Player Watch #21: Matthew Jefferson

[Scythe]

Is bumping this thread punching down? Perhaps, but I don't think I've seen a less AFL-ready player in a long time.

Five games in after three seasons on the list, and he's averaging four disposals and a mark per game, and hasn't kicked a goal since his first game.

Yes, our ball movement is diabolical and he's not to blame for where we're at, but he's completely uncompetitive at this point, and what's potentially worse is that I just can't see an AFL-level skill in his bag. Lack of strength aside, he's not a good mark, he's not a good kick, he's slow, he fumbles a lot and he offers nothing defensively.

Maybe the Casey folk can drum up some optimism for us, because I just don’t see it with him (at all).

 

[Scythe]

Picking his spots. You've gotta kick to a contest of 24 players, not six. How else are we meant to practice our contest. Did I mention contest? We're working incredibly hard on our contest. Come down to our environment and see.

Two years later, here we are

 

[schmuttt]

He is worse than Weideman which is impressive.

Clubs inability to draft and develop KPFs since Hogan is so disappointing.

 

[Daemon]

I had high hopes... He's a twig that gets brushed aside like a leaf and falls over at the slightest breeze.

Unfortunately he's a bust in my book.

 

[schmuttt]

His lack of athleticism and presence is so frustrating. Aiden Johnson is a massive spud but he looks so much better than Jeffo at AFL level purely because he has a go.

 

[Lord Nev]

Big time punching down Scythe.

He was poor, but there's a dozen other threads of actual senior players that should be bumped first IMO.

 

[ray_purchase]

Jason Taylor is the worst recruiter in the AFL at identifying tall forward talent.


Time for him to go surely.

 

[Scythe]

Big time punching down Scythe.

He was poor, but there's a dozen other threads of actual senior players that should be bumped first IMO.

Have they not all been bumped over the past few weeks? Nobody has posted in here since 2023 – probably the right time to start discussing him.

 

[Fork n Hell]

Is bumping this thread punching down? Perhaps, but I don't think I've seen a less AFL-ready player in a long time.

Five games in after three seasons on the list, and he's averaging four disposals and a mark per game, and hasn't kicked a goal since his first game.

Yes, our ball movement is diabolical and he's not to blame for where we're at, but he's completely uncompetitive at this point, and what's potentially worse is that I just can't see an AFL-level skill in his bag. Lack of strength aside, he's not a good mark, he's not a good kick, he's slow, he fumbles a lot and he offers nothing defensively.

Maybe the Casey folk can drum up some optimism for us, because I just don’t see it with him (at all).

he's shown some good skills and clean marking at times in the VFL but we haven't seen it come through at AFL level. i'm starting to think that maybe Luker Kentfield is a better chance of making it than Jefferson.

 

[Lord Nev]

Have they not all been bumped over the past few weeks? Nobody has posted in here since 2023 – probably the right time to start discussing him.

Yeah maybe. Just seems unfair the criticism he's already copping to me. He's in a nightmare setup atm in every way, and while there's not much to see from him at this stage, just personally I'd be putting all the attention on the senior core. I get it though, play on.

 

[Scythe]

Yeah maybe. Just seems unfair the criticism he's already copping to me. He's in a nightmare setup atm in every way, and while there's not much to see from him at this stage, just personally I'd be putting all the attention on the senior core. I get it though, play on.

That's fair. I had just hoped to see some signs from him by now, even with the dreadful setup we have: whether that's a nice kick, a strong mark, some presence, anything.

Yes, it's early. But I'm really struggling to see it with him at the moment, even though I'm usually one of the first to go in to bat for young players.

 

[Daemon]

Big time punching down Scythe.

He was poor, but there's a dozen other threads of actual senior players that should be bumped first IMO.

Totally disagree. How many years has he been on the list and played VFL? Every time he has come into the seniors he has looked meek and weak. Nothing against him personally, probably a nice bloke. But he doesn't look and act like he belongs at AFL level.

 

[Lord Nev]

Totally disagree. How many years has he been on the list and played VFL? Every time he has come into the seniors he has looked meek and weak. Nothing against him personally, probably a nice bloke. But he doesn't look and act like he belongs at AFL level.

Not defending his performance, just me personally I'd be cracking in at Petracca, Fritsch, Lever, McVee, Chandler and Salem well before pointing the gun at Jefferson. I get the concern though.

 

[Lampers]

Maybe the Casey folk can drum up some optimism for us, because I just don’t see it with him (at all).

What I see from him in the AFL is very similar to some of the almost anonymous games he has in the VFL.

I was disappointed to see that passage where he just jogged and his man ran off him and was involved in setting up play.

He did seem to address those deficiencies in a few games in the VFL earlier this season so it’s frustrating to see them return in the AFL.

So the best I can do is say I’ve seen him turn this sort of thing around in the VFL, and maybe he can also do it in the AFL.

I really hope they persist with him and JVR for the rest of this year. What’s to lose?

For Jeffo it either really clarifies for him what his gaps are for AFL and gives him focus. Or it clarifies for the list management team that Jeffo is a bust.

 

[Lord Nev]

What I see from him in the AFL is very similar to some of the almost anonymous games he has in the VFL.

I was disappointed to see that passage where he just jogged and his man ran off him and was involved in setting up play.

He did seem to address those deficiencies in a few games in the VFL earlier this season so it’s frustrating to see them return in the AFL.

So the best I can do is say I’ve seen him turn this sort of thing around in the VFL, and maybe he can also do it in the AFL.

I really hope they persist with him and JVR for the rest of this year. What’s to lose?

For Jeffo it either really clarifies for him what his gaps are for AFL and gives him focus. Or it clarifies for the list management team that Jeffo is a bust.

He's actually pretty decent for tackles inside 50 and contested marks at VFL level, and his strength is his ability to get on the lead, but he just looks lost so far at AFL level. He can do those things though.

 

[Daemon]

Not defending his performance, just me personally I'd be cracking in at Petracca, Fritsch, Lever, McVee, Chandler and Salem well before pointing the gun at Jefferson. I get the concern though.

I know you are not necessarily having a go at me but I've had a crack at all those you have mentioned except McVee (coming back from injury) and Chin (started the season really well and has completely disappeared). Don't even get me started about Salem...

 

[Lord Nev]

I know you are not necessarily having a go at me but I've had a crack at all those you have mentioned except McVee (coming back from injury) and Chin (started the season really well and has completely disappeared). Don't even get me started about Salem...

Oh yeah, I don't want it come across as having a go at anyone, I totally get the frustration with him. I don't disagree with any of the points raised about him.

 

[Toump Ass]

How did this guy end up being a first round pick.
It's ****ing embarrassing.

 

[Toump Ass]

Toumpas-level recruitment here.

I'm trying to think of a softer player in the AFL and I just can't.

 

[danster168]

yeah, he's not going to amount to anything.

 

[Topkent]

Toumpas-level recruitment here.

I'm trying to think of a softer player in the AFL and I just can't.

This is what I said pre season and I stick by it. He's a bust

Jefferson albeit from the handful of times I've seen him isn't it for me. I was trying to work out how to describe him, some forwards when they jump at the footy they are the threat and they have to be moved or intercepted.
Jefferson isn't the main object, he's jumping around the main target trying to effect the contest. It's not a straight line it's an angle. He uses his body like his Mitch Hannan going for it.

 

[stEdy]

Go look at Jason Taylor calling out his name in the draft. He looked gutted. Feel like club/Goody overruled best available to go for him as we needed a "tall".

Considering the club's hard on for competitors you'd think he would have an amazing athletic profile to make up for his uncompetitive nature - but he doesn't even really have that.

Sad really

 

[I Love Lamb]

Just one of many draft **** ups since our flag. Barry Prendagast level recruiting in recent years. Makes me wonder if soft cap impact during Covid has had an effect somehow to our recruitment because it’s gone to shit since about then.

 

[netslave]

Looks ok at vfl level, needs another 10kgs and a F50 structure that actually works before he comes back to the AFL imo.

 

[tomcruise]

He'll play better if we start calling him Jeff Ass