turns having shots at it. In the summertime we took one stick out and tried to bowl at it.
‘Growing up in Koroit, it was often a case of either play sport or work and drink really, which a lot of guys fell into the trap of.’
As a young kid growing up in rural Victoria and blooded from a football family, Gleeson was faced with the choice that so many teenagers are implicitly asked to make: blend into your surroundings or learn to stand out. Choosing the latter was not easy, but Gleeson credits this mindset and the influence of key people and circumstances as playing a pivotal role in his development as a person and player.
‘Having an older brother really spurred me on in a lot of ways as we were both naturally competitive and he really pushed me. I suppose too that the work rate that you learn from a young age, being on the farm, helped me significantly in my football later on. People often mock me for that but having a strenuous job pulling spuds or milking helped me to develop my strength and resilience off the field which translated on the field too.
‘From Koroit I moved on to play representative footy with the Geelong Falcons but mum, being a school teacher, was keen to make sure that my main focus was always study. She pushed me pretty hard (and may have done a lot of my assignments for me), but then she always aspired to get the best out of me. She taught me that I always needed to put my best foot forward and stand out with what I had.’
And stand out he did. Gleeson spent two years with the Falcons and was named vice captain of the TAC Cup team in 2001 to captain Jimmy Bartel. He remembers his time with the Falcons as being one of marked improvement, with just a hint of fear.
‘The professionalism of the club was a big thing for me, coming from a country football background. There were a lot of development lists and squads, which was a nerve wracking time in my life along with VCE. But I was fortunate that I went through with a great bunch of guys and a great bunch of coaches that really pushed you and saw the best in you as a kid.’
However while Gleeson dreamed of an AFL career he, like so many young and talented footballers, failed to have his name called in out in the AFL draft. When asked about the difficulty of this time, Gleeson responds with typical humility and grace.
‘It was probably a bit hard to be disappointed because the years that I was draftable were pretty special years anyway. The first year we won the flag and had two guys drafted, and the following year we had twelve or fourteen guys drafted. So knowing that I was surrounded by that calibre of talent I knew I just wasn’t in it, but I was so fortunate to be able to play with that group.
‘Being in the AFL was always an aim; I’m not going to shy away from that. At the end of the day though I don’t have any regrets because I did give it everything’
From the rigors of the Falcons program Gleeson then moved on to play with the Carlton affiliated VFL side, making his VFL debut in 2002.
‘To be honest, after playing with the rock stars of the footy world it was a bit hard to be on Carlton’s supplementary list because you were very much treated like an outsider. In hindsight it’s easier to understand, but at the time you were frustrated because you felt like you were so close but at the same time knowing you were a long way away from making it in the AFL.’
In 2004, Gleeson made the move from Carlton to the Werribee Tigers where his natural leadership qualities eventually elevated him to the position of Captain, which he retained from 2009 to 2011. Gleeson’s first stint at captaincy, he said, was a real eye opener.
‘I think I was 24 or 25 when I was the captain at Werribee and thought I could handle it alright. But looking back now, I think I was a little naïve and maybe didn’t handle it as well as I could have.’
As the conversation moves from his time at Werribee to his current position at Geelong, Gleeson invariably reflects on the nature of his own leadership. Though changing club culture was and is a necessary and often enjoyable part of Gleeson’s role as captain, he also acknowledges the development he has made over the years.
‘Captaincy was something that had always appealed to me because I always felt like I could help to change the things that needed to be changed. It’s only of late that I’ve realised that a lot of people like to be liked and hate to be hated and I think it’s a fine line between the two. I’m learning that the older you get the less you need to prove yourself to people, and I think I feel really ready to be a captain now.
‘In my first go at captain, I probably tried to be friends with everyone and I didn’t like be honest with people when they needed it. Now I feel like I can do that. In particular I think the age gap is really good because you can say what’s on your mind and have a better ability to be clear in what you’re trying to communicate. When I was young I used to just blurt things out, which meant I had to go and follow people up constantly. But I’ve learned a lot over the last few years in regards to what makes a good leader, and one of those things is the ability to communicate with clarity and encouragement.’
Gleeson’s current leadership position was by no means a stroke of pure chance. The two-time captain and 2012 premiership player highlights three things as being key to his success as a player and leader - preparation, reflection and surrounding yourself with quality influences.
‘I was lucky to be mentored by some great footballers throughout my time. Jason Mifsud, who now runs an indigenous program with the AFL, really helped me hone my preparation skills. He was meticulous about his preparation and that was something he passed on to me.
‘One of the things I’ve always tried to do in my career is keep a diary of everything I’ve done and what I’ve learned. I’ve kept notes on what drills I’ve done, what I’ve eaten and how much sleep I’ve had to what I’ve drank that day in terms of alcohol. It keeps you really accountable. Even now looking back on those years that I was captain at Werribee it’s quite interesting seeing what I wrote as a young guy and I really encourage young kids to do that too.
‘You’ve also got to surround yourself with solid influences; they’ll always pull you into line. I think, surround yourself with good friends and good people and you’ll be one as well.’
Though Gleeson only officially begins his role as Geelong VFL captain this week, the 2013 Victorian captain and VFL Life Member has long been regarded as a leader within the club. Outgoing captain Troy Selwood described Gleeson as being ‘the perfect fit’ for his replacement, and emphasised that it is Gleeson’s humble qualities that make him a great leader.
‘Dom has a lot of empathy for his teammates. From all the experience he’s had throughout his career, both success and adversity, has really made him a quality person and leader. He’s walked in the shoes that most footballers have walked in before, so whenever he sees a guy battling he can always lend a hand.
‘I also love his positivity and selflessness, even when we had flat days on the ground he was the one getting the guys up and going with his voice or making sure his message had more of a positive tone to it rather than giving anyone a bake.’
‘To be honest, the best part of working with Dom was the mateship we developed; straight away we were just on the same page. Playing footy with him was fantastic because we both thought alike in regards to our focus, you know, just wanting to help the young boys succeed in any way possible.’
So what advice does the outgoing captain have for this season’s leader?
‘Change his number from 50 to 51! Just kidding. Honestly, I think that the qualities that Dom brings are exactly what the Geelong VFL team needs. He simply needs to continue being himself, stay positive and be there for the boys whenever they need him.’
For Gleeson, the 2014 season brings endless possibilities and the potential for greater development for both himself and the team.
‘I’m just looking forward to sharing what I hope are some of the key things that I’ve learned over the years – preparing well, serving your apprenticeship and sustaining balance as much as possible. Coincidentally, I have always modelled my game on Matthew Knights’ playing style, so it’s a real honour to be captaining his team this year. Apart from that, I’m just excited to start the 2014 season and hopefully we can back up the success that we’ve had so far.’
