GWS Giants rookie Jason Gilbee reveals details about his ‘strange’ milk obsession

GWS Giants rookie Jason Gilbee has become a social media sensation after revealing the incredible amount of milk he drinks.

During a preseason AFL Bond activity, Gilbee made the startling admission that he had replaced all of his water intake with milk three years ago.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: New push for legend Leigh Matthews to join the AFL commission.

Analysis, local football and biggest moments, Seven and 7plus are home to football shows for every fan. Stream them all for free on 7plus >>

Gilbee said he always enjoyed a glass of milk.

“Me and my younger brother, we’ve always drank a lot of milk, but it was probably about three years ago that I (determined that I) would just prefer water and I would get thirsty and just crave milk instead of water, to rehydrate me,” Gilbee told News Corp.

“It’s just a really weird thing. Then I moved in with a family in Bendigo at the start of 10th grade, but they only had diet milk, so I had to switch to diet milk for a year.

“I don’t know. I just prefer the taste, I find water to be pretty boring so I just prefer the taste of milk over water.

“I used to be at school sometimes and I’d be like, ‘Gosh, I haven’t had any water in five or six days, I’d better go to the bubbler for a sip’.”

Stunned by Gilbee’s milk obsession, GWS nutritionist Melissa Jurgens is trying to convince the 18-year-old to drink more water.

“She (Jürgens) didn’t really believe it at first,” Gilbee said.

“They are very big on hydration and drinking water and carry around water bottles.

“When I train, I have to drink a little water when I train and carry around a water bottle, but when I’m at home I can kind of sneak around it and drink my milk.

“It’s a really weird thing, but I seem to be adequately hydrated just with the milk I’m drinking.”

The first-year rookie admitted he drinks water during training, but he’d rather drink milk instead.

“I still drink water on track and in practice, but out there I could easily use milk,” Gilbee said.

“If it could stay cold outside I’d probably drink milk, but just because it’s getting a bit warm I have to drink water.

“But I get off the track and then I have a glass of milk or at the gym I have a glass of milk…. and I don’t drink water at home.”

Sharing a spot with teammates Aaron Cadman and Max Gruzewski, Gilbee said the weekly amount of milk drunk would be around 10 liters, with most of that being consumed by him.

“The boys only have their cereal and I have the rest,” Gilbee said.

“There have been some complaints. I wake up a little early and they wake up and have their cereal in the bowl and there won’t be any milk left, so that’s a bit annoying.

“I kind of get there first.”

With the Giants, Gillbee was nicknamed “Milky” by Ruck coach Shane Mumford.

“‘Milky’ was[used]a little bit, Shane Mumford started it, and then Finn Callaghan continued that,” Gilbee said.

“I got ‘Milky’ a little bit, but I have a feeling there’s going to be something that’s going to stick with it.”

Slowly but surely, Gilbee has tried to convince his teammates of the goodness of the milk, and some have jumped on the bandwagon.

“When I took it to the meeting, it was flying around the club, it was pretty fun,” he said.

“They thought it was quite strange. But there are actually a couple of guys who are going to have a glass with me now, so hopefully we can work something out.