Family's VFL-AFL football pedigree a plus for Koroit midfielder Willem Drew

The small-town Hampden league club which punches above its weight is engrained in the creative midfielder, who is already a three-time premiership player at 18.

It’s where members of Drew’s talent-laden family started their careers before moving onto bigger stages, implanting the belief he could follow their paths.

The AFL draft contender’s first cousin is Essendon defender Marty Gleeson.

Former Carlton midfielder Adrian Gleeson is his uncle and ex-VFL star Dom Gleeson, a ball winner with Werribee and Geelong, is a cousin.

Another relative, Saints teammate Jarrod Korewha, is a 2016 draft chance too.

Then there’s older brother Haydn, who graduated from TAC Cup club North Ballarat Rebels two years before he joined the elite pathway program.

Throw in his dad Terry, a former South Warrnambool and Dennington player whom he rates the biggest influence on his career, and Drew is afforded a luxury of experience to call on.

“My whole family has been involved in footy and Dad was a pretty handy player back in the day, so I’ve heard,” Drew said.

“Haydn’s been through the Rebels program and VFL and played for Southern Mallee Giants this year in the Horsham District league.

“They won the grand final and he received the best on ground medal as well (like I did for Koroit).”

Marty Gleeson said a passion for sport ran in the family.

“Everyone in the family is mad about footy,” he said.

“It is no surprise really, because every Christmas it is all about sport.”

Gleeson, 22, believes his younger cousin has benefitted from the strong football pedigree.

The rebounding Bombers defender stood on the sidelines and watched Drew win two of his three senior premierships, including the 2016 decider where he shared best on ground honours with Levi Nagorcka. 

“He played very well in the one just gone; he was probably the most influential player on the ground,” Gleeson said.

“I was rapt to see him win his third premiership already, which is an awesome achievement and something I am very jealous of.

“Him and James Gow have both won three and they’re 18 and 19 respectively, (it’s just) crazy.”

Drew terrorised first-time grand finalist North Warrnambool Eagles as Koroit clawed back from a 30-point half-time deficit to win a third straight flag.

He combined with his TAC Cup teammates Gow and Korewha to put the Saints 19 points clear 20 minutes into the final term, all but guaranteeing coach Adam Dowie would bow out with six Hampden league premierships.

“I thought his ability to go forward and kick goals at crucial times (was huge),” Gleeson recalled.

“And around the midfield he is just a standout winning the ball, just being clean and seeing things a step or two ahead of all the other players.”

Drew had to make a tough choice when the chance to play in a third-straight grand final arose.

He was busy preparing for the AFL draft combine after impressing scouts playing for North Ballarat Rebels and at national level for Vic Country.

An opportunity to play in a one-off under 18 all-stars game – a concept which brought the best of the 2016 draft class together on one stage – at Punt Road the following Friday also needed to be taken into consideration.

In the end, home-town pride won out.

Drew lined up for the Saints, celebrated that night with the Koroit faithful before buckling down for a busy week of football and school exam preparations. 

“Koroit had a few injuries at the time which made it a little bit easier,” Drew said of his decision.

“They put no pressure on me to play.

“They’ve been an unreal club to me and support for me, so I thought while the opportunity is there, I may as well go for it and it turned out to be pretty good.”

Drew was 15 when he won his first senior premiership, a feat he now labels “ridiculous”.

He made his Koroit debut on a wing in round two, 2014, against South Warrnambool and the calmness he showed under pressure ensured he kept his spot in a star-studded line-up for the entire year.

A midfield opportunity came calling in the latter stages of the following season, which proved to be the perfect launching pad for his top-age TAC Cup campaign.

Drew finished second behind potential number one pick Hugh McCluggage – his Ballarat Clarendon College classmate and fellow Hampden league alumni – in the Rebels’ best and fairest.

His consistency in 15 games proved his strongest asset.

“It was a massive honour and a privilege,” Drew said of his runner-up finish.

“There’s a lot of great players in that group at the Rebels this year and I’ve got some great friendships up there, especially with Hugh, and he’s had a great year and deserves it.”

Drew’s rise in TAC Cup ranks came after he cobbled together four appearances in his bottom-age year.

The plaudits which followed, including a Vic Country call-up, surprised the former Emmanuel College student.

“At the start of the year I didn’t really know what to expect and this year has gone really quickly with everything that’s happened,” he said.​