Review #221 Jackson Nelson (2015 - 2022)

[RookiePick]

Round 5 and a breakout game from Nelson with 17 disposals (10 contested), 5 tackles and 4 each of the d50 and i50 disposals. Jackson's staunch efforts around the ball and willingness to take the game on has seen him feature heavily in the board BOG votes and generated some buzz amongst the herd as we shamble towards derby XLV

On a very dark day for the club Nelson burned brightly as a hope for the future. Nelson was visibly distressed by the s**t sandwich served up by the team on the MCG stage at the conclusion of the 51 point embarrassment.

"Jackson contemplates the sad task of taking "Old Pridda" out the back and ending his pain on the return to Perth""

 

[2006_Eagles]

Round 5 and a breakout game from Nelson with 17 disposals (10 contested), 5 tackles and 4 each of the d50 and i50 disposals. Jackson's staunch efforts around the ball and willingness to take the game on has seen him feature heavily in the board BOG votes and generated some buzz amongst the herd as we shamble towards derby XLV

On a very dark day for the club Nelson burned brightly as a hope for the future. Nelson was visibly distressed by the s**t sandwich served up by the team on the MCG stage at the conclusion of the 51 point embarrassment.

"Jackson contemplates the sad task of taking "Old Pridda" out the back and ending his pain on the return to Perth""

Contemplates 21 other spuds not giving a s**t

 

[RookiePick]

A strong return to the seniors after a week at East Perth, where was named in the bests, sees Jackson continuing to build form in the round 10 clash vs GWS.

Jackson produced his first 20+ disposal game at AFL level on 81% TOG

to be amongst our top 10 possession earners. A bit of rust was evident after a month away from senior footy but the character of aggression, willingness to take the game on and heart were on full display again in a narrow loss.

An absolute steal in the 50's and our standout 2014 draftee to date. We've got a good one here lads and you don't argue with that!

 

[RookiePick]

Well...it's been a grim season for lord Nelson overall with a bad run of injuries, the most recent a hamstring during our round 11 capitulation to the Gold Coast Suns that has kept Jackson out until being rushed back into the side in round 17 to try and rescue what is rapidly turning into an annus horribilus.

Hopefully Nelson gets through and keeps his Dockers opponent to minimal impact in the likely, last derby at subiaco.

 

[RookiePick]

Whelp 2017 goes in the book as a developmental year rather than the breakout season it looked like it could have been early in the year.

Cruelled by injury and then battling to regain form saw Jackson finish his season in Round 22 of the WAFL at East Perth as his form at AFL level unfortunately tailed off.

A big preseason and Jackson will enter his 4th season well placed to cement a role in the side as the Eagles transition to a post-Priddis life. Nelson has already showed flexibility in his 32 games to date with a rebounding half back role combined with minutes on a wing and around the ball looking likely.

Here's to a good pre-season for our #30. Get fit, get strong and get angry, Jackson!! (Get some long stops too you slippy campaigner)

Whoever gets Jackson next season is going to have one of the most exciting young talents on our list - enjoy.

 

[bUCKET__]

Well, not too much to write home about our boy Jacko over the past couple of years it seems!

Much of what RookiePick has posted above about Nelson's development and lack of continuity has remained true over the 18-19 period.

Nelson was a valuable and underrated squad member during out 2018 flag year. Though he fell out of the squad in the second half of the year in place of Tommy Cole (who had a ripper year), he was a consistent member of the early season win-streak that set up our year.

Gaff? Nicnat? Add Jackson Nelson to this list of players unlucky to miss out on the flag glory, boy deserves a premiership.

2019 saw a slow start for Nelson, despite some limited preseason hype on this board about how highly he's rated internally. He took to the WAFL with a good attitude, earning some praise for his improved leadership onfield. Forced his way back into the senior squad to finish the year with a personal best 12 game streak; his lockdown abilities keeping Cole out of the squad and an out of form Duggan relegated to the back pocket in the WAFL.

Becoming a bit of a whipping boy around here with a few folks not appreciating the need for dour, disciplined defenders... and a couple of rather unlucky late-season HTBs didn't help him here.

But still, Nelson continues his slow improvement, and is about to hit the age bracket where he will be expecting regular senior games. Most of his highlights still revolve around the lack of impact the oppo smalls have. But here's a stand-out moment that reminded everyone of the tenacity and composure that his best gives us:

 

[bUCKET__]

New candidate for the yearly Training the House Down award, as Nelson finds the right boots to get him placing a close third in the first 2020 2k time trial.

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Just pipped by Duggan, with Gaff miles in front.

Well placed to defend his spot in the best 22 this year.

 

[dispute]

Have only just stumbled upon this great interview https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/551066/eagles-q-a-jackson-nelson

 

[bUCKET__]

~ 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘 𝕣𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕠𝕗 𝕁𝕒𝕔𝕜𝕤𝕠𝕟 ℕ𝕖𝕝𝕤𝕠𝕟: 𝕣𝕖𝕓𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕕𝕖𝕗𝕖𝕟𝕕𝕖𝕣 ~

In an up-and-down, covid-affected 2020 season, Nelson has also has his ups and downs. But a recent role change is starting to deliver on-field, reflecting on the high praise he receives internally.

Starting the year in his solid lockdown defender role, he played deep and helped the Eagles keep the Dee's small forwards quiet.

The covid lockdown happened, and it's safe to say none of the team coped well in the round 2 return against the Suns. After this, Nelson was once again unceremoniously dumped after a poor team performance. The weight of inside 50s against reflected a lack of defensive pressure up field, and all of our defenders struggled. But in a classic deckchair-shuffle, Nelson went out for Cole.

2020 Nelson is better than Cole at Monopoly and FIFA tho

~ 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕡𝕚𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕪 𝕤𝕦𝕣𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕃𝕖𝕨𝕚𝕤 𝕁𝕖𝕥𝕥𝕒 ~

Then, the unthinkable happened. In round 5, match selection committee axed a fan-favourite, after his 200 game milestone: club leader Lewis Jetta. Nelson had returned in his place.

Some have said that Jetta struggled with the off-field environment, hubbing in Queensland and understandably finding it difficult away from his young family. Others have said that his fitness levels weren't up to scratch, affected by the long lay-off and seasons managing soft tissue injuries.

Conspiracy theories emerged. Social media commentators with no insight whispered of indescribable 'off-field incidents', which clearly had no basis in reality. But an absence of Jetta from scratch matches did leave people on our board wondering whether he had a secret injury, or if he had quietly abdicated the hub environment to return home to his family.

Others claim that Jackson Nelson was simply ready to take over the mantle of the Eagles best rebounding defender, and that Jetta had passed on the mantle. By others, I mean me. I'm the only one saying this.


2020 Nelson: not scared of wet weather

~ 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕥𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝 𝕤𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕒𝕘𝕒𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕥 𝕊𝕪𝕕𝕟𝕖𝕪 ~

An arm-wrestle of a game ensued against a Sydney Swans side intent on pulling themselves up from the bottom rungs of the ladder. A difficult first quarter. Nelson was nowhere. Then, our captain and best midfielder, Luke Shuey, went off with a hamstring strain. The coaches started shuffling around the magnets. A tactical change was brewing.

Our small defenders pushed up the ground, in an attacking press not seen in a Simpson-coached Eagles outfit for some time. Duggan was the first to flourish, racking up 13 touches in the second half.

After being quiet for most of the game (successfully locking down on the game's best small forward Tom Papley), Nelson was set loose up the ground as well. He racked up 7 touches in the final quarter.


~ ℕ𝕖𝕝𝕤𝕠𝕟 𝕦𝕟𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕖𝕕 ~

The following three games against the Crows, Dockers and Pies (rounds 6-8) have shown a similar trend in Nelson's game.

He's been given license to roam, given more responsibility in transitioning the ball from defense.

16 touches (88%DE, 8 contested)
23 touches (82%DE, 8 contested), career-best 15 kicks and 8 marks
19 touches (68%DE, 5 contested), 417 metres gained

Nelson's hard running game is now being used to better effect, combining with Cole and Duggan to provide overlap run and work our way out of the defensive 50 by picking holes through our opponent's defensive webs (with less reliance on Hurn kicking long down the line, hoping for our talls to clunk a mark).

2020 Nelson: more dash

What we are seeing is quicker ball movement, and defensive press that has thus far suffocated teams looking to run the ball through the middle of the ground.

 

[bUCKET__]

As punishment for a great run of form, Nelson had to do a press conference.

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[bUCKET__]

A career-best season for Nelson, as well as some career-best games. Has shown that he has another level he can take his game, and if he can get there consistently next season we'll have a real weapon rebounding from d50.

https://www.westcoasteagles.com.au/news/832890/2020-season-review-jackson-nelson

Nelson had arguably his most productive season since arriving at West Coast in 2014, playing 15 of a possible 18 games. The dogged defender achieved career-best numbers for average disposals (13.6), marks (4.1), effective disposals (10.5) and metres gained (225.7m) per game. He was incredibly durable throughout a testing campaign that saw the club play five games in 19 days at one point in the season, averaging 83.33 time on ground percentage across his 15 appearances. Nelson will undoubtedly look to build on the momentum he mustered in 2020 with another big pre-season as he attempts to further cement his spot in West Coast’s starting 22.


Standout performance: There’s no place like home

After six weeks in a Queensland hub, it was clear the Eagles – and Nelson – were happy to be back in Western Australia judging by the performance they produced against crosstown rivals Fremantle in round seven. The 24-year-old played like a man possessed in the RAC Derby, winning a season-high 23 disposals and eight marks at Optus Stadium. Nelson also accumulated five intercepts in a performance that netted him 13 John Worsfold Medal votes from the Eagles’ coaching panel, his biggest haul by quite some margin for the 2020 season.


Season averages:

Disposals: 13.6
Marks: 4.1
Intercepts: 3.2
Rebound 50s: 2.6
Tackles: 4.1
One percenters: 1.8
Score involvements: 1.5
Disposal efficiency: 77.5

 

[GlennTwenty]

Congrats Jacko on 100 games!