Jakovich aims for 300

iceman

Premiership Player
Joined
Apr 1, 2001
Posts
3,563
Likes
2
Location
Sydney, NSW
AFL Club
West Coast
Thread starter #1
Jakovich eyes 300-game mark

By Mark Duffield

GLEN JAKOVICH says John Worsfold and an improving West Coast team have reinvigorated his passion for AFL football, raising the possibility of him becoming the club's first 300-game player.

Although Jakovich stressed he was a year-to-year proposition at the age of 30, his 260-game tally and his form have put him back in touch with the elusive 300-game milestone.

Eagles football manager Steve Woodhouse rated Jakovich "every chance" of reaching the milestone, which would require two good years of senior football after 2003.

"Glen is under contract until the end of next season and we think he has got a couple of years left in him," Woodhouse said.

"Provided his body holds together and his form is good, they are the two prerequisites I suppose."

Jakovich needs another eight games to break Guy McKenna's 267-game club record - even that looked unlikely two seasons ago as he battled for touch at centre half-back, the position which made him famous during the 1990s.

But a new coach, former premiership teammate Worsfold, and a switch to attack this season have not only rekindled his career but also his interest in continuing.

Yesterday, he joked that he should have staked a stronger claim for a role in attack when his first AFL coach and major career influence, Mick Malthouse, nominated him as the man to build his defence around.

Asked if he thought he could have succeeded in attack earlier, he replied: "If I was given the role there and the faith to say we are going to play you all year there.

"I guess Mick wasn't keen about it and he told me that in the mid-90s. I was his No. 1 centre half-back and he wanted me to play there. I accepted there and then I was always going to play centre half-back.

"When I look back now I probably should have demanded the position a bit more but we had other guys playing there, Mitchell White, David Hynes and guys who played in premiership years.

"It was his (Malthouse's) call. I just attack every game. I feel good, I feel fit out there and I just enjoy playing. John has given me the confidence to go out and play that role.

"He said there's a couple of games where it won't go for you and you will have a bad day, and we will persist with you because we believe in you.

"That confidence from the coach has made me really enjoy my footy."

Jakovich admitted he was at the crossroads two years ago when his form as a defender slumped and many queried his ability to continue.

Worsfold played a key role in rebuilding his confidence, he said.

"He said just go out and play, I know you can play and he said I had his 100 per cent support," Jakovich said.

"I am going to play as long as I can play like I am now. That could be the end of the year or it could be in two years time."


Who wouldve thought this would be the case, especially considering 2 years ago people were calling for his head? Good luck Jako :cool:
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Jabber

Premiership Player
Joined
Jun 28, 2002
Posts
3,320
Likes
3
Location
NSW
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
West Coast Eagles
#4
I think his body (and heart hopefully) will probably hold up for 2 more seasons, the question mark is his form. I don't think he will ever be able to go back to CHB, so as long as he is up forward providing a contest and kicks a few goals he may scrape in to 300.
 

iceman

Premiership Player
Joined
Apr 1, 2001
Posts
3,563
Likes
2
Location
Sydney, NSW
AFL Club
West Coast
Thread starter #5
Personally, he should keep playing until he can no longer contribute. I'd hate to see us playing him for the sake of him reaching his 300 games. (ala Mick Martyn)

Even if it means him retiring on 270-280 games, then so be it...
 

daddy_4_eyes

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Dec 7, 2000
Posts
9,229
Likes
1,070
Location
Victoria home of football
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Eagles
#7
Whether his body holds up or not is irrelevant, its his motives we need to worry about. He is one of the most self-centered players in our current line-up, too often you see him taking a shot on goal from 60m out, or from an impossible angle, when passing to a team-mate is the better option. I'm hoping his motives for playing on are not as self centered. Somehow I feel Jako will push onto 300 games regardless of form.

IMO, he is currently a fringe best 18 player for us. Lets hope he doesn't become a Mick Martyn, playing for personal milestones despite being past his use-by date.
 

iceman

Premiership Player
Joined
Apr 1, 2001
Posts
3,563
Likes
2
Location
Sydney, NSW
AFL Club
West Coast
Thread starter #8
Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes
Lets hope he doesn't become a Mick Martyn, playing for personal milestones despite being past his use-by date.
Exactly. In hindsite, Peter Materas decision to retire was a smart one from his P.O.V because he left the game after a very solid season.... im hoping Jako can do the same thing and not stay on just for the personal glory
 

carlyp

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Mar 19, 2002
Posts
7,968
Likes
4
Location
In sin............. ;-)
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
The West Coast Eagles
#10
Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes
Whether his body holds up or not is irrelevant, its his motives we need to worry about. He is one of the most self-centered players in our current line-up, too often you see him taking a shot on goal from 60m out, or from an impossible angle, when passing to a team-mate is the better option. I'm hoping his motives for playing on are not as self centered. Somehow I feel Jako will push onto 300 games regardless of form.

IMO, he is currently a fringe best 18 player for us. Lets hope he doesn't become a Mick Martyn, playing for personal milestones despite being past his use-by date.
I think its more self belief D4E! I wouldnt call it self centredness! I disagree with your last comment, I believe he's in our best 18 for sure, he's played 4 or 5 really good games this season, and only 1 or 2 bad ones. I agree with Ozzult, I doubt Woosha would let Jako go on if he didnt think he was capable of contributing!
 

Voice of Reason

Premiership Player
Joined
Jul 4, 2001
Posts
3,587
Likes
0
Location
Beach on Indian Ocean
Other Teams
West Coast Eagles
#11
Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes
Whether his body holds up or not is irrelevant, its his motives we need to worry about. He is one of the most self-centered players in our current line-up, too often you see him taking a shot on goal from 60m out, or from an impossible angle, when passing to a team-mate is the better option. I'm hoping his motives for playing on are not as self centered. Somehow I feel Jako will push onto 300 games regardless of form.

IMO, he is currently a fringe best 18 player for us. Lets hope he doesn't become a Mick Martyn, playing for personal milestones despite being past his use-by date.
I don't agree that his tendency to blaze away is caused by a lack of team spirit.

Whoever's right, WCE, and particularly the head coach, would not allow any player to jeopardise the club's best interests.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Joined
Sep 29, 2001
Posts
1,267
Likes
0
Location
Perth
Other Teams
Eagles
#12
He's playing 300 games whether he likes it or not. I don't care if the club has to roll him out onto the ground in a wheelchair.

Besides, teams can get away with having a useless passenger sitting in a forward pocket. Just look at Fremantle and Trent Croad.
 

eagleskickass

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Sep 10, 2000
Posts
6,722
Likes
243
Location
Perth, WA
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
WEST COAST
#13
Its also interesting to note that ive heard both Jako and Woosh say that he has been instructed that IF he is in range, have a shot. Now when you see young players starting out they dont always make the right decisions of when to shoot and when to pass. While Jako isnt young he isnt exactly an experienced AFL forward(he was recruited as a forward yes but that was yonks ago now) and so he shoots, as he was instructed. The last few weeks he HAS been passing occasionally when he would normally have taken a shot. He is learning, and i just hope he plays as long as he is able to contribute fully NOT just to make 300 games, however he should at least AIM for it, its great to see he still has the passion:)
 

Uncle Tony

Senior List
Joined
Nov 5, 2001
Posts
266
Likes
1
Location
Turning the corner.
Other Teams
West Coast Eagles
#14
Hope Jako can go on even further if possible.

D4E, I think you're being a little harsh on Jako and Micky Martyn in saing that they play for personal milestones/glory. I feel they play because they genuinely believe they can still contribute and still have a passion for the game. I think we'd all agree that their best days are behind them, but if they weren't capable of playing top flight footy, Woosha and Pagan wouldn't pick them - period.

Sometimes the best teamates/clubmen to have aren't the stars but the experienced guys that set a great example of how to go about being the best you can be. They're probably the first to training and the last to leave. They prepare immaculately and are the guys that get you over the line when it's crunch time. They're the sort of guys that clubs are usually desperate to keep around even when they no longer play. You can bet that Woosha and Pagan would be milking all of Jako's and Micky's experience for what they're worth.

Sure, Jako seems selfish when he takes a mark 50m out and decides to have a shot, but I think it's got more to do with his relative inexperience in the forward line than his own motives.
 

jod23

TheBrownDog
Joined
Apr 2, 2000
Posts
61,500
Likes
17,887
Location
Perth, Australia
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Liverpool, Chicago Bulls.
#15
I think he will make it. He has rediscovered himself at CHF and with the Eagles back in the mix for a premiership, he will no doubt be very excited and motivated to contribute to the cause.

Just not sure how long it can go on with guys like Hansen, Doogs and Gaspar and with Jako's days in defence seemingly over. But right now his body is holding up, he is loving his footy and he is contributing to the team. So take it a game at a time and let's all hope he not only get's their but charges past 300!
 

daddy_4_eyes

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Dec 7, 2000
Posts
9,229
Likes
1,070
Location
Victoria home of football
AFL Club
West Coast
Other Teams
Eagles
#16
Maybe I was harsh on him, i dunno, maybe his form at Subi is better than his form in Melbourne. From the games I saw live, he was hopeless.

Against Melbourne he blazed away whenever he got the ball, I don't think he kicked a single goal that game. After he took a mark a good 60m out, I remember saying to a friend "watch, he'll shoot", to which he replied "no way, nobody's that stupid". And guess what he did?
Against Essendon he was being constantly switched between forward line and back line. Up forward he rarely looked like getting a touch, let alone kicking a goal, in the backline he struggled to get to a contest before the ball was cleared. He might aswell have been a runner.

His Brisbane game was top notch, no doubt, but how much of that can be attributed to him, and how much to our midfield dominance?

I hope the guy reaches 300 games, but on his ability to contribute to the team and not on the back of his legend status at the club basically ensuring he never gets dumped Woosha style (there's your answer Ozzult, woosha will spare Jako the embarrassment that he faced in 1998).
 

Voice of Reason

Premiership Player
Joined
Jul 4, 2001
Posts
3,587
Likes
0
Location
Beach on Indian Ocean
Other Teams
West Coast Eagles
#17
Originally posted by daddy_4_eyes
(there's your answer Ozzult, woosha will spare Jako the embarrassment that he faced in 1998).
I considered that before my earlier post and believe that Woosha will make the right decision irrespective of what happened to him on the bus that day. He may well have learnt from the 1998 experience of being on the receiving end how to do it better, but, if it were necessary, he'd do it nonetheless.
 
Top Bottom