Player Watch #5: Ben Jacobs - says he'll be back after suffering a "perfect storm" of neck & head injuries

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Ocha905

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Underated aspect of his game yesterday was the ability to find the ball himself with 20 touches and nine clearances. 6 clangers wasn't ideal but should be a high water mark so to speak. North Melbourne usually don't have high possession stats as well so whilst 20 is high its significant for how the team plays. The best taggers are able to get high possession totals so hopefully Jacobs can keep up the multifaceted role.
 

Black2Blue

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Goes to Hill this week I think.
It's a difficult one because taking out Hill takes out their run. But Fyfe ripped us to bits last time we played them. Perhaps BJ should start on Fyfe at centre bounces then go to lock down Hill. Funny how we need a couple of him all of a sudden.

Freo's dominance really comes from Fyfe, Mundy and Hill, courtesy of Sandiland's dominance. Goldy should take away Sandi's influence, but the match ups on those three will be crucial.
 

the_one

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It's a difficult one because taking out Hill takes out their run. But Fyfe ripped us to bits last time we played them. Perhaps BJ should start on Fyfe at centre bounces then go to lock down Hill. Funny how we need a couple of him all of a sudden.

Freo's dominance really comes from Fyfe, Mundy and Hill, courtesy of Sandiland's dominance. Goldy should take away Sandi's influence, but the match ups on those three will be crucial.
I think Fyfe around the ground will murder Jacobs in the contested marking situations, but it would be a lot more even around stoppages. We could put a strong body on him at the stoppages and try to go H2H there. Cunnington maybe? Stopping Hills run is key, and thats why I'd send Jacobs to him.
 

Black2Blue

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I think Fyfe around the ground will murder Jacobs in the contested marking situations, but it would be a lot more even around stoppages. We could put a strong body on him at the stoppages and try to go H2H there. Cunnington maybe? Stopping Hills run is key, and thats why I'd send Jacobs to him.
I agree that BJ would struggle with him around the ground, but in the centre square could shut him down. That's why I was suggesting he starts on Fyfe and then shifts to Hill after that....not that it would be likely to happen. I still recall how the shutdown job Brady Rawlings did on Hill all those years ago (can't remember the year) was the catalyst of that win, and would love to see that repeated.

It may be a good time to put LMac on Fyfe to run with him ala with Sloane last year. Throw him a big challenge.
 

the_one

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I agree that BJ would struggle with him around the ground, but in the centre square could shut him down. That's why I was suggesting he starts on Fyfe and then shifts to Hill after that....not that it would be likely to happen. I still recall how the shutdown job Brady Rawlings did on Hill all those years ago (can't remember the year) was the catalyst of that win, and would love to see that repeated.

It may be a good time to put LMac on Fyfe to run with him ala with Sloane last year. Throw him a big challenge.
Was that the game Brady had 30 something touches himself?
 

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Event Horizon

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If he can keep Fyfe to under 20 touches.

That'd be great.
If he goes to Fyfe, they will play Fyfe at Full Forward, and he will have a huge advantage over Jacobs. We should play Firrito on him if they try that, and then move Jacobs onto him each time he goes up the ground.
 

TennisPlayerAndy

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If he goes to Fyfe, they will play Fyfe at Full Forward, and he will have a huge advantage over Jacobs. We should play Firrito on him if they try that, and then move Jacobs onto him each time he goes up the ground.
I'm happy with that.

Anything to keep him quiet in the midfield.
 

jess_1804

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It may be a good time to put LMac on Fyfe to run with him ala with Sloane last year. Throw him a big challenge.
I like this idea! Roughly the same height, obviously giving away a bit of weight and strength though. I can imagine LMac to be a player that will thrive when given a specific job. Good chance for Luke to learn a midfield role from one of the best, a position I'm sure we'd all love to see him playing eventually.
 

Skarrz

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Amazing how Jacobs has gone from whipping boy to one of our most important players to ensure we get a win against the ladder leaders, hope that the coaches can work with him over the summer to improve his offensive output at the same time, hit some more handballs out of congestion

Love his tackling technique, and he doesn't speak too badly in the media either
 

Gasometer

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Yes, very impressive ...

Its so weird when you never hear from a player and then see them in the media for the first time....he's not what I thought he would be like....not that I knew what to expect fwiw...:confused:...well a mean Ninja or something.

Liked seeing Daniel Wells kick the football.
 
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muttley45

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Reading between the lines, but i reckon the turn him into a backman experiment didn't agree with him and has probably put his development a fair way back to where it should be, good presser, glad the club are putting a few fresh faces front and centre.
 
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