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Player Watch #13 Jai Serong - Welcome to Sydney

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Kiama Chris said:
Under the assumption that Tmac plays interceptor, Melican first lockdown and then ? as second lockdown. Hypothetical of course.
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Set up will probably depend on the sides we play and who is having a good night or not
 
Kiama Chris said:
Under the assumption that Tmac plays interceptor, Melican first lockdown and then ? as second lockdown. Hypothetical of course.
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Maybe this is a dumb question, but what does it mean to play the interceptor?

They line up on a less dangerous forward so get a bit more license to drift off their man? Or is it they play as a loose man in defence (which is a bit harder with the 666 rule)
 
Wazowski said:
Maybe this is a dumb question, but what does it mean to play the interceptor?

They line up on a less dangerous forward so get a bit more license to drift off their man? Or is it they play as a loose man in defence (which is a bit harder with the 666 rule)
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Bit of both. They'll have a direct opponent with a license to leave that player and impact other contests. If we find ourselves with 7 defenders (a winger has moved back or opposition have moved a forward more up the ball) they'll rotate around to be our loose player who can again, impact more contests
 

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Wazowski said:
Maybe this is a dumb question, but what does it mean to play the interceptor?

They line up on a less dangerous forward so get a bit more license to drift off their man? Or is it they play as a loose man in defence (which is a bit harder with the 666 rule)
Click to expand...
Watch the grand final concentrating on Harris Andrews. He's the best at it. Yes to the first sentence. Payne takes the gun forward and Joyce, Brain and Gardiner take others (can't find the GF matchups). Often he will turn up to mark or spoil or to help out another defender.
Not truly a loose man with no opponent but often plays off him.
Paddy McCartin played that role with Tom and Rampe playing as the keys. Made a huge difference.
Every team in the last 4 had a gun interceptor; Andrews, Stewart (injured), Moore, Sicily.
Cox tried to get Blakey to play as a tall defender but it was a rank failure. It isn't his bag at all, despite his height.
Hence my postings about the structure and manning of defence in the coming season.
 
MF said:
I was more so getting at whether or not he could play as a key defender.

Thankyou though Jack and good luck with your fight against Islam. I've got you by TKO in round 2.
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Islam won’t survive the first round, brother.
 
MF said:
Is Jai only capable of playing that 3rd tall role?

He's listed as only being 1cm shorter than Melican and looks pretty solidly built.
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His played on taller forwards in the VFL and done quite well.
 
DellaMaddalena said:
He played a bit of wing for
Box Hill.
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His played a variety of roles.

Up until this year he was a KPD, but this year they have used him as an interceptor/ wingman for his development.

With both Battle and Barrass in their team I can see why they made the pivot.
 
Bonz said:
His played a variety of roles.

Up until this year he was a KPD, but this year they have used him as an interceptor/ wingman for his development.

With both Battle and Barrass in their team I can see why they made the pivot.
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They had Weddell playing that kind of role in seniors.
 

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Callipygian said:
Can you share a precis of what it says too?
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That's partly what I based my comment about him possibly playing forward on.
"The former Hawks defender...... has immediately impressed at the Swans.
While his size and mobility are clear positives, his sharp hands and ball-use will be an added bonus."
Elsewhere there was a comment about him getting a lot of praise from coaching staff.
 

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Kiama Chris said:
That's partly what I based my comment about him possibly playing forward on.
"The former Hawks defender...... has immediately impressed at the Swans.
While his size and mobility are clear positives, his sharp hands and ball-use will be an added bonus."
Elsewhere there was a comment about him getting a lot of praise from coaching staff.
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And I'm still mulling over your comment as well. It is growing on me (as are a number of unsavoury things) as an option.
 
dosser said:
And I'm still mulling over your comment as well. It is growing on me (as are a number of unsavoury things) as an option.
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The words MOBILITY along with DEFENCE stuck in my mind. I started to think "what about Curnow, McDonald and Serong plus smalls, mids and the second ruck?"
Probably not but if we're shuffling the deck that's a lot more mobile than Curnow, Amartey and McLean.
Especially if Edwards comes on.
 
I know we sold the farm to get Curnow,
But
Serong could be the significant piece of the puzzle we ne need to go further into September.

I remember when we had Paddy McCartin in defence and we looked so composed.
I know Serong was brought in to be a lockdown defender.
Maybe Tommy can become Paddy and do that interceptor role.

Hoping our defence becomes a weapon.
We have the smalls in Cunningham and Wicks.
Carmichael, Rampe and Bice as mediums.
 
Wazowski said:
Maybe this is a dumb question, but what does it mean to play the interceptor?

They line up on a less dangerous forward so get a bit more license to drift off their man? Or is it they play as a loose man in defence (which is a bit harder with the 666 rule)
Click to expand...
Nah, dumb questions are the ones no-one asks because they're too worried about looking ignorant.

You asked asked a question to further your own knowledge and in the process you evoked some interesting discussion on exactly what the role of an interceptor entailed and how we might fill that role. Your question left many of us with a bit more knowledge and clarification. Thanks
 
Callipygian said:
It seems to be official - Jai Serong has been traded to the Swans from the Hawks for a swap of future picks. Welcome Jai!

Jai is 192 cm 3rd tall type - originally taken as a forward but has played as a backman. He's been Hawthorn's best player in the VFL the past 2 years running but hasn't been able to crack into the senior side due to the strength that the Hawks have in the back half. He's got a couple of years of development in him but still young (turns 23 in February) and needs opportunity which we can hopefully give him either immediately or in the near future (with the retirements of Rampe and Hamling imminent, very likely at the end of next season). He's also the younger brother of Caleb Serong. Caleb grew up barracking for the Swans, so maybe Jai did too? Maybe we'll find out soon. They grew up in South Gippsland and Jai played the Gippsland Power as a junior..

I feel like we have given less than I would have expected to get him, and that makes me wonder if Hawthorn would have let him go so easily if they really rated him. Clearly not enough to play him in seniors. Nevertheless, here's hoping Jai can carve out a long and successful career at the Swans.

Here are some highlights from his junior days:

Looks like he's pretty agile for his size. A right footer.


He's played a total of 10 games - 3 in his first year (2022), 2 the following season, 5 in 2024 and then zero games in 2025 (despite having been the best VFL player) explaining why he was keen to move for more opportunity. When you look at it like that, Hawthorn have done the right thing by him letting him move on.

And, finally, here is Jai's draft profile from 4 years ago: https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/jai-serong/
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Gee, a former Hawthorn young talent with strong footy genes coming to us after being starved for opportunity.

How did that work out last time?
 

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