Preview Jack the Forward

[Dirty_11]

This is back in a time before the AFL registered him as a weapon of mass destruction and clipped his wings accordingly

Spot on and well put.

 

[tales129]

Once we get some midfield pieces to be able to replace him I agree.

He's 100% the most frustrating player on our list, can be a game breaking wrecking ball one game, the root of all evil the next.

TBH, he's a B- player as a midfielder, it's not his tank, nor his ability to find the ball, his skills either. It's his decision making. He's probably the worst decision maker in contested situations that we have. He throws it on the boot, never looks where he's kicking it. I thought it was a bad habbit, but clearly after this length of time it's a fatal flaw in his game. With the modern transformation of sides creating play from the half backline, it's an absolute perfect storm in maximizing damage he causes to his own side, continually turning the ball over from contested situations to the oppositions most dangerous playmakers.

As a forward he's boarding on an A grader. Bartlett is a senile old troll, but he has the best comparison for JZ I think I've heard to date. He thinks he's a 40-50 goal kicker in waiting, has also said his career to date reminds him exactly of Brad Johnson, which is a great comparison. Brad was a decent enough mid, but was a star forward. I think KB is right, JZ can be an absolute star as BBB's foil, especially if we can replace him with a Cerra or Dow next year in the midfield rotation

I agree but think you are being a tad harsh on his decision making. In that contested scenario it’s horrible.

His field kicking is actually pretty good so having him forward of centre gives him more space and allows him to make better decisions and realistically become the attacking gun that we know he can be.

 

[Elite Master]

I agree but think you are being a tad harsh on his decision making. In that contested scenario it’s horrible.

His field kicking is actually pretty good so having him forward of centre gives him more space and allows him to make better decisions and realistically become the attacking gun that we know he can be.

Ziebell has always butchered the ball in close, makes questionable decisions, lacks pace etc but one thing he used to be good at was his filed kicking in space but even that dried up this year with him constantly turning the ball over. He is simply not a full time midfielder especially when carrying an injury, just has too many faults.

 

[Mav]

Ziebell has always butchered the ball in close, makes questionable decisions, lacks pace etc but one thing he used to be good at was his filed kicking in space but even that dried up this year with him constantly turning the ball over. He is simply not a full time midfielder especially when carrying an injury, just has too many faults.

Leave him alone, he bleeds blue and white

 

[Snake_Baker]

Ziebell has always butchered the ball in close, makes questionable decisions, lacks pace etc but one thing he used to be good at was his filed kicking in space but even that dried up this year with him constantly turning the ball over. He is simply not a full time midfielder especially when carrying an injury, just has too many faults.

I don't think it's possible for you to exaggerate this point any further.

Would you like to see North field a side full of Lonies and Houlahans?

 

[Moti]

I don't think 6th in the B&F was too bad a return considering.

Don't trust the match committee to select a good team let alone vote well.

 

[Elite Master]

Leave him alone, he bleeds blue and white

I love the guy, can not question his love and dedication for the club and he is as hard and tough as any North player in history, but lets not turn a blind eye to his many weaknesses as a midfielder which also includes endurance which I neglected to mention.

I do believe that even at 90% fit he can be a very dangerous forward with occasional bursts ln the middle, (particularly late in games as opposition mids tire), and at 27 next season his best years are still firmly in frout of him.

So don't get me wrong I still carry hope

 

[Elite Master]

Would you like to see North field a side full of Lonies and Houlahans?

 

[LETSGOKANGAS]

Upgrade our midfield to match mid table and with Jack up forward we are looking at finishing 5-8 its that simple.

 

[The Dingrel]

Once we get some midfield pieces to be able to replace him I agree.

He's 100% the most frustrating player on our list, can be a game breaking wrecking ball one game, the root of all evil the next.

TBH, he's a B- player as a midfielder, it's not his tank, nor his ability to find the ball, his skills either. It's his decision making. He's probably the worst decision maker in contested situations that we have. He throws it on the boot, never looks where he's kicking it. I thought it was a bad habbit, but clearly after this length of time it's a fatal flaw in his game. With the modern transformation of sides creating play from the half backline, it's an absolute perfect storm in maximizing damage he causes to his own side, continually turning the ball over from contested situations to the oppositions most dangerous playmakers.

As a forward he's boarding on an A grader. Bartlett is a senile old troll, but he has the best comparison for JZ I think I've heard to date. He thinks he's a 40-50 goal kicker in waiting, has also said his career to date reminds him exactly of Brad Johnson, which is a great comparison. Brad was a decent enough mid, but was a star forward. I think KB is right, JZ can be an absolute star as BBB's foil, especially if we can replace him with a Cerra or Dow next year in the midfield rotation

Yeah I've always thought of JZ in a similar mould to Johnno. Reckon Luke is his ready made replacement in the middle, especially with JMac, Marly and hopefully Wrighty back.....also potentially Jacobs and Ahern to go through the middle touch Mason.

 

[rippersnipper]

He can play in midfield 20-30% of the time if he wants but he's so good up forward and can take some of the heat off benny.

 

[ozzyoslo]

Wayne Carey was a pretty good Forward captain...

Kernahan, Johnson, Hall there's a heap of em.

 

[KillerRoo]

The key is that whereas JZ is rarely a match winner as a mid, he has shown that he can be as a forward.

 

[shinboner magic]

Really must be trialled as a forward to see if he can do the job consistently.

In the midfield he plays it like he's in u10s - get it and kick it anywhere.

Scott needs to get over this plan A and that's it.
Use multiple players through the guts / not just the same 5 or 6 players.

 

[Tas]

Once we get some midfield pieces to be able to replace him I agree.

He's 100% the most frustrating player on our list, can be a game breaking wrecking ball one game, the root of all evil the next.

TBH, he's a B- player as a midfielder, it's not his tank, nor his ability to find the ball, his skills either. It's his decision making. He's probably the worst decision maker in contested situations that we have. He throws it on the boot, never looks where he's kicking it. I thought it was a bad habbit, but clearly after this length of time it's a fatal flaw in his game. With the modern transformation of sides creating play from the half backline, it's an absolute perfect storm in maximizing damage he causes to his own side, continually turning the ball over from contested situations to the oppositions most dangerous playmakers.

As a forward he's boarding on an A grader. Bartlett is a senile old troll, but he has the best comparison for JZ I think I've heard to date. He thinks he's a 40-50 goal kicker in waiting, has also said his career to date reminds him exactly of Brad Johnson, which is a great comparison. Brad was a decent enough mid, but was a star forward. I think KB is right, JZ can be an absolute star as BBB's foil, especially if we can replace him with a Cerra or Dow next year in the midfield rotation

This is a 100% coaching fault. Someone with a bad kicking routine may never improve on it mechanically speaking once it is set in, but decision making is something that is developed with coaching. If you can't teach anyone to stop doing something instinctual, then you would never be able to teach players different game plans.

It comes from setting the standards on the training track, pushing them through practice games and only picking players for senior games who prove they can execute the game plan. There are no repercussions to him banging it on the boot, there is nothing psychological that in his mind he is conscious that he has to execute certain standards just to get the opportunity to put the jumper on.

If Jack was dropped for turning the ball over, I will 100% guarantee you that he will improve. How much he would improve I am not sure on, but he would be a better player if our coaches made a significant issue on decision making and ball retention.

 

[Snake_Baker]

We have a bloke named Ben Brown at full forward, so I am more than happy to see Jack extend the one wood every time he gets a centre clearance.

It's really not that big of an issue. His field kicking is generally better than good.

 

[Mav]

We have a bloke named Ben Brown at full forward, so I am more than happy to see Jack extend the one wood every time he gets a centre clearance.

It's really not that big of an issue. His field kicking is generally better than good.

When he takes the one wood from the tee there's no denying he hits it straight and long, but trying to thrash the driver from the bush is just stupid, no mater how big and inviting the green looks.

 

[Snake_Baker]

When he takes the one wood from the tee there's no denying he hits it straight and long, but trying to thrash the driver from the bush is just stupid, no mater how big and inviting the green looks.

Blame the coach.

He should be playing deep forward, and/or a quarterback Goddard type role.

I did mention centre clearance for a reason. The only actual clearance work he should be doing is centre clearance work, where the opposition can't swamp him with numbers like they do at the stoppages.

 

[shintemaster]

Blame the coach.

He should be playing deep forward, and/or a quarterback Goddard type role.

I did mention centre clearance for a reason. The only actual clearance work he should be doing is centre clearance work, where the opposition can't swamp him with numbers like they do at the stoppages.

Good call. It's noticable when you think about it how often some of his best moments have been those barrelling through the centre following a goal style of clearance / long goal.

 

[Arthur Cloke]

100%. He’s a starting forward next year.

A few bursts through the middle, but predominantly forward.

Yes sir. Jacks days as a midfielder are gone. If JZ plays predominantly midfield next year, it would be dead-set more idiotic than when Marylin Manson jumped out of a birthday cake for JFK. I’ll never forget the look on JFK’s face - he was agog.

 

[Tas]

We have a bloke named Ben Brown at full forward, so I am more than happy to see Jack extend the one wood every time he gets a centre clearance.

It's really not that big of an issue. His field kicking is generally better than good.

Brown isn't the greatest contested mark going around, he needs it out in front of him for him to run onto the ball to maximise his potential. An 80m extra hang-time inside 50 bomb gives defenders a lot of time to get into position to spoil and it results on poor Ben having to contend with multiple defenders. He isn't Wayne Carey, he needs better delivery than long bombs all day.

Around 50-60m out of goal, Ziebell is far more dangerous and uses the ball a lot better going inside 50.

 

[Snake_Baker]

We must be watching different Ben Browns.

 

[Heaps of fun]

Brown isn't the greatest contested mark going around, he needs it out in front of him for him to run onto the ball to maximise his potential. An 80m extra hang-time inside 50 bomb gives defenders a lot of time to get into position to spoil and it results on poor Ben having to contend with multiple defenders. He isn't Wayne Carey, he needs better delivery than long bombs all day.

Around 50-60m out of goal, Ziebell is far more dangerous and uses the ball a lot better going inside 50.

It ain't 2015 anymore. Ben took the 7th most contested marks in the league.

 

[Tas]

It ain't 2015 anymore. Ben took the 7th most contested marks in the league.

I think a majority of his contested marks are when he is in motion on the lead. Taking a contested mark on the lead is very different from taking a contested mark in a pack. When someone is hacking out of the middle, you usually don't get a good run at the ball, for the ball to make the distance from that far out usually takes a kick with a big arc on it.

Not saying he is incapable of taking those marks, just that he isn't Wayne Carey who will be plucking those all the time. Quite frankly, you don't want your valuable forward to be receiving shit balls like that, Carey had both shoulders busted sitting under crap ball after crap ball.

 

[Lums23]

Blame the coach.

He should be playing deep forward, and/or a quarterback Goddard type role.

I did mention centre clearance for a reason. The only actual clearance work he should be doing is centre clearance work, where the opposition can't swamp him with numbers like they do at the stoppages.

Played half back a couple of times this year to minimal effect