sentences:  Prior to the Draft, Gumbleton was widely seen as one of the top key position players for his age group, and was expected to be Essendon's first pick in the number 2 spot.As a natural centre half-forward player, Gumbleton's imposing figure places him in the immediate spotlight, with North Melbourne recruiting manager Neville Stibbard already talking of an upcoming rivalry between Gumbleton and the third draft pick of the same year, Lachlan Hansen, who has been described as a natural centre half-back.Gumbleton's 2007, 2008 and 2009 seasons were all plagued by injury and he played only five AFL games in first three seasons, all of which were in 2007.