Player Watch Welcome to Hawthorn : Jai “Duke” Newcombe - 2022 AFLCA Best Young Player, extends to 2026!

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[Billyc]

Maybe we were tanking for Jai

 

[The hands of stone]

Looked right at home , impressive transition from VFL straight to AFL.
Has that real hard and competitive edge we want and need .

 

[CHUBBSS]

I’m just pumped to watch more Jai Newcombe. His going to be scary good for a long time for us

 

[Bugs1977]

After last nights effort it brings great pleasure in say ‘if you don’t know… now you know’

 

[The Chad and I]

Maybe the terms were so North wouldn't pick him at no.1!

 

[dcutter]

Some of those tackles tonight....

I had honestly forgotten what a difference a hard tackling mid makes to a team

So many shades of Brad Sewell in the wy he played tonight

Spot on mate was thinking the same thing.

One thing I was super impressed with was his use of the handball. He's so quick with it and found a player in space nearly everytime when he had none himself. Shades of sam mitchell/greg williams about it.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[Sturty]

Have we announced a contract extension yet?

Blokes a GUN

 

[Brant]

Future Captain!

 

[matey]

First time for a longtime I clearly saw a good old fashioned shepherd last night by Newk! His presence in the guts is gonna generate a lot of perceived pressure for other sides to deal with. What a find. Big smile on my face since last night!

 

[Bugs1977]

Was great to see Big Boy get around him in the huddle before the game

Rumour has it that BB said ‘don’t worry son we’ll protect you’ and then Jai swiftly replied ‘yeah but who’s gonna protect them’

 

[satan1]

Loved it.
Highlighted some of what we have been missing, good solid tackling effort.
Set a tone for the rest of the side to follow.
What a pickup!

 

[LMGjr]

The "new boy" network, that does not involve Wright, seems to be doing alwright.

 

[threesixpio]

Do you reckon he is sore?

How sore would Sydney players be but…

 

[offtherails9]

I'd give him #9.

 

[Brishawk]

Wrecking ball!

 

[Blackhawk42]

Looks like a country footy player, built like a country footy player, plays like a country footy player with multiple elite traits. It's beautiful.

BTW, Has anybody made the comparison to Ollie Wines yet? We're laughing if we get a similar player for the next decade +.

 

[Burtman]

Looks like a country footy player, built like a country footy player, plays like a country footy player with multiple elite traits. It's beautiful.

BTW, Has anybody made the comparison to Ollie Wines yet? We're laughing if we get a similar player for the next decade +.

Abit more explosive than wines and a better kick, obviously it’s early but Ollie has him covered in the production side of things. But looks like we are onto a winner with this one

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Guys, perhaps just chill on the wines comparison.

 

[I got the outside word]

I really liked having an accountable midfielder, at almost every stoppage and centre bounce Duke had his hand on an opponents chest and genuinely just wanted to stop him instead of ‘outplay’ them, possessions to him came second.

 

[chopflop]

Future Captain!

Future mayor of Poowong

 

[Brishawk]

Guys, perhaps just chill on the wines comparison.

I bet duke would smash wines in a a tackle

 

[manB]

He is a Tackling machine, absolute gun.

 

[Howe Amazing]

Looks like a country footy player, built like a country footy player, plays like a country footy player with multiple elite traits. It's beautiful.

BTW, Has anybody made the comparison to Ollie Wines yet? We're laughing if we get a similar player for the next decade +.
[/QUOTE
There was a pre-game interview where one of our assistants compared him to Wines

 

[Opens positions]

So we have someone who travelled an hour each way to get to training and games after a exhaustive day working and been a full timer for a few days and plays like that.
Now trains full time in AFL environment and plays out season with a preseason to come which makes him stronger and fitter.
Oh **** what out rivals.