Senior Jarrod Berry (2016-)

2021 Season Review: J. Berry & K. Coleman

2021 was a tough slog for Jarrod Berry as he battled with niggling injuries, while Keidean Coleman solidified his spot in Chris Fagan’s Best 22 across half-back.

Managing just 11 games, Berry was hampered by a nagging groin injury.

With a staggered start to the season, the 23-year-old found consistency in the latter half of the year.

The big-bodied midfielder looked dangerous with ball in hand and showed his growth in Round 23 when he put on a near best-on-ground performance, kicking 3 goals as the Lions soared into the Top Four.

Having overcome his niggles, Berry will be looking to wipe the slate clean and hit the ground running in 2022.

The bash and crash mid will have a formidable partner in crime going into pre-season with Cam Rayner eyeing off his return while looking to impact in the middle of the ground.
Click to expand...

Standout Performances

Bez Lifts as Lions Soar

In a frustrating year for Jarrod Berry, there was no better time to put on a season-best performance than in Brisbane’s must-win clash against West Coast in Round 23.

With a Top Four spot on the line, ‘Bez’ starred in a 15 disposal, 3 goal effort that helped the Lions secure a double chance in September.

Providing plenty of entertainment for the sold out Gabba crowd, Berry missed a goal to sink the Eagles late in the game before earning himself a free-kick to redeem himself in a rare 7-point play that sunk the dagger into the hearts of Eagles fans.

23BrWC21AP364143635.JPG


Season Averages

Disposals – 12.5

Kicks – 6.8

Marks – 2.2

Tackles – 3.1

Total Clearances – 1.5
Click to expand...
 
What You Missed at Men's Training This Week

Jarrod Berry seems to have put his injury riddled 2021 behind him, looking ferocious in the Lions contested drills where he impressively broke a strong tackle, spun and hit Nakia Cockatoo lace out in the 50.
Click to expand...
 
Sigh of Relief for Zorko

Austin also confirmed good news for Daniel Rich and Jarrod Berry who both required treatment throughout the game.

Rich jarred his hip landing from a marking contest but played out the game while Berry received a knock to the shoulder.

“Richy will be fine and Bez had a minor shoulder capsule irritation but it is stable and we’ll get him up for this week,’’ he said.
Click to expand...
 
NO ONE'S UNTAGGABLE: Why Berry's run-with role could return

CHRIS Fagan will have no hesitation in deploying Jarrod Berry to more run-with roles in the future, saying no player in the competition is untaggable.

Berry was assigned to follow Zach Merrett after quarter-time of Saturday's 22-point win over Essendon, slowly restricting the Bomber midfielder's influence after he torched the Lions in the opening term.

Although Fagan believes there is no definitive answer in whether to tag opposing midfielders or not, he says it's an option he's happy to continue exploring.


"One of the other things we've worked on this year is trying to have a few more levers to pull in games when things aren't going so well," Fagan said on Tuesday.

"That's one we'd certainly consider if an opposition midfielder is causing problems, which Zach Merrett was clearly doing early in the game.

"Will we do that every week? I'm not sure.

"It's good to have a player like Jarrod Berry that can switch from an offensive, ball-hunting midfielder to playing more of a tagging, run-with role."

Fagan said it was a decision he and the Lions coaching staff had weighed up many times over recent years, but usually decided to "back our blokes in" to start winning more contested ball rather than restricting an opponent.
Click to expand...
 
Berry Goes Big in Career High

280381378_1221007271977733_1925591408759630250_n.png


Berry’s career-best 33 possessions in his 96th game against the Giants, which topped his previous best of 28 back in his 34th game in 2018, hoists him into a club history of 30-possession games which will surprise many.

Not for aggregate 30-possession games. Simon Black (59) leads from Tom Rockliff (58), Nigel Lappin (35), Luke Power (30), Dayne Beams (27), a charging Lachie Neale (25), Dayne Zorko (25), Michael Voss (24) and Adrian Fletcher (23).

Berry’s 96-game wait for his first 30-possession games ranks him 39th among 41 players who made their AFL debut with Brisbane. Only Power (106) and Ash McGrath (128) had to wait longer in a bottom five which also includes Hugh McCluggage (87) and Jason Akermanis (94).

Berry is the eighth current Brisbane player with at least one 30-possession game in the book. After Neale and Zorko are Daniel Rich (10), Jarryd Lyons (9), McCluggage (6), Mitch Robinson (6) and Rhys Mathieson (1).
Click to expand...
 
Year to Date: What the Stats Say

Jarrod Berry and Jarryd Lyons rank 4th and 5th in the competition for goal assists with 13 apiece.
Click to expand...
 
Draft look back: The inside story of how the 2016 draft played out — and how Brisbane aced it

For Berry it was a different story. A lacerated kidney and bung shoulder headlined major injuries in his draft year while he also lost his mum, Jedda, to breast cancer in 2013.

But the Lions loved his work at halfback as a bottom-ager and, like McCluggage, his character.

“He had to fight some adversity and on top of that was doing year 12 at boarding school,” Conole said.

“He just kept soldiering on as he does. He’s an outstanding young man.”

Berry thought West Coast would draft him in 2016.

But when the Eagles grabbed Daniel Venables instead the Lions grew confident the schoolmates would become AFL teammates.

“It was certainly something we were hoping for,” Conole said.

“To say it was the plan, there were a lot of picks between Hugh and Jarrod that other clubs had but it fell our way.

“We certainly liked them individually as players, but the fact they were so close was a real bonus for us.

“If you can match those type of boys together it does pay dividends.”
Click to expand...

“We certainly liked them individually as players, but the fact they were so close was a real bonus for us.

“If you can match those type of boys together it does pay dividends.”

Coaches Chris Fagan (Lions) and Brett Ratten (St Kilda) both gave McCluggage and Berry votes in their last game.

McCluggage scooped a perfect 10 while Berry’s aerial strengths were showcased more on the wing.

McCluggage and Berry lived with Harris Andrews, who will captain Brisbane at the MCG on Thursday night, and when Berry purchased a house McCluggage moved in.

They are future leaders at the Lions with Berry set to play his 100th game next week.
Click to expand...

Partington struggles to remember better kids than McCluggage and Berry.

“I used to always say once you’ve played 100 AFL games you’ve made an AFL player – it’s easier to get in and harder to stay in the system,” he said.

“You get 100 games that’s a six or seven year career. But I think those boys might have just wrecked my philosophy a little bit and gone a bit early, because as soon as they walked into the AFL they’ve become comfortable.

“They’re quality players but more importantly quality men. I don’t think the Brisbane Lions would ever get any trouble out of McCluggage or Berry.”
Click to expand...
 
Bez Cracks the Ton

220162_AFL_Milestones_100_Game_Berry_Article_Header.jpg


There were certain players the Brisbane Lions needed at the 2016 draft to for the club to rebuild in a bid to experience success in the coming years.

A talented teenager, from the country Victorian town of Horsham, by the name of Jarrod Berry was definitely one.

It wasn’t just because of his big engine or his versatility to play through the midfield and down back.

Having had several players leave the club and wins being few and far between, National Recruiting Manager Stephen Conole knew there needed to be an extra focus on specific personality traits.

“To get boys to move states and to try to help us with some sort of rebuild, we needed players with resilience and character,” Conole explained.

“Moving away from home isn’t easy for any young lad, but Jarrod did that already going to boarding school in Ballarat, so we had a reasonable idea he could do it.

“He also didn’t have an easy top age year with serious injuries and other adversity, but he was always around to support his teammates, so we knew he was quite resilient.

“He was always a super leader amongst his peers, well respected by teammates and we were looking to get players into the footy club who were impressive on field and off field.”

Right throughout the recruiting process Berry gave Conole and the Lions every indication he was the player they wanted and needed. But sometimes that changes when the player arrives at an AFL club.

Not Berry, if anything the former Victoria Country captain became even more of a natural leader and professional.

“He was always a real self-starter, it wasn’t just his footy ability he set an example on the training track and that stood out from the moment he got to the club,” the Lions recruiting manager said.

“He is just such an important cog and a strong team player – he has a fantastic team ethos, and he has always tried to make the team better.

“It is a fantastic effort to get to 100 games, and as Leon Harris (Lions recruitment consultant) says ‘you are not an AFL player until you’ve played 100 games’ and I reckon the next 100 games he will have real success.”

Getting Berry to Brisbane was one thing, though as the Lions had found out – keeping players like him at the club and building around them was the challenge.

Recruiting best mate and fellow North Ballarat Rebel Hugh McCluggage in the same draft helped a lot, as did bringing in Berry’s younger brother Thomas a couple of years later.

_DSC9668-2.jpg


Now on the eve of his 100th game, Berry has lived up to be the player and person the Lions believed he would. And most importantly he has stayed committed.

“The boys and the culture that we have,” Berry said when asked what has kept him at the Lions.

“They (the boys) are actually my genuine mates outside of football and that gives us a closer bond and we know each other better than we would if we were just teammates.

“And I guess the Brisbane lifestyle up here is pretty relaxed and easy going, which I love.”
Click to expand...
 
Brisbane's Trump Card Proving Handy

Bez-Tag-Article.png


For the third time this season, Chris Fagan switched Jarrod Berry to a tagging role mid-match on Saturday night against the Suns, and for the third time he had great success.

After slowing down a rampant Zach Merrett in round two and then a destructive Jordan Dawson in round nine, against Gold Coast it was Touk Miller who Berry had to lock in on after the Suns' co-captain threatened to steer his team to an upset win.

After Miller had gathered an eye-catching 28 disposals through three quarters, winning the ball on the inside and exploding into space on the outside, Fagan moved his No.1 stopper for the final term.

Berry had success, keeping Miller to six 'quiet' disposals and playing a role in Brisbane's dominant final term.

The 24-year-old is arguably having his best year to date. Minus a minor hamstring injury that ruled him out of Rounds 17 and 18, Berry has impressed with his ball use and toughness around the contest.

The big bodied midfielder enjoyed a day out in Round 11 against GWS, racking up a career-high 33 disposals, 10 marks and kicking a nice goal to finish off.

Berry offers a versatile option for Chris Fagan in the midfield and while his tagging ability won't necessarily be called upon all the time, it's a useful trump card to have against the competition's best going into the last month of the season.
Click to expand...
 
Qscan Injury Update: Adams' Season Over

Jarrod Berry has recovered well from his ankle injury and will train Tuesday to be available to play.
Click to expand...
 
Off to the Tribunal: Lions to challenge Berry ban

BRISBANE will challenge the one-match ban handed to midfielder Jarrod Berry in a bid to clear him for Friday night's preliminary final against Geelong at the MCG.

Berry was charged with making "unreasonable or unnecessary contact to the eye region" of Melbourne star Clayton Oliver during Brisbane's 13-point semi-final win on Friday night.

Oliver pinned the Lion to the ground and Berry appeared to make hand contact with the Demon's face.

The Melbourne star complained to an umpire moments later, pointing towards his eyes in the process.

The incident was assessed as intentional conduct, high contact and low impact, drawing a one-match ban.

But the Lions confirmed on Sunday evening that they would challenge the ban at the AFL Tribunal.

Berry played a key role in the Lions' come-from-behind 14.8 (92) to 11.13 (79) upset of Melbourne, and Brisbane desperately want him cleared to face the in-form Cats.

Speaking on Fox Footy post-match, Berry was adamant there was "nothing purposeful" in his contact and said the incident was "just a little scuffle" and "part of the contest".
Click to expand...
 
Five talking points: Lions say hooroo to MCG hoodoo

Berry's heroics, but is he in trouble?

After Deven Robertson did a steady job tagging Clayton Oliver in the first half – the influential Demon had 12 disposals, including six clearances – Chris Fagan switched things up at the main break by moving Jarrod Berry over to run-with the red-haired midfielder. Berry was magnificent, not only slowing Oliver's influence down, but proving a driving force for the victors, finishing with 26 disposals and six score involvements. A third-quarter incident is sure to be looked at in the Match Review though, where the pair were tangled on the ground, with Oliver rising to his feet and indicating Berry had put his fingers near Oliver's eyes.
Click to expand...
 
Free to play: Lions mid to take on Cats after successful appeal

BRISBANE midfielder Jarrod Berry is free to face Geelong in Friday night's preliminary final after having his one-match suspension overturned at the Tribunal on Tuesday night.

Berry was charged with intentional contact to the eye region of Melbourne's Clayton Oliver in last Friday night's semi-final, but after two-and-a-half hours of evidence, it took the panel just 20 minutes to deliberate and give the Lions the verdict they craved.

The Tribunal agreed with Brisbane that Berry's actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances, but more in self-defence as he tried to pry Oliver off him.

"Berry's action with his left hand occurred because he felt pressure to his throat," Tribunal chair Jeff Gleeson said.

"He felt under threat and his intention was to get Oliver off him. This would be a natural, human reaction to feeling forceful pressure to the throat."

Gleeson said Berry had limited visibility of Oliver's face and had no clear view he was making contact with Oliver's eye region.

"It was fleeting and not forceful, no injury and little to no discomfort to Oliver," he said.

In a lengthy hearing, the Lions called on Luke Hodge as a character witness, a neurologist to outline why Berry's reaction was a protective mechanism, but most importantly the 24-year-old spoke at length to defend himself.

Berry said he felt "under threat" with Oliver on him and was flailing around with legs and arms to free himself.

"My intentions were to get him off me … by pushing him or grabbing his jumper and pulling him off me, but I was in quite a vulnerable position," Berry said.

"If I laid there without a reaction, I was concerned I might lose consciousness.

"I did not intentionally make contact with Clayton's face. I truly believe that. I was just trying to get him off me."

Brisbane argued there was pressure on Berry's throat, the only accessible region he could push Oliver off was his face because he his left arm was so restricted, that he couldn't see Oliver's face, and that it was a "fleeting" incident.

The Tribunal ultimately agreed with all of those points.

The Lions threw everything at the case to defend their rugged midfielder, even taking evidence from Dr Damian Amato, a neurologist based in Brisbane.

Dr Amato said Berry's actions were consistent with someone protecting himself with a forearm on his throat.

"The danger of that is obstruction of his airway and reducing oxygen supply to the brain," Dr Amato said.

"It's obvious from the footage he's not moving in one single manner, but flailing all limbs to get Oliver off him and relieve pressure from his airway.

"He was protecting himself."
Click to expand...
 
Reading back up on some of the initial pre draft write ups about him, you can see those qualities starting to show and it was far more evident on Friday night. Hope he continues this vain of form.
 
bungalow_bill said:
To think that Berry was a freebie for moving down the draft 1 spot and having to settle with McCluggage. Thank you Giants
Click to expand...

And now Taranto is off, back to Melbourne.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top