Toast James O’Donnell, Cat B Rookie. A star is born.

[Pencil case]

It’s criminal this guy doesn’t already have a thread dedicated to him.

He’s building, having a breakout year. Will be an AA caliber defender within a couple seasons.

Last night:

18 disposals at 89% DE
12 intercept possessions (game high)
6 intercept marks (game high)

Kept his direct opponent Jed Walter to 5 disposals and 0.0

8 one percenters
8 spoils

100% TOG only player to do so.

 

[JTCWBFC]

Was at the game and he was awesome to watch.

It buss can really come on our key defensive posts are locked for a long time

 

[Snarls Barkley]

I was getting a little worried about him. One with his concussions, but also because I thought he was pretty poor last season after really promising signs in his first season.

His past two weeks have been elite. I thought he deserved coaches votes last week, I think he'll get some for this game. More of the same please.

 

[BulldogMuscle]

One of my favorite players, super nice guy and I think he will take over the key KPD role for a long time to come.

 

[blagodellago]

Has a bit of Jack Buckley about him. He’s been very impressive the last few weeks.

 

[Here we go dogs]

His a naturally a beautiful kick. Got caught out early on for taking the wrong option at times or lack of confidence. Reckon his got the ability to become elite with his rebounding in addition to his intercept game.

Anyone who watched his early vfl games (only 2), knew what he was capable of. It was unbelievable what he was doing after not playing footy for 5 years.

 

[Fossie 32]

 

[Norm De Guerre]

Its no accident that the club has had this guy on a developmental fast track since the moment we were made aware of him.

When the match committee chooses a neophyte on form over a veteran who most would've had as the cornerstone of our defence at the start of the year. Then that person is going ok.

Striking gold with first rounders is easy. Doing the same with freebies like JO'D is how recruiters build reputations.

 

[stefoid]

Striking gold with first rounders is easy. Doing the same with freebies like JO'D is how recruiters build reputations.

Ill take the guy who can reliably use the best picks. Striking gold with 1st rounders is definitely not easy.

 

[House_of_Dahl]

One of my favorite players, super nice guy and I think he will take over the key KPD role for a long time to come.

He really is a super nice guy. He spent ages with my kids at a pre game training session. He made a big effort to chat with them and was obviously an intelligent and genuinely nice guy

 

[King Harold]

He was the big shining light Saturday.
Gave us a glimpse of of what’s to come,

 

[Bald]

Champion Data currently have JOD as a top 5 rated key defender in the competition (based on the last 4 weeks IIRC), he's also top 10 for his use of the ball.

Couldn't be happier, I have a small wager with a friend of mine - he said he will end up being delisted, I said he will end up being in our leadership team. I'm liking my odds at the minute.

 

[VitalDread]

One thing that i've been noticing

Is that Lobb role has changed a bit more now that JOD has established himself

Appears that JOD is taking that Number 1 Defender role and is dealing with more 1-1 match ups than Lobb last season

 

[RWnBluey]

One thing that i've been noticing

Is that Lobb role has changed a bit more now that JOD has established himself

Appears that JOD is taking that Number 1 Defender role and is dealing with more 1-1 match ups than Lobb last season

JOD is developing very nicely into an elite defender. Over the last month he’s been top 10 for ball use amongst key defenders and top 5 for pure defensive work.

 

[Mr. Walker]

JOD is developing very nicely into an elite defender. Over the last month he’s been top 10 for ball use amongst key defenders and top 5 for pure defensive work.

Do they exclude 20 metre kicks from those stats? I love JODs improvement this year into a very reliable Key defender but accuracy of his short kicks is still “an opportunity for improvement “. Marking, spoiling, long kicks all fine.

 

[RWnBluey]

Do they exclude 20 metre kicks from those stats? I love JODs improvement this year into a very reliable Key defender but accuracy of his short kicks is still “an opportunity for improvement “. Marking, spoiling, long kicks all fine.

I assume “ball use” includes every possession including the short kicks, and I’m only referring to his last month. Nevertheless you’re being a tad harsh. He’s 73% for kicking efficiency across his career and 75% past 4 weeks so the kid’s going ok

 

[maddog37]

Kicks both feet too which I like to see.

 

[DiamondDogs8]

Aside from efficiency etc,

His long kicking action is genuinely beautiful

 

[Pencil case]

Did Caddy play tonight?

 

[geoffjennings79]

Did Caddy play tonight?

Lived up to his name, doing Lobb's bidding!

 

[House_of_Dahl]

Lived up to his name, doing Lobb's bidding!

Apparently did a good job carrying JOD's bags to the carpark.

 

[The Inbetweener]

I was getting a little worried about him. One with his concussions, but also because I thought he was pretty poor last season after really promising signs in his first season.

His past two weeks have been elite. I thought he deserved coaches votes last week, I think he'll get some for this game. More of the same please.

Same here. I’ve said he’s only a 3rd/ intercept defender, but he’s been so much better than that the last two weeks. Really hope he can be our long term Jones replacement.

 

[maddog37]

Needs to one grab his marks more.

Love the way he plays.

 

[DiamondDogs8]

He was excellent at ground level last night. Super clean hands under pressure once the ball hit the deck