Rookie 43. Emerson Jeka (2023 - )

[CatToTheFuture]

What about Sam Menegola?

Ah, good point. Forget he was there before Freo

 

[SSSSSS]

If you can somehow grow him a heart and a backbone this kid will be special.

All the tools physically and skill wise but sometimes he plays like he doesn't want to be a footballer.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

If you can somehow grow him a heart and a backbone this kid will be special.

All the tools physically and skill wise but sometimes he plays like he doesn't want to be a footballer.

What's his best position?

 

[calder_daddy]

I'd have preferred O'brien

Friday after work drinks start a few days early for you?

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Friday after work drinks start a few days early for you?

It is my rdo tomorrow.

 

[winty]

What about Sam Menegola?

Wonder if he misses out on a technicality since he didn't play a game.

 

[SSSSSS]

What's his best position?

CHB but requires a lot of freedom to play off his man. Think a poor man's Darcy Moore.

He can use his size and speed to intercept and his excellent foot skills to distribute.

Doesn't have the innate aggression to crash packs as a CHF.

 

[Cataholic]

If you can somehow grow him a heart and a backbone this kid will be special.

All the tools physically and skill wise but sometimes he plays like he doesn't want to be a footballer.

That's the most scathing, and career destroying, criticism that can be levelled against a player.

Skill and physicality counts for nought without the heart and backbone.

 

[goyoucatters]

I'm entirely OK with this. It's a shy at the stumps, nothing more and nothing less.

O'Brien will turn 30 early next year. Jeka will be 23 at the very end of next season. That alone is reason enough to prioritise the player who may just still have some real improvement left in him.

And if he ends up being a bust in terms of currency as an AFL player, he will at least be a very welcome addition to what has been a woefully undersized VFL defensive unit in recent times.

Emerson. come on down...

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

CHB but requires a lot of freedom to play off his man. Think a poor man's Darcy Moore.

He can use his size and speed to intercept and his excellent foot skills to distribute.

Doesn't have the innate aggression to crash packs as a CHF.

The pick doesn't make sense unless we think he's better as a tall forward.

 

[SSSSSS]

The pick doesn't make sense unless we think he's better as a tall forward.

I was pretty surprised you picked him up. He did have a good season up forward in the 2s but I really can't see it at AFL level unless the penny drops.

He looked ok at CHB because he didn't have to worry about body contact.

 

[Cataholic]

I was pretty surprised you picked him up. He did have a good season up forward in the 2s but I really can't see it at AFL level unless the penny drops.

He looked ok at CHB because he didn't have to worry about body contact.

I wonder how the GFC found a way to look past that??

You can't play AFL being scared, and you can't cure it because the fear is innate.

 

[TylerDurden]

Won't make it as a fwd, but I reckon has a decent chance as a 3rd tall defender. He was behind too many to play that role with us.

Reads it well in flight. Beautiful kick on his left/ wrong side.

All the best with him.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

 

[rocker_oz33]

The pick doesn't make sense unless we think he's better as a tall forward.

Some players don't make it first time.

Hopefully this is a kick start he needs .

 

[barbster]

I wonder how the GFC found a way to look past that??

You can't play AFL being scared, and you can't cure it because the fear is innate.

He doesn’t play scared, just plays to his strengths. Being of slight build he is more likely to take a mark across a pack than shoulder to shoulder. This may change once he fills out. Knowing Chris well, I’m sure he’ll get the best out of him. The main issue with Jeka has been his hamstrings and general confidence in his body, similar to Darcy Moore early days.

 

[Hinkley29]

Just costs a premium doing it by trade.

You are paying for certainty. It is worth the price.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Simply another player I'll spend all of next season frustrated that people can't spell his name right.

 

[dangerwood]

If you can somehow grow him a heart and a backbone this kid will be special.

All the tools physically and skill wise but sometimes he plays like he doesn't want to be a footballer.

If that's the case then I don't have much confidence. Rarely (if ever) do you see someone make it who doesn't really want to do it. Rhys Stanley is probably the best success story I've seen in recent times.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I thought there was some talk about Bailey Van De Heuvel before the draft. Wouldn't he have been the alternative to Jeka?

Probably yes.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

You've got a strange obsession with the ruck role.

Not really-we have no rucks aged btw 21 and 33.

 

[year of the cat]

I assumed we got him in as a KPF. I’d hope we start him there in the VFL to see whether there’s something to work with.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Not to put any pressure on the kid, but...

Menegola?

 

[Pure_Ownage]

CHB but requires a lot of freedom to play off his man. Think a poor man's Darcy Moore.

He can use his size and speed to intercept and his excellent foot skills to distribute.

Doesn't have the innate aggression to crash packs as a CHF.

Sounds like quinton narkle as a KPP.

 

[you pick one]

No way am I hanging shite on this young bloke after watching what's available online mostly a one grab mark that's because he reads it in the air well keeps his eyes on the ball and doesn't drop the head,exceptional kick for someone 198CM also makes good position to and a smidgen of x factor.Sure he got off to a slowish start but so did Mooney coming from North good luck I say.
PS don't shut the door on him becoming a forward.