There is a fair chance when you are browsing the best players for the SUNS NEAFL team, the name Jacob Gillbee is almost certain to be amongst them.

Drafted at pick 49 in the 2010 National Draft, coincidently his guernsey number at the SUNS also, Gillbee was outstanding at NEAFL level last year, culminating in receiving the SUNS NEAFL Player of the Year award.

Despite the setback of a broken hand, where Gillbee missed three weeks, his form was rewarded with an AFL debut in the final round against Hawthorn.

Starting as the substitute, Gillbee managed eight possessions and a goal when he was activated into the match.

Gillbee said his first year at the club was about conditioning himself to get used to the demands of AFL, and a debut was a bonus.

“(I was) just trying to build my body up to play at AFL level, and I was lucky enough to play the last game of the year,” he said.

“The intensity around the footy and the pace is a massive step up from the NEAFL level,” he said.

In a sign that Gillbee is a big part of the SUNS future, Gillbee and the club agreed to a two year extension to his contract at the end of the 2011 season.

Gillbee was wrapped to remain with the SUNS, but didn’t want to rest on his laurels.

“It just gives you a fair amount of confidence that the club are happy with you, but obviously you can’t get complacent with that,” he said.

With an AFL debut and a contract extension in his first season, Gillbee says his second season is all about giving himself the best opportunity to build on his games tally, and the coaching staff have identified the areas he needs to work on.

“(I needed to) have a good pre-season and get the body in as best condition as I could, which I have done,” he said.

“Now it is just a matter of putting some strong games together at the NEAFL level.”

“(The coaching staff have said) to keep working on my pressure, and be clean with the footy and try and play at AFL intensity (are my main areas to focus on).”

Gillbee shares a house with teammates Steven May, Tom Lynch and Daniel Gorringe, and by the sounds of things there is plenty of competition at home amongst the boys.

“Everything we do at home is competitive, no matter what it is.”

Gillbee will be looking to continue both his own impressive form, and that of the team, as he lines up for the SUNS as they take on Labrador in the NEAFL on Saturday at 1:30pm.