Past Jared Brennan (2003-2010)

[Lady Lawrence]

Pick 3 in the 2002 AFL National Draft

*Jared Brennan recorded the fastest 20 sprint time (2.83 seconds) and highest running vertical leap (1.02 metres) in the 2002 draft camp.

over to you - Cozi

 

[danielcan]

Re: Jared Brennan

From The Age

Stepping up
Emma Quayle
March 24, 2007

Who will be next

Somewhere on your club’s list is a player waiting to go to the next level. Here are some likely suspects.

...

Brisbane Lions: Jared Brennan
People have been waiting, waiting and waiting for the exciting, athletic Brennan to shake his injuries and put things together full-time. He has spent the preseason at centre half-back, looks confident, creative and assured, and still has lots of tricks. Jed Adcock is another to watch.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Re: Jared Brennan

Here's an interesting read. Its Colin Wiseby's scouting report on Jared before he was drafted. Some of it is just so accurate its scary.

Jared Brennan (Southern Districts, NT)

191/78 mid-age left-footer (no right).

Style like very raw combination of Darryl White & Koutoufides (with a bit of O'Loughlin for good measure)

The X-factor in this year's draft. Flashy 6'3" daredevil jack-in-the box skeleton who can be quite freakish. A one-man combination of circus and Olympics, of high drama and slapstick, of creative genius and infant, of ballet dancer and yearling colt. He does the things we all enjoy doing at amusement parks - except he doesn't need any equipment like we mortals do. Expect the unexpected and be prepared to be mesmerised and frustrated in equal doses. A different cat.

Picture Darryl White's ungainly "placement" kicking style, freakish jack-in-the-box acrobatics, ball-handling party tricks, left-field creativity, and demeanour. Now picture Kouta's ball-in-hand "pick-up and carry" and explosiveness. Add their "16 strides per kilometre" running style and their aerial climbs and you've got the idea.

My head says his draft worth should be early-mid round 2. A facsimile of the mid-size onballer you miss this year will probably turn up next year but opportunities to snare a cat with the raw development potential of Brennan are rare so my heart has just over-ruled my head and I would use any first round pick after Goddard, Wells, Salopek and McVeigh. Admittedly the $1/4m to invest in a player's first 2 years is not coming out of my pocket. He will get drafted and quite early, perhaps late 1st round, but how early depends on which clubs can hold their nerve. This kid doesn't fit the usual formula. You are not buying a predictable production-line family car which you may need or choose to refine. You are buying what appears to be the parts to a limited edition Ferrari for the same price, and whether it turns out a good investment depends on how good you are at assembling those parts. You are buying opportunity in its rawest, most unpredictable form.

Aside from athleticism, what may excite a coach most is his lightning-quick creative brain. What may scare a coach most is also his quick creative brain. Plays largely on instinct and energy. His brain is always ticking over and usually a step ahead of his peers but he has footy smarts more than footy wisdom. He regularly outfoxes opponents by doing something really clever, often very much left-field (if not "uniquely Brennan"). However he doesn't seem to understand the concept of playing the percentages. Loves a speccie and a dash and when any chance arises, I'm not sure to what extent "game plan" factors into his thinking at that moment. He backs himself, no matter the odds, with no concept of "too hard" or failure.

He could be anything. Except average. Is exceptionally talented and exceptionally raw. Is a risk but has the potential to be a really special AFL match-winner cum cult hero .... or a local legend who tried for a job in the head-office factory but couldn't find a uniform which fitted.

If he becomes an AFL player, he is a chance to feature in the mark of the day, the goal of the day, the play of the day, and the blooper of the day. On the same day.

Only shines in bursts at this stage - tantalises rather than dominates. Invariably threatens to break a game open and regularly creates something out of nothing.
Even in cameo he will show a full range of everything - he can really jump (even standing leap), can kick long, has that Kouta ability to pick-up & carry the ball in one hand, is very quick across ground, has excellent poise (nothing seems to rattle him), step-ahead-of-the-rest brain, lightning reflexes.

He certainly has some major flaws that need to, and probably can, be addressed. The real selling point is that he can do things right now that almost no other player will ever be capable of and his potential for continual development seems immense.

Athleticism, strength, intensity, traffic management, hands:
Amazing leap, even from a standing start, but if he gets a ride on you, you'll find his hip is the natural enemy of your head - no matter how tall you are. Sometimes his big leap is a bit too millionairish though.
Seriously fast and quick off the mark. Finds another gear. Very few current AFL players would beat him for pace or acceleration. Deceptively quick. His long-striding Kouta running style belies how fast he is travelling. Looks to be cruising until you notice the gap behind him is increasing. Loves a dash - is a "catch me if you can" type. Opens up space very quickly.
Can pick the ball up (and I mean "pick" up, a la Kouta) off the ground at pace, without breaking stride, and open up a break (with the ball clasped in hand or tucked under arm).
Excellent (and creative) evasion skills, split second change of direction.
Cat-like agility, reflexes and recovery.
Great stamina - runs and runs. Even as FF he will regularly run to the wing and back.
Soooo skinny. Chicken legs. Almost as skinny as Gilham but a bit better frame (?) and is even quicker and more athletic ... and less orthodox and consistent.
Is desperate (chasing, tackling, 1%'s, attack on ball and man) and can't be physically intimidated. Is a fierce tackler but currently light at 78kg, so opponents aren't always impeded to the extent the ferocity deserves. Picture an electrified rag doll and you'll get the idea of how he throws himself at man or ball and his stability when bumped.
Timely ability to subtly nudge opponent off or under that ball at the last moment.
Runs hard one contest to next. Sometimes a study in perpetual motion. Can feed off in the BP then follow play downfield and bob up 2 or 3 plays later in the FP.
Will run hard 20m to block.
Presents well but also gets his own ball and doesn't give up in traffic.
Excellent traffic management (and not just for his height) - regularly slips into heavy traffic to crisply pluck the ball the others were fumbling over, then quick feed or scoots out again at and opens up a break.
Extremely clean (crisp, quick) hands below the knee.
Can take a vice-grab mark but, at this stage, quite a few of his marks are 2-grab.
Has a habit of coming from nowhere to contest the mark or swoop on the ball or launch at an opponent or charge through traffic or intercept.

Has razor-sharp inventive mind and instincts.
Reads the play well.
Reads the ball exceptionally well. Has an incredible ability, demonstrated regularly, to re-position at the last moment - even while airborne.

Versatility:
6'3" but could play literally any position on the ground if he can significantly add to his 78kg. In the 2002 U18 Championships he had stints as FF, wing, tap ruckman, etc. 2001 as a 16yo he played on Ablett, the current Geelong giant Playfair, and the current Pies tall forward Davidson etc.
Can rove the ball off or from under the pack like a small rover, or be consistently dangerous in contested pack-marking.
He is so quick, his opponent needs to be too if he plays on a flank. If the quick opponent happens to be not so hot overhead, Brennan's aerial ability and height offer his coach the chance to create a mismatch in the goal-square. Similarly if his opponent is a tall intended to counter Brennan in the air or push a weight advantage.

Disposal:
Mixed bag. Hands good, feet need a lot of work - although the news isn't all bad.
He is decidedly one-sided (left) by foot. He can certainly roost the pill and do the freakish lookaway kick or feed or the miraculous snap (or dribble goal).
Is invariably unbalanced when kicking on the run. No matter how much time he has or how little pressure I think he will usually run out and kick across his body (partly a lefties' thing but especially with him), whether the kick is intended to be short or long, and he will invariably be leaning very forward, typically with his head leaning down too far, and off-balance on contact. It means he kicks the ball from very low from the ground so he hasn't got much of an arc to kick through - which must impair depth. The result is usually a mongrel flat floating punt (although he sometimes gets surprising depth). It is not simply a matter of teaching him to steady - his kicking style is not one of good balance. As with Darryl White, it almost looks as if he is trying to kick off his wrong foot or trying to literally place the ball on his boot.
He also regularly does very clever passes and some set kick long bombs and some Daicos-like sneakies. His set kicks, especially shooting for goal, are OK and can get great relaxed depth. His main kicking problem is primarily re "on the run". Unfortunately he typically plays on when he can take a set kick so kicking on the run is a fair % of his disposals, especially considering that, regardless of what role he plays, his disposals are very predominantly kicks rather than feeds.
[ As an aside, nothing to do with drafting, I've noticed that kids from northern Australia invariably have a deft kicking style in the way their foot caresses the ball instead of driving through it. (May be due to the fact that they don't wear normal footy boots on their hard grounds or maybe it's an aboriginal-type style). It does mean that many of their players, Brennan and Darryl White included, have a special "touch of foot" (on dry grounds) conducive to dinky weighted passes and goal-set-ups in lieu of handballs. Brennan is clever at doing these and good at presenting for them then opening up the play. Shame to sacrifice that style for AFL as it's great to watch].

- Good temperament. Pester-tagging (at least at U18 level) doesn't phase him.

If you haven't seen him, some actual examples may help (sample from 7 games):-
1. Magnificent reading of flight: Was in goal-square for marking contest and he could see early in ball's flight it was going to drop short so he re-positioned himself in a flash from being ready to contest mark to being front 'n square like a rover - very quick clever adjustment which you just can't teach. Then roved the spill like a rover.
2. Huge leap from behind to crash through pack marking contest, coming very high from nowhere a long way back at great pace then climbed up through pack & finished up in front of pack. Soooo athletic - was full arms's length higher than next highest player.
3. Was running at pace to bouncing ball with opponent on his jack and as soon as he got the ball he stopped in his tracks and simultaneously dropped flat to the ground like a rock. Opponent ran straight over the top with momentum and Brennan was up and off, leaving opponent non-plussed.
4. Running after the ball with a few others including the quick McLean, he came from behind and got to ball 2m in front, then picked up one-handed a la Kouta, held it in palm then streamed off in a "catch me if you can" Kouta special.
5. Was never going to be in the marking contest - was way too far behind. Charged straight at Crawford's back and never had his eyes on the ball at any stage. His eyes were clearly on Crawford's back and he was going to spoil Crawford by shoving him blatantly in the back. Ummm ... but he didn't. With precision timing, on reaching Crawford as Crawford was about to contest the overhead mark, he stopped forward momentum completely and jumped dead vertically, so high his hip was at Crawford's head and he held a great mark he had no right to even contest. He instinctively took his cue from Crawford's body movement and didn't try to spot the ball until he was in vertical leap.
6. Stole ball from traffic but was about to get nailed immediately so instead of completely taking delivery he deliberately rolled ball along ground in front of him so he could subsequently take it when he had gained a break.
7. The ball was heading for the points but, at pace under pressure, he somehow half-stopped it in its tracks, deftly tapping it along ground to deflect ball from in front of points to in front of the goals, then pinged himself back to it and deftly goaled off the ground while opponent sailed past.
8. Huge one-grab mark coming over the top of huge pack from side, having been the candidate least likely to get it - mainly natural spring as no chance for run-up.
9. Huge overhead mark over the top of Furfaro (Qld) on half-back line. Brennan's backside was higher than Furfaro's head. And it was all natural spring as he came from behind Furfaro but finished in front of him after taking the mark.

Query:
- Kicking on the run definitely needs improvement.
- At this stage his marks are sometimes 1-3 grabs. (Once he stops being sooo skinny this may change as he won't be so buffeted / unbalanced).
- Skinny as, slight frame and hasn't changed shape much since last year. He may bulk up enough in time to play key but even down the side he presents opposition coaches with match-up problems.
- Doesn't take a game by the scruff of the neck and get a lot of ball yet.
- No right foot. Fortunately he has the pace & agility to be able to get onto his left pretty easily so not likely to be big problem but it is still a bit of a shame.

Some stats:
- Played 2 TAC games (invitation) & got 3 Morrish Medal votes for BOG in one.
- Fairly consistent. "Quietest of 6 U18 Championships games 2001-2 was 9 disposals (best 16, 2002 average 13 3 games).

Other stuff:
All Australian (2002 U18 Championships)

And here is the BigFooty thread about his incredible debut against Collingwood in 2003. Some people were saying he's better than Judd.

 

[xplo]

Re: Jared Brennan

Geeez, you have to take your head off to Wiseby. That is a freakishly accurate rundown on the kid.

 

[simon black........freak]

DREAM TEAM - Jared Brennan

is Jared Brennan worth getting in dream team and do u think he will continue his form throughout the year?

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Re: DREAM TEAM - Jared Brennan

I've got him. He's going to get at least 15 possies a games you'd think, so for the money I reckon he's a safe bet, especially when you comapre him to others at the same price.

 

[danielcan]

Re: Jared Brennan

http://www.news.com.au/sundaymail/story/0,23739,21515072-5003410,00.html

Rising ace for Lions

Andrew Hamilton
April 07, 2007 12:00am
Article from:
http://www.news.com.au/sundaymail/email/popup/0,23830,21515072-5003410,00.html
JARED Brennan's one-year-old Leila watched her dad play for the first time in Thursday night's 52-point mauling of St Kilda.

She couldn't get what all the fuss was about – Dad was always a star in her eyes. He's fast becoming one in the eyes of the Lions and many of their fans too after standout defensive performances on Lance Franklin and Justin Koschitzke, two rising names of the game.

It has been said the first couple of minutes of Brennan's highlights reel compares with Chris Judd's – only his ends there while the Eagles skipper's goes on for hours.

Brennan may not add too much more to that reel, and it might just be the making of him as a footballer.

"I like playing in the forward line because you can do some tricks, but in the back line you have to knuckle down," he said.

"You can't take hangers, you can't do the one-handed marks, but I don't mind because it means I get a game every week."

The hangers looked good, but too often they were followed by a poor kick or a lazy chase – and generally after that a spray from coach Leigh Matthews.

Now the one-handed marks have vanished and so has the yelling – the one-time lair has been a revelation in defence, developing into a key cog in a rising Brisbane side. "I haven't got any lately, but yeah in my first couple of years I copped a few sprays," Brennan said.

And they haven't all been from the coach.

Until the recent arrivals of Mitch Clark and Matthew Leuenberger, he was the club's only top-10 draft pick and no Lion has felt the weight of public expectation and copped the brunt of criticism as much.

It used to sting, but he always believed he could play and now with a bit of confidence and fulfilling home life with the arrival of his daughter such comments barely register and he is living up to his undoubted potential.

"I think I've always had it, but I've matured a lot outside of football which has helped me a lot in football, I think they go hand in hand," he said.

"I was a pretty free living guy before but now I have a lot of responsibilities, changing nappies and that sort of stuff it keeps me in check."

His move to defence has given him responsibility on the field for the first time and it has resulted in the sort of sustained form Matthews always hoped he would produce.

Although Brennan admits being accountable doesn't come naturally. "I always have to remind myself," he said.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Re: Jared Brennan

http://www.insidefootballonline.com/casanelia_07032007.html

BRENNAN READY TO STAND AND DELIVER

BEN CASANELIA 07/03/07

Jared Brennan, the man once compared to Carlton great Anthony Koutoufides after one game, is confident a full time defensive role will be the key to finally delivering on his undoubted talent.

After producing a best-afield effort to help the Lions sink the Western Bulldogs last Friday night, the 22-year-old has his eyes firmly set on making a mark this season.

“I want to stay in one position,” Brennan said.

“In the past I’ve played ruck, forward pocket, wing, half forward, full forward, centre half forward … I’ve never had a spot to play.

“Each week I’ve been a utility, but I want to have one spot where my name is cemented in.”

Brennan said he hadn’t spoken with Lions coach Leigh Matthews about his role this year, but was letting his play do all the talking.

Brisbane assistant coach Justin Leppitsch was in no doubt as to where the exciting left-footer should play his football.

“He’s best position is down back and he proved that tonight with his carry and ability to take them on in defence,” Leppitsch said.

Leppitsch, the man considered by former teammate Shaun Hart as the player most likely to make it as a senior coach of any Lion he played with, said Brennan’s effort against the Bulldogs was his best in a Brisbane jumper.
It was only his fourth game playing in defence.

“He hasn’t played a lot of four-quarter games to start with (because of injury), but he’s getting to the age where he’s finding the right mix between defence and attack,” Leppitsch said.

The former No. 3 draft pick wasn’t getting carried away with his early-season form, but said he finally felt ready to hold down a permanent place in the side.
“It’s only NAB Cup but it would be nice to play that way in the real season,” Brennan said.

“I did my first full pre-season since I’ve been here and it’s more confidence to know that I can run that extra bit and that extra confidence is something I probably haven’t had in previous years.

“I’m confident because I’ve done all the work.”

While Brennan spent a large portion of the night at full back, he hopes to use his attacking flair from the half-backline during the premiership season.
Whatever his role, he’s confident he can fulfil it.

“I think so, but I’ve only played four games down back,” he said.

“I’m hoping … I don’t want say I’m hoping … if I can keep playing well in defence there’ll be a spot for me.”

 

[Hollow Knight]

Re: Jared Brennan

Jared made me say alot of bad words last night.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Re: Jared Brennan

Poor game from Jared. Hope he learns a lot from that. Gotta like how how Matthews leaves him on his opponent though and how he can shut things down after being pantsed. Still needs to be commit himself at the ball when it's called for. That looked quite ordinary.

 

[BigCat2]

Re: Jared Brennan

I'm just trying to think the last time Jared has put together several pieces of hard, physical play. I draw a blank.

The fact that his opponent got some uncontested footy was because he wasn't paying attention to his man, but just zoned off. Not a great sin, since there's a difficult balance to strike between defensive and offensive play. Leppitsch was a master at it, and it illuded even Chris Johnson at times. I anticipate Jared to improve in this area with time.

However there was one loose ball on the wing, where Jared really had to commit himself to make a contest. He had ample speed, but simply didn't go hard enough, and the Carlton player swept the ball forward. Now that's nothing to do with zoning off or whatever - that's just not committed. This to me is a far greater worry, and I'm not sure how the coaching staff will be able to drill this into him, if they haven't managed in the previous 4 years.

Jared plays flashy footy (which is fine) but isn't accountable, and just seems to be cruising most of the time. He needs to work harder to become the player we all know he can be.

 

[The Flying Belgian]

Re: Jared Brennan

I'm just trying to think the last time Jared has put together several pieces of hard, physical play. I draw a blank.

The fact that his opponent got some uncontested footy was because he wasn't paying attention to his man, but just zoned off. Not a great sin, since there's a difficult balance to strike between defensive and offensive play. Leppitsch was a master at it, and it illuded even Chris Johnson at times. I anticipate Jared to improve in this area with time.

However there was one loose ball on the wing, where Jared really had to commit himself to make a contest. He had ample speed, but simply didn't go hard enough, and the Carlton player swept the ball forward. Now that's nothing to do with zoning off or whatever - that's just not committed. This to me is a far greater worry, and I'm not sure how the coaching staff will be able to drill this into him, if they haven't managed in the previous 4 years.

Jared plays flashy footy (which is fine) but isn't accountable, and just seems to be cruising most of the time. He needs to work harder to become the player we all know he can be.

I remember Shermo shirking it a few times early last year, which was the catalyst for his move to HB. He now takes his punishment when it's his turn. I reckon part of Jared's problems is that he's constantly thinking "how can I turn this play into an attack for us?". You'd like to think that he'll be reminded of team principles this week. Funny thing is he plays better when he gets physical and a bit fired up.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Re: Jared Brennan

He's got a new hairstyle... dreddies.....looks pretty cool.

You'll all see it tomorrow I imagine!

 

[Warwick]

Re: Jared Brennan

He's got a new hairstyle... dreddies.....looks pretty cool.

You'll all see it tomorrow I imagine!

I couldn't care if he wore a basket on his head.

He needs to shut down the opposition's CHF on the weekend, but more importantly, he needs to score 100+ to show the Hack's manager why he was brought over.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Re: Jared Brennan

I couldn't care if he wore a basket on his head.

He needs to shut down the opposition's CHF on the weekend, but more importantly, he needs to score 100+ to show the Hack's manager why he was brought over.

As I was saying to Belgian today, hopefully this new hairstyle allows a little more oxygen into his brain.

 

[Raav]

Re: Jared Brennan

Jared Brennan is starting to move towards an Aaron Fiora draft pick rather than a Buddy Franklin pick.

Soft as melted butter

 

[Quigley]

Re: Jared Brennan

Don't worry guys I have sold Jarred out of my Dreamteam. I bought him after round 2 and obviously put the moz on him. Look for him to bounce back this week.

On the softness issue I think he needs to be given a little time to given a little time to get some confidence in his body back again. Remember the terrible run with injury he has had ever since he came into the AFL. It is only natural for him to be a little gun shy until he is confident that he can go a whole season without injury. What you don't want though is for the aversion to body contact to become a permanent feature in his game.

 

[BigCat2]

Re: Jared Brennan

Many other guys with really bad injuries don't shirk the tough stuff. The problem with JBiz is that he's never been that hard at the ball.

I'm starting to believe more that Jared is a freaky genius - not just in his skills and athleticism, but also his thinking, ie nobody knows what he'll do next, although the man himself does.

I've seen other people (outside of football) that think laterally, and they'll use unorthodox methods to get the job done. If you tried to teach them to do things the 'normal' way it frustrates the hell out of them, and they struggle to understand it anyway. These folks thrive if they're allowed free reign over what they do and how they learn.

Not sure there's a place for that under Leigh's coaching. Everybody has to be accountable, and hard at the footy, and of course always do the team thing. I just hope that Jared can use his own way to come up with a method that'll allow him to do these things, then we'll really see his brilliance rise to the top. Even then, he'd still be prone to the occasional apparent brain explosion.

 

[Quigley]

Re: Jared Brennan

BC Leigh managed to win a few premierships with a couple of unorthodox type players in Acker and White and managed to make the most of their talents. With both though he still required them to have some discipline in their play and I think that is what Leigh might be trying to get through to Jarred at the moment. Not necessarily trying to stifle his offensive game but making sure he knows what is expected at the defensive end.

I still think Jarred is best suited as a half forward and he might well end up playing there in the long run if we get another half back coming through. I still remember Ackers season in the backline and for me that year was the making of him. After that year he was a much more disciplined player who knew when and how to do the little things on the defensive end that were required. I am hoping the same thing happens with Jarred after his experience down back this year even if it is not a permanent move.

 

[BigCat2]

Re: Jared Brennan

I hope you're right Quigs.

It seems playing in the backline has made Jared more (well, comparatively) accountable and aware of what may happen if he doesn't do his bit. We've already seen that this can go out the window after a couple of good performances - I shudder to think how quickly he'll forget if he played forward.

At the moment we have an abundance of key forwards and a shortage of key defenders. When fit, we've got Brown, Bradshaw and Clark up forward. Charmo may also pinch hit forward. Patfull has looked far better this year playing forward. Even Matt Tyler, who was recruited as a defender, has looked good as a forward.

Down back, we have 1 gorilla in Merrett, then a mobile key defender in Roe. If Garner was fit he may get a gig, but having played zero AFL games in his 3 years on our list, it's doubtful he'll get a shot next year - possibly rookie listed. Mills can't get a game at the moment.

Then there's Tippett and Clouston who are athletic talls and could be anything.

I think it'll probably work out the best for us if Jared can hold down a defensive spot. However, I still think we're 1 big key defender short in our premiership jigsaw pieces. If the opposition plays 3 big forwards (eg St Kilda with G Train, Nick and Kozi), or if Merrett goes down, our defense can fall apart very quickly. Hopefully Mills and Tyler can step up down back.

 

[Quigley]

Re: Jared Brennan

I agree that when fit we seem to be stacked at forward and we are short of a KPB. I agree that I think Garner is probably headed to the rookie list next year. I for one think Mills with a little more bulk and some work on his kicking will end up playing CHB for us for quite a few years to come. Another option which could happen in a couple of years is that we could end up with Schmidt playing CHB the way Cornes or Bolton plays the position. That is provided he gets that 5cm or so late height burst that his brothers had.

Speaking of premiership teams remember that Leigh loves to have a tall utility player floating around on the wing that he can throw forward or back as needed. White and Pyke both played this role and if Jarred can at least show he can do a job if needed then I think he might get a look at that role. The one for me who seems to be being groomed for that role at the moment is Patfull and he seems to be doing it well. He is showing nice form up forward but played down back a fair bit last year and did very nicely down there last week when required.

Jarred has been given an opportunity this year and he started fantastically but has faded recently. There is still a 3/4 of the season to go and this season is going to make or break him. We will know after this year if he is going to be a part of our next premiership team. It won't necessarily be at CHB but he has to stand up to be counted.

 

[BigCat2]

Re: Jared Brennan

Jarred has been given an opportunity this year and he started fantastically but has faded recently. There is still a 3/4 of the season to go and this season is going to make or break him. We will know after this year if he is going to be a part of our next premiership team. It won't necessarily be at CHB but he has to stand up to be counted.

Very true. To be honest, I can't see Jared emulating Leppitsch - styles are too different. To hold down CHB you need to have a really effective defensive side too, which Jared hasn't shown. He could be, like you said, a White or Pike who plays as tall utility.

If Mills develops as hoped, then he can play CHB. Huge motor to chase the opposition all over the park, and disciplined enough to play a negating role. His offensive side at the moment is a bit of an unknown, but it's not like we're lacking drive from the back with Roe, Brennan, Stiller, Lappin and Notting.

Good point on Schmidt - I had forgotten the attention on his brothers' height when we first recruited him. He only just turned 18 in March, so he may yet grow. I would imagine that clubs would've taken X rays of the growth plates in some of his long bones to see how much more he'll grow.

I also wonder whether the game is moving more towards having some athletic talls in the centre or on the wing to complement your in & under players. Adam Goodes is the prototype. If this becomes a trend, then athletic guys in the 190-193cm range no longer have to be consigned to be undersized key position players. It'll also make it easier for clubs to keep more players of this type on their list, knowing that they can do a variety of roles.

 

[Grimreepah]

Re: Jared Brennan

If we were to judge him on results, instead of how he looks, how would people rate him? Unlike previous years he is now playing on the gun players, and I would say he has only been beaten by O'Loughlin in the final quarter and Whitnall in the first half. Against Kosi, Pavlich and Franklin he has had held his own. I agree with the criticisms of Warwick and Raav, but the results have been pretty good, so maybe we don't give him enough credit in other areas.

At the same time, I don't think opposition clubs have exploited his weaknesses as well as they could have, which is isolating him one on one in the goal square. Only Sydney have done that, and that's when he starts to look vulnerable.

 

[Quigley]

Re: Jared Brennan

Good point Grim although he was comprehensively beaten last week for me. I really rated his first couple of games when he was racking up possessions from half back. His confidence was high and he got right on top of Franklin which is something no-one else has really done so far this year. After teams started to shut down that room for him and he had to be more accountable his possessions have dried up and so has his confidence. His lose style was acceptable when he was running off and requiring his man to go with him but when he presents no danger he has been getting worked and has been lucky not to get pumped for a lot of goals over the last few weeks. Pav and Tarrant got 6 between them last week basically all when they were swapping at HF. Brennan and Roe were very lose and were lucky to not give up more.

 

[konstas_87]

Re: Jared Brennan

If we were to judge him on results, instead of how he looks, how would people rate him? Unlike previous years he is now playing on the gun players, and I would say he has only been beaten by O'Loughlin in the final quarter and Whitnall in the first half. Against Kosi, Pavlich and Franklin he has had held his own. I agree with the criticisms of Warwick and Raav, but the results have been pretty good, so maybe we don't give him enough credit in other areas.

At the same time, I don't think opposition clubs have exploited his weaknesses as well as they could have, which is isolating him one on one in the goal square. Only Sydney have done that, and that's when he starts to look vulnerable.

i think our midfield pressure has just been much improved this year. whenever it has been 50-50 coming in he's been beaten.