Cut Jako some slack

[materamagic]

I am starting to hear more critisism than compliments to one of the most keenest competitiors on the Eagles list and one of our greatest players ever.

Where I come from we just do not doubt a champion and you will never get a bad word out of me towards this magnificant player.

Only that he should not be played at Full Back, thats where maybe all this negativity is stemming from.

He is still capable in CHB and CHF an may be an impact player now, which is allowable.

To put it simply, I'd rather have Jako on my team then to not have him at all

And he will have a fine 2004 Thankyou very much, he has not played a year to far, he has a year left

 

[Streaker]

Originally posted by materamagic
I am starting to hear more critisism than compliments to one of the most keenest competitiors on the Eagles list and one of our greatest players ever.

And you will hear a lot more criticism before the year is out. Jako might survive this season as a bench player but he has well and truly past his use by date.

Originally posted by materamagic
Where I come from we just do not doubt a champion and you will never get a bad word out of me towards this magnificant player.

Just 2 months ago you were saying he would play 2 more seasons and now I notice it has moved to 1 season. Where I come from that indicates a step backwards. How long before you will be on the Jako is gone wagon.

Originally posted by materamagic
Only that he should not be played at Full Back, thats where maybe all this negativity is stemming from.

He is still capable in CHB and CHF an may be an impact player now, which is allowable.

I think you will find CHB is out of his reach now but like you say he has merit as an impact player at CHF.

Originally posted by materamagic
To put it simply, I'd rather have Jako on my team then to not have him at all

And he will have a fine 2004 Thankyou very much, he has not played a year to far, he has a year left

I'm afraid that you would be pretty lonely paddling this boat. The end of the year will see Jako go out the same way as Milli unless he does a Peter Matera and quits while he is ahead.

Someone had to say it.

 

[Mead]

Originally posted by materamagic
I am starting to hear more critisism than compliments to one of the most keenest competitiors on the Eagles list and one of our greatest players ever.

Where I come from we just do not doubt a champion and you will never get a bad word out of me towards this magnificant player.

Only that he should not be played at Full Back, thats where maybe all this negativity is stemming from.

He is still capable in CHB and CHF an may be an impact player now, which is allowable.

To put it simply, I'd rather have Jako on my team then to not have him at all

And he will have a fine 2004 Thankyou very much, he has not played a year to far, he has a year left

At present Jako is
a.) An enormous liability at FB. Aside from the obvious candidates, I would prefer the likes of Embley, Hunter or even Chick at FB before Jako. Even just a quarter in a game with Glen on a decent full forward will lose a lot of games for us.

b.) A decent option on a very small category of CHFs, most notably the big slow lumps like Anthony Rocca or Carey, who generally rely on strength to take their marks. However, the problem is that it seems that Lynch would also play those sort of guys best.

c.) A liability against faster, more agile CHFs- someone like Tredrea will kill him for the same reason he can't handle leading FFs.

d.) A decent, pinchhitting CHF or leading forward. This was where he played his good football last year, The problem is that last season he very rarely strung a couple of good games together- he'd be very good one week, and unsighted the next. With Johnson and McDougall coming through, and Gardiner likely to spend more time up forward, its hard to advance an argument for playing Jako at the expense of those guys.

e.) An interchange player- can ruck a bit, is a Plan B if one of the forwards is struggling, and can play as a loose man in defence if the game calls for that. This is really the only role I can see Jako fulfilling this year if injuries strike.

Really thats it from where I'm sitting. I think he'll play about 10-15 games tops this year unless he can hold consistently good form up forward, (something he never did last year). He's had a long and illustrious career with us, and if he wants to play this year out then good luck to him, but sentiment aside, he just has limited value to our side right now.

 

[str8khlr]

Originally posted by materamagic
Where I come from we just do not doubt a champion and you will never get a bad word out of me towards this magnificant player.

I can't doubt his past, but I can sure doubt his future.

 

[mansize rooster]

yes the end is comming for jacko..FACE IT materamagic.
hes to slow and cant kick straight enough and take contested marks to be at the prized CHF position.

some players go out on a high some go out on a low.others sink
jacko has just steped into the quick sand.

BUT..if he has a stella season(wont happen)then i will crown you god sir materamagic.

 

[thegur]

Originally posted by mansize rooster
yes the end is comming for jacko..FACE IT materamagic.
hes to slow and cant kick straight enough and take contested marks to be at the prized CHF position.

some players go out on a high some go out on a low.others sink
jacko has just steped into the quick sand.

BUT..if he has a stella season(wont happen)then i will crown you god sir materamagic.

someone writing off a champion, yet confesses to being a 'Matt Le Tissier clone' , touch of irony ...

my two cents on Jako ...

I think people are grossly under-rating his services at CHF last season. The fact remains he makes a contest every time, something which not many CHF's on our list were capable of doing. Especially with the flankers we have that is sometimes all you need to do, provide a target.

As a defender, he has never ever been a FB, and while his CHB days might be numbered, I'd still fancy him as a loose man in defence (yes, I know we never use a loose man in defence). There would be no better choice to fill up the whole in front of a leading FF then Jako.

thegur

 

[carlyp]

I agree with the most of you when you all say that although he is no longer fast enough to play down back at FB or CHB that he can still be a bit of a pinch hitter up forward. He'll be great for team comradery and for firing the boys up when they need to be inspired for a huge last quarter effort. Lets just what happens this season, he's already come out and preety much said that this will be his last year. Hopefully he can go out in style, or atleast go out in a way that proves to us all why he's such a champion.

 

[eagleye]

Glen Jakovich is my favourite player and is an absolute champion
i am glad this is his last season althhough id love him to stay longer i don't want him to end his career the way Lockett did ( coming back and kicking 3 goals in about 6 matches then re-retiring ) I want more than anything in the world ( well most things ) for Jako to go out in a fairy tale way with us winning the premiership and him actually having a good season and being amongst the best in our grand final. While i doubt we will win the grand final ( thats another thread ) i don't think he will be totally useless this season he will probably come of the bench when Johnson is firing and start when his out of form. He'll play CHB if we have injuries and might do ok. People are acting like he had a terrib;e season last year, he didn't!! he played pretty well i think he kicked about 20 goals and provided a contest he also was a great leader and helped inspire the team a few times. I really hope u play well this season Jako and go out with a bang!

 

[Goldenblue]

Jak WAS a champion but is well past his best. I can understand the sentimentality of a lot of our posters, but it's a pity that some do not see the reality of it all.

Jak would have been better retiring a year or so ago and become part of the coaching team at his beloved Eagles.

Fact:
Jak is slow in leg speed.
Jak will be killed if he plays FB or CHB. Guys like Treadrea will kill him.
Jak did not string 2 good games together last season.
Jak was a champion in his prime but is fast becoming an embarrassment to himself.

Yes, he has the experience and may be handy in a leadership role, but I also believe the likes of Kerr, Gardy, Cousins, Embley and so forth have the experience now.

I also believe Jak belongs in the past (ie the 90s) and he will never play in another premiership side.

 

[Eagles4Ever]

Agreed with Mead, plus he will have an influence come September so long as he is not over used, stays fresh and injury free.