James Gwilt was celebrating a suburban football premiership when his career took a turn that would take him all the way to the AFL’s biggest stage.

While most of the talented footballers his age pursued their dream in the TAC Cup, Gwilt was playing senior football with Noble Park in the Eastern Football League.

Opposed to grown men each week, Gwilt excelled.  He made the interleague team and was named best afield in the Grand Final. 

It was as he reflected on his side’s achievements at the club’s ‘Mad Monday’ celebrations that Gwilt – under the gaze of a Carlton recruiter – nominated for the 2004 National Draft. 

“Pretty much from that point when I signed I thought I could be a chance of going to Carlton on the Rookie List or something like that.  I never thought I’d go to St Kilda and be on the actual list,” Gwilt said.

The Saints were a team on the move when they selected Gwilt with the 63^rd pick in the draft. 

After some challenging years, Grant Thomas had led the side to the Preliminary Final on the back of some emerging youngsters including Nick Riewoldt and Lenny Hayes and some experienced players, like Robert Harvey, still providing a valuable contribution.

“It was extremely exciting and has turned my life into obviously having an AFL career which I’m really lucky to have had,” Gwilt said. 

“I got to the Club and they’d played some finals footy.

“It was pretty hard at the start because I’d come from a local team where training wasn’t as demanding as playing AFL footy so that was bit hard to get used to.

“Learning off those guys has held me in good stead for the rest of my career.”

Gwilt initially spent time in attack at the Saints - he kicked two goals in a Qualifying Final in just his second game – but it didn’t take long for him to find his home in defence.

“I had some pretty good teachers when I was playing at the Saints,” Gwilt said. 

“Max Hudghton, Jason Blake – they were really good mentors for me growing up.

“With the rule changes in the last few years it has been pretty hard so you’ve got to read the ball a bit better now and almost judge and try to take intercept marks rather than just purely spoiling.”

This week, Gwilt is in line for his 150^th AFL match. 

It’s a milestone that seemed unlikely just two years ago when after 126 games – including nine finals – Gwilt’s time at St Kilda came to an end. 

But the Bombers gave the then 28 year old a football lifeline, signing him as an unrestricted free agent.

“I wasn’t sure what I was going to do – I obviously thought I had a few years left playing AFL footy but the Saints decided to go on a different path which I was comfortable with,” Gwilt said.

“I had a few meetings with other clubs and I’m extremely happy that Essendon took the chance to give me a shot in the AFL.”

Gwilt said his passion for the game hasn’t diminished despite the challenges the Club has faced in recent seasons.  

Through it all, the fans have remained resolute – a quality not lost on Gwilt. 

“I’ve still loving coming to the games, especially playing at the ‘G and things like that with the massive crowds,” he said.

“One thing I’ve come to learn is how good the Essendon supporters are – they’ve been through some tough times over the last four or five years but they’ve stuck by us.

“It’s just amazing the crowds and supporters that you see on game day.”