Jack Anthony.

[absy]

31 !!!

 

[Axl the great]

Had a horror first quarter, got done for a deliberate rushed behind as well, really improved as the game went on and played loose man for a time.
Reads the play very well and cut off numerous passes by smart positioning, not outstanding IMO but did play a pretty good game.
Loved it too when a Hawthorn moron was giving it to him behind the goals and Jack just stared at him for a good 5 seconds like he wanted to rip his head off!!!!!

 

[AsianWithAFro]

This is great news for both the Club and Jack. Originally drafted as a defender so he hasn't lost his knack. Hopefully he can once again break into our side.

 

[Angelus512]

I think that people have a very skewed view of Jack and in many ways I will say he's unfairly thought of.

1) For any other player on any other list to do what he's done at the Pies people would say he's a superstar in the making. Normally we pump up our own immensely but not Jack...why?

2) The answer WHY is because most Pies supporters seem to have a view that Jack is a disruptive and negative influence on his team mates, that he has fallings out with people etc etc.

Its so unfair to see a quality player who should be getting threads of "He's awesome, he just needs some more time to develop etc...." instead of whats his problem? wheres jack? he's one dimensional etc etc etc.

Jesus...first full season 50 goals. Seriously reality check here. He's damn good and we are lucky to have him and no sane person would trade him for years to come especially if we've persisted with Rusling.

Its funny, people talk about wanting a mongrel in the forward line, somebody with attitude, aggression etc. We have Jack who exhibits all those traits but now we call him a non-team player, disruptive etc. Seems some of us prefer old workmanlike collingwood. I dont.

 

[Paddywhackers]

Was absolutely dominant today.

 

[HFF]

Very good for his confidence.

Also, nice to hear that he can be relied upon if we have disruptions to our key defenders i.e. Brown (inj), Goldy (senior promotion) etc.

He is still a key forward though.

 

[Axl the great]

Was absolutely dominant today.

Loved the way he postitioned himself today, was right behind him all day and he can zone off but still be close enough to keep in check with his man, read the play nicely and has very good closing speed to cut off any high balls coming in, very good game.

 

[mattys123]

I get so frustrated by Jack, just because I have seen, like you all, the talent that he has to play in a number of positions.

MM commented that Dawes and Jack are too good to play at VFL level, and I agree, but I still can't see a spot in the team for Jack just yet.

What Jack has to do is perform at both ends of the ground before he can be included back in the final 22.

When he does this, he may well be our "X Factor" in September.

All the best teams, premiership teams that is, over the years have had a "utility" type player, who could play 2 areas of either forward, ruck, midfield or back, and Jack may well be our utility.

At the moment Leigh Brown is that "man", but I don't think many of us believe he is the answer long term, as hard as he tries, he just lacks the natural talent of an Anthony.

Jack could be one of the players that improves us "up" to the level of StKilda and Geelong, but I'm not totally convinced yet.

The VFL game is apparently on TV next week, so hopefully Jack can perform once again and show the world "JACK IS BACK".

We need Jack Anthony, of that there is no doubt.

 

[Snag Breac]

Great news. Would love to see him back in the team; but we already have so much talent down back, and our kicking for goal isn't coming along as well as one would like.

If Jack can do the defensive stuff after all, can't he do it in the forward line and still kick goals?

 

[mdc]

If Jack can do the defensive stuff after all, can't he do it in the forward line and still kick goals?

The "Jack doesn't do enough defensively in the forward line" stuff is a total myth, Snag. Always has been.

30+ possessions will be great for his confidence.

 

[Just Kick It]

Loved it too when a Hawthorn moron was giving it to him behind the goals and Jack just stared at him for a good 5 seconds like he wanted to rip his head off!!!!!

I heard the hawks moron constantly abusing him from the pavilion balcony whilst Josh was deep forward and the ball was at the other end. I don't think he wanted to rip the blokes head off, Josh was laughing!

The best bit was the bloke finished off by saying "you're not even good enough to stick it up me by kicking the next goal." Nearly instantly the ball proceeded to head to our forward line where Josh took a contested mark in the square and kicked a goal. The bloke got rather embarrassed as everyone laughed at him.

 

[doppleganger]

Tis an interesting prospect our Jack.

Down back we look ridiculously solid.....Goldsack, N.Brown already cant get a game....not sure where he would fit down back.

Unless we decide to move Harry into the midfield to turn him into a potential Goodes or Kouta type utility who just has licence to roam the entire ground??

Up forward is his go...but he wont get much of a chance in 2010, simply because Cloke, Dawes and JA all aren't the cleverest of players and aint learned to play together well yet.

Medhurst, Lockyer, Didak, Davis even Sidey and Dick, they offer something different and look dangerous from limited opportunities.

 

[HFF]

It really is an awesome problem to have at the moment dg.

As you said, we already have Browny and Goldy who cannot get regular games in defence.

I too agree up forward is his go as that is the spot where it "opens up" a little, in terms of how unsettled the forward line has been to date.

Another wildcard would be the return of Rusling- that would really shake things up plenty and create headaches upon headaches.

Nonetheless, it's great to see the list is incredibly healthy moving forward because as Mick said, players like Jack and Dawes even Browny and Goldy are far too good for VFL level.

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

I said in another thread we shouldn't drop Jack.

We should send him to defense where we recruited him to play.

I think we should send Harry and Heath to the wings because they both suck as one on one defenders anyway.

Have Tyson and Jack in the back, and it wuld strngthen our defense 5 fold, especially once Nick returns.

 

[FlipFoot]

I think we should send Harry and Heath to the wings because they both suck as one on one defenders anyway.

Really? I agree with Heath, but i feel pretty confident whenever the ball gets kicked to a one on one with Harry. To me he seems to beat his opponent more often than not. Maybe I'm seeing it differently, but i think Harry is excellent one on one.

 

[sr36]

Really? I agree with Heath, but i feel pretty confident whenever the ball gets kicked to a one on one with Harry. To me he seems to beat his opponent more often than not. Maybe I'm seeing it differently, but i think Harry is excellent one on one.

So is Heath.

 

[AsianWithAFro]

I think if we really want to play Jack in the Defence Heater needs to be turned into a permanent midfielder. Possibly Harry O as mentioned before. He could easily play in the midfield like Firrito or Josh Gibson did for the Roos.

 

[lgarth80]

I used to think Harry was the man for us to swing like Rooke for Geelong.

Now I'm not convinced. He gets the best medium to small forward each week, shuts them down, and generally snags a crucial goal every couple of weeks. He also provides run off half back.

I think the last few weeks, Harry has stepped up (maybe after being challenged by Mick). The O did have a few weeks where he was running the right way, stopping his man, but not taking first grab marks, or getting the first option handballs going forward.

I'd think Maxwell will return in future games, but would love to think he is the guy who can improve his tank to take more midfield time. Compared to Goldsack, O'Brien, Toovey, Presti, Reid and Heath, he's clearly the worst in a one on one contested situation.

I don't want to bag Maxwell, because his zoning off is brilliant when it works. Just he can be found out when other teams "divide and conquer".

Looking again though like too many defenders not enough forwards. And the way we structure up and kick along the boundary, who wouldn't want to be a defender in our team.

 

[absy]

Wouldn't say Harry "Shuts his opponent down" but he is important for our attack our of the backline.

 

[daics_35]

Heath would make a great winger but i am not to sure on Jack playing in deffence. I dont think he can play in eather FB or CHB becuase he isnt strong enough and we have Presti and Reid doing a great job now and i dont think he is good enough to play on the flanks in the back line becuase he isnt quick enough for that. I just cant see him taking over Heath Shaws spot if Heath goes on the wing becuase he doesnt have the run he has and it could harm or structure.

 

[Thommo 42]

I
All the best teams, premiership teams that is, over the years have had a "utility" type player, who could play 2 areas of either forward, ruck, midfield or back, and Jack may well be our utility.

At the moment Leigh Brown is that "man", but I don't think many of us believe he is the answer long term, as hard as he tries, he just lacks the natural talent of an Anthony.

Problem for Jack is that Brown offers one key ability that Jack doesn't and that is to go into the ruck for periods of the game and provide a good contest, which is absoutely critical to us with Fraser and Wood playing in the VFL.

Jack is the ideal Adam Hunter type who can swing forward or back, but at the moment we need that same player to perform the task fo backup ruck, Brown can do all 3 and Jack can't, even though you could argue that Jack performs 2 of the 3 roles better.

Our problem is clear, and it's a good problem to have.

Reid, Anthony, N.Brown, Dawes, Goldsack, L.Brown and even Fraser - are all too good to be playing in the VFL. But there is only room for 3, or at the most 4 - of these players in our AFL squad in any given week.

 

[HotPiesWithSauce]

Just heard on the Mondayitis footy podcast, "Crackers" Keenan said that he knows for a certainty that

• Bucks doesn't want Anthony in his forward line
• Anthony has been told to "reinvent" himself as a backman.

Since he was originally a defender, you would say he'd have to de-invent himself as a forward, but his role in the backlines for the 2's gives credence to Keenan's statement.
It is possible, however, that his appearance in the backlines is more as a result of Brown & Maxwell injuries and Goldy's elevation. Or maybe they're trying a similar tactic as to whatever they were attempting with Rusling down back.
Still haven't figured out that one.

Be interesting if it were true that Bucks is deadset against Jack appearing in his forward line, but with his lack of form in there for the 1's this season, not especially surprising.

 

[Thommo 42]

Strange one that.

We had a forward who kicked 50 goals in 2008 and another one kick 50 goals in 2009.

Neither of them can get a game at the moment. I hope nobody kicks 50 this year!

 

[buzzbuzz]

Crackers Keenan, pardon my french, regularly makes shit up. This is one of the times where one of his flights of fancy might turn out to be true.

 

[The Big League]

Just heard on the Mondayitis footy podcast, "Crackers" Keenan said that he knows for a certainty that

• Bucks doesn't want Anthony in his forward line
• Anthony has been told to "reinvent" himself as a backman.

Since he was originally a defender, you would say he'd have to de-invent himself as a forward, but his role in the backlines for the 2's gives credence to Keenan's statement.
It is possible, however, that his appearance in the backlines is more as a result of Brown & Maxwell injuries and Goldy's elevation. Or maybe they're trying a similar tactic as to whatever they were attempting with Rusling down back.
Still haven't figured out that one.

Be interesting if it were true that Bucks is deadset against Jack appearing in his forward line, but with his lack of form in there for the 1's this season, not especially surprising.

I don't believe this for a second. No way know would Buckley begin interfering with players and forcing decisions already. He is not the coach, and this certainly would not be tolerated by Mick.

If this sort of thing is happening already then I can't even imagine the type of disharmony and confusion it would bring the playing group.