Player Watch #13: Jai Culley – tears ACL vs Richmond 💔

[Scythe]

Dees sign Eagle | Culley earns final list spot

Former Eagle Jai Culley has earned the final spot on Melbourne's

www.melbournefc.com.au

 

[Scythe]

Side note, has everyone's MFC app notifications been taking them to the wrong article for the past week or so?

 

[Lampers]

Have been doing some more “research” on Culley by reading the WCE board here and other internet searches.

Knocks on his leg speed without having the other attributes to compensate that other large but slow mids do (e.g. Bont, Cripps).

Thoughts from WCE supporters were that his viable AFL position is as a mid-sized forward given he’s 192cm or whatever.

Melbourne obviously have some sort of plan having drafted him, but it’s interesting to see how he gets deployed.

If Culley was only a VFL player he would’ve probably played midfield for Casey like Munro used to. Some VFL listed consistency to lock away a midfield slot so the Melbourne listed players could train their AFL roles.

But if he’s not a viable AFL level midfielder and he’s not on an AFL list, he should be playing at Casey that mid-sized forward role to train for it if called up to AFL.

Or maybe Melbourne do see him as AFL viable midfielder but in a relieving role. Comes in there to spell Oliver when on the bench or Trac when forward, and then back to the forward line as his primary position.

I guess at least he adds a bit of flexibility and a body with several AFL preseasons into it.

As has been mentioned by others he could put pressure on Sparrow for the role of flanker forward who takes a little bit of midfield time each game.

 

[Demon Attack]

Seems like they've built an army of ANB replacements. Sharp, Sparrow and the two last minute additions.

 

[Kegs15]

Forgive the intrusion!

Was a really big fan of Culley and stoked he's got another chance. In addition to his footy attributes he was by all reports around the club a bloke with awesome character. One of the hardest workers other players had seen come through, good teammate, type of guy you want to play with.

I think he's easily talented enough to play AFL, but his leg speed especially post knee injury just isn't enough for a mid in the modern game. Definitely best spot would be as a medium forward but with how many KPFs we like to play, including Allen who struggles to pressure defenders, we needed our non KPFs to be quick and just couldn't fit him in.

That being said unlike a lot of delistees who are sort of mediocre at everything, Culley has some truly elite attributes. He's an awesome tackler - makes them stick and would rack up a way higher tackle count than his speed should allow. Really strong in the contest, both aerially and at ground level.

However, his best attribute is his kicking. Absolute laser, can hit low darts over 60-65m and both knows where the goals are and how to pick through defences with his field kicking.

His best projects really similar to Kyle Langford as that weird, inbetween but effective marking target who makes the opposition pay by being able to nail tricky set shots. His ground level game and contest work is probably better than Langford's also. Just a victim of being an odd player to fit into a setup especially one built entirely around the KPFs like ours.

Think he'd be able to chop out midfield, and would be tempting to play him there at VFL level where the pace wouldn't be as much of an issue, but you'd definitely want him forward at AFL level so agree with what Lampers said earlier.

Best of luck to him!

 

[Scythe]

Definitely a big dude

 

[Demon 16]

6 foot 4 (194cm) apparently!

 

[Daemon]

Has the Langdon long locks, clearly going to be gun for us. There's magic in that there hair.

 

[Kegs15]

Forgive the spam: very short highlights from one of the only games we played him forward:

 

[Headless]

However, his best attribute is his kicking. Absolute laser, can hit low darts over 60-65m and both knows where the goals are and how to pick through defences with his field kicking.

I propose the nickname "Laser"!

 

[Bluelegs]

I propose the nickname "Laser"!

Perhaps all players should be referred to this way?

 

[Headless]

Perhaps all players should be referred to this way?

Somebody give this poster a raise!

 

[PerfectFooty]

Perhaps all players should be referred to this way?

No silly, if they're fast or speedy they're clearly ball butchers and should have an appropriate name relating to a former player so we don't mix them up with the accurate and skilled players

 

[dazzledavey36]

 

[tomcruise]

Likable dude

 

[Bluelegs]

Say what you want about the opposition but he showed composure and a great aerial game.

 

[I Love Lamb]

I propose the nickname "Laser"!

I propose “Blazer”

 

[Topkent]

Say what you want about the opposition but he showed composure and a great aerial game.

I watched the first half and I reckon WC wouldn't even be the best VFL team. Take it with a pinch until better opposition

 

[Bluelegs]

I watched the first half and I reckon WC wouldn't even be the best VFL team. Take it with a pinch until better opposition

Think being able to mark overhead and read the ball in the air are skills that will translate against any side. His contest work, how he handles pressure and his kicking are things that will be a watch against better sides.

 

[Topkent]

Think being able to mark overhead and read the ball in the air are skills that will translate against any side. His contest work, how he handles pressure and his kicking are things that will be a watch against better sides.

They might, but plenty of key forwards can dominate VFL level and suck at AFL level. That game wasn't AFL level

 

[Headless]

I propose the nickname "Laser"!

This was really good from me.

 

[SugarHealey]

Have been doing some more “research” on Culley by reading the WCE board here and other internet searches.

Knocks on his leg speed without having the other attributes to compensate that other large but slow mids do (e.g. Bont, Cripps).

Thoughts from WCE supporters were that his viable AFL position is as a mid-sized forward given he’s 192cm or whatever.

Melbourne obviously have some sort of plan having drafted him, but it’s interesting to see how he gets deployed.

If Culley was only a VFL player he would’ve probably played midfield for Casey like Munro used to. Some VFL listed consistency to lock away a midfield slot so the Melbourne listed players could train their AFL roles.

But if he’s not a viable AFL level midfielder and he’s not on an AFL list, he should be playing at Casey that mid-sized forward role to train for it if called up to AFL.

Or maybe Melbourne do see him as AFL viable midfielder but in a relieving role. Comes in there to spell Oliver when on the bench or Trac when forward, and then back to the forward line as his primary position.

I guess at least he adds a bit of flexibility and a body with several AFL preseasons into it.

As has been mentioned by others he could put pressure on Sparrow for the role of flanker forward who takes a little bit of midfield time each game.

Jai Culley of the Melbourne Demons Player Profile and AFL Stats

Jai Culley of the Melbourne Demons profile and AFL statistics.

www.footywire.com

 

[mrmonkey]

They might, but plenty of key forwards can dominate VFL level and suck at AFL level. That game wasn't AFL level

Your right about the quality of opposition but he just looks like a good player. I reckon he's better than say a Jefferson who's a good vfl player but ain't up to AFL. Culley looks like he'll make it, not saying a star but could be a solid player. Of course it's only one game and under the current system his development may go stagnant or backwards (that's Goodwins style) but overall I'm cautiously optimistic.

 

[A11dAtP0w3R]

Does something special it seems each week.. that contested ball win and step thru traffic in the last quarter was sexy.

 

[ray_purchase]

Does something special it seems each week.. that contested ball win and step thru traffic in the last quarter was sexy.

He will put together a monster game soon enough. He has all the tools.