Jonathan O'Rourke

[The Lemon]

Personally I reckon a lot of supporters are swayed by the fact he was a number 2 draft pick. If he was taken 22, 32 or 42 no one would bat an eyelid if he was delisted this year. Regardless of the excuses he has not lived up to expectations. Plenty of players don't make it because their bodies just can hack it unfortunately.

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The kid was in the best Vic teams growing up as a kid. Obvs he has talent.

Kids like this just don't forget how to play. I think we need to give him one last crack

 

[tommyk72]

Personally I reckon a lot of supporters are swayed by the fact he was a number 2 draft pick. If he was taken 22, 32 or 42 no one would bat an eyelid if he was delisted this year. Regardless of the excuses he has not lived up to expectations. Plenty of players don't make it because their bodies just can hack it unfortunately.

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You're most likely right. However, professional AFL talent scouts also saw enough to see him picked at pick 2. I'm happy to give him a little more time

 

[Siri]

Sam Menegola says hello.

Then maybe he should be rookie listed ... twice (or was it 3 times) ... like Sam ... and made to earn a senior spot. Look, I really hope he comes on & wouldn't mind giving him an extra year, but if he has the potential some think he does then theoretically he should easily elevate himself from the rookie list!!!

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[Brishawk]

Then maybe he should be rookie listed ... twice ... like Sam ... and made to earn a senior spot.

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Another club would likely select him in the national draft. I'm reasonably sure he will be given one more year on our list but if he doesn't then so be it. I'll wish him well.

 

[Great 2008]

The kid was in the best Vic teams growing up as a kid. Obvs he has talent.

Kids like this just don't forget how to play. I think we need to give him one last crack

Vickery did.

 

[Billyc]

Personally I reckon a lot of supporters are swayed by the fact he was a number 2 draft pick. If he was taken 22, 32 or 42 no one would bat an eyelid if he was delisted this year. Regardless of the excuses he has not lived up to expectations. Plenty of players don't make it because their bodies just can hack it unfortunately.

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No doubt this is true but the fact is he was a pick 2. We have a terrible hand in what is said to be a terrible draft this year. We have already had Hodge and Gibson retire. I reckon O'Rourke is a better chance of being an ok player than whoever we get in the fourth round of this year's draft. Give him another year.

Im not expecting him to make it, let alone be a really strong contributor like some, but there's a chance. He's shown nothing but he just hasn't had the chance.

 

[Siri]

No doubt this is true but the fact is he was a pick 2. We have a terrible hand in what is said to be a terrible draft this year. We have already had Hodge and Gibson retire. I reckon O'Rourke is a better chance of being an ok player than whoever we get in the fourth round of this year's draft. Give him another year.

Im not expecting him to make it, let alone be a really strong contributor like some, but there's a chance. He's shown nothing but he just hasn't had the chance.

You get a chance on a rookie list. It's all about taking or should I say making your chances. It's a win win situation.

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[Baz_hawk]

I'd suspect that if we planned to rookie him then someone else would snatch him before us. Any other team ahead of us would be silly to pass up on a former #2 pick for peanuts with a rookie pick.

Chuck him another year and manage him as best we can and see what he can do.

 

[Siri]

I'd suspect that if we planned to rookie him then someone else would snatch him before us. Any other team ahead of us would be silly to pass up on a former #2 pick for peanuts with a rookie pick.

Chuck him another year and manage him as best we can and see what he can do.

In recent times most delisted players get rookie listed by their former club (if that's what the club & player wants). You're proving my exact point ... that some people get hung up on the fact that he was a #2 pick. Why not look at his actual track record rather than afford him luxuries that he may not be entitled to? Statistically, is he worth another contract? Just putting it out there.

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[Baz_hawk]

In recent times most delisted players get rookie listed by their former club (if that's what the club & player wants). You're proving my exact point ... that some people get hung up on the fact that he was a #2 pick. Why not look at his actual track record rather than afford him luxuries that he may not be entitled to? Statistically, is he worth another contract? Just putting it out there.

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So here's the thing, we enter a shallow draft according to many with our current first pick likely to land in the early 40's (obviously trade period could change this). We've had Gibson and Hodge retire and I'd expect we will see Whitecross, Willsmore and if rumours are true Poppy will depart also.That will clear up 5 senior spots. We will need to recruit 3 draftees and will likely bring at least one player in via trade you'd imagine. I cannot see us drafting more than 3 players with our current picks and unless we do something drastic to get a few early picks I don't think we'd even consider drafting a 4th player at a pick around the 100 mark in favour of giving someone like O'Rourke an additional year and basically being honest with him about the situation and how it is going to be.

He may not have the runs on the board but many who have watched him can see there is talent there but without continuity its really gone untapped. I'd have no issue for the club to extend his contract and do what they can over the preseason to give him every opportunity to make it. He could blow up again or he could finally get a good run at it, either way it's a better option than taking a kid that would otherwise be lucky to land on a rookie list and hope that you've found a diamond in the rough.

 

[KermitJagger]

Everyone that says O'Rourke has shown nothing has not watched box hill. Simple as that.

 

[flinchfree]

Everyone that says O'Rourke has shown nothing has not watched box hill. Simple as that.

Mitch Hallahan says hi.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Everyone that says O'Rourke has shown nothing has not watched box hill. Simple as that.

Correct weight.

 

[KermitJagger]

Mitch Hallahan says hi.

Hi Mitch

 

[dipper86]

Everyone that says O'Rourke has shown nothing has not watched box hill. Simple as that.

I think its more O'Rourke hasn't shown anything at AFL level....in all reality the gap is widening between VFL and AFL.
What I have seen of him at AFL didn't excite me, I wanted a glimpse, "oh that's a nice turn of speed, his hands were nice in close" To me he seemed vanilla. His injuries looked to have a taken a toll on his body, because I thought he'd be more nimble/agile than what i saw.

 

[flinchfree]

I think its more O'Rourke hasn't shown anything at AFL level....in all reality the gap is widening between VFL and AFL.
What I have seen of him at AFL didn't excite me, I wanted a glimpse, "oh that's a nice turn of speed, his hands were nice in close" To me he seemed vanilla. His injuries looked to have a taken a toll on his body, because I thought he'd be more nimble/agile than what i saw.

Agree.
Some players just have levels their play goes to as the game gets faster and as more is required of them at the higher level.
JOR looks the same to me at VFL and AFL grade, which doesn't look quite so great when the surrounding cast are much more highly skilled and physically gifted.
Ah well, surprise me JOR.

 

[Brishawk]

I have watche d jor pretty closely during his time at hawthorn. His number one issue holding back his performance has been his body. That may sound obvious however if you watch him you will see a player who doesn't have faith that his legs will carry him away when he asks them too which impacts his decision making. If this is fixable then we can hope to see an improved player at afl level than what we have witnessed.

The other thing which prevented him from getting the ball more at afl level is his voice. So many times he would gut run to space only to not demand the footy and thus get ignored by team mates even though he was in a great position. There may be some argument that him running to space in the corridor (as was typical of his running efforts) was not aligned with our game plan which favoured a more conservative approach to fifty along the boundary, however, I'd argue his ability to find space in the corridor is something we need to exploit as teams have become too good at defending our wide play and one change we did make was to attack through the corridor more often in the back half of the year. This kid has a beautiful kicking style and is deadly in front of goal. We want him getting the ball in dangerous positions. So we fix his voice and give him experience in our game plan at afl level and I think he is equally capable of winning 20-25 touches a week playing inside and out of the contest.

It all comes down to what Russell believes. If he thinks jor's body is fixable then I'd retain him.

 

[TheFourPillars]

He provides something different to our midfield. He has great kicking skills and vision and is a big part of clarksons plan going forward.

He is also top 4 in endurance at our club and reasonably quick just hasn't had the confidence in his body to really turn on the jets. Similar to suckling early in his career he needs confidence in his body and the only way you get that is continuity.

Here's hoping he has a great VFL final series

 

[KermitJagger]

I think its more O'Rourke hasn't shown anything at AFL level....in all reality the gap is widening between VFL and AFL.
What I have seen of him at AFL didn't excite me, I wanted a glimpse, "oh that's a nice turn of speed, his hands were nice in close" To me he seemed vanilla. His injuries looked to have a taken a toll on his body, because I thought he'd be more nimble/agile than what i saw.

Can't really blame him, limited opportunity and then injury cutting him down when he did get the chance to show his wares. I'm still bullish on the kid.

Plus he did a few burst things and a nice goal that I liked at AFL level.

 

[threesixpio]

This thread just reminds me yet again how awesome 4Ps and Brishawk are as posters

 

[Ned Ryerson]

He provides something different to our midfield. He has great kicking skills and vision and is a big part of clarksons plan going forward.

He is also top 4 in endurance at our club and reasonably quick just hasn't had the confidence in his body to really turn on the jets. Similar to suckling early in his career he needs confidence in his body and the only way you get that is continuity.

Here's hoping he has a great VFL final series

You're right about his vision - I remember his couple of games at AFL level he was able to find people by foot in spaces that just looked impossible. He was able to show me some glimpses that got me pretty excited about his potential. Just needs to get his body right! Needs another year at least.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

I wonder if he's similar to Cyril in that his running style is a contributing factor to his hamstring issues or whether there is another reason behind his injuries.

Regardless, the club has been ultra conservative in getting him back out there so I really hope he can have a good run at it. Positive signs on the weekend.

sven_inc You had a look at JOR's running style?

 

[Walshawk]

Everyone that says O'Rourke has shown nothing has not watched box hill. Simple as that.

I have seen plenty of him at Box Hill. Sure, he is above average at VFL level, but so is David Mirra and so was Sam Iles. He it not a level above even the way Langford is when he plays VFL. He has shown very little at any level since he was drafted, which was a long time ago. Why would another club pick him up just because he was a number 2 pick? He lacks polish, is mid-paced and injury prone. Unless he lifts dramatically for remainder of the VFL finals, delist. Rookie if we can't find anyone better.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

I have seen plenty of him at Box Hill. Sure, he is above average at VFL level, but so is David Mirra and so was Sam Iles. He it not a level above even the way Langford is when he plays VFL. He has shown very little at any level since he was drafted, which was a long time ago. Why would another club pick him up just because he was a number 2 pick? He lacks polish, is mid-paced and injury prone. Unless he lifts dramatically for remainder of the VFL finals, delist. Rookie if we can't find anyone better.

I don't think you have actually looked if you say he lacks everything.

 

[Walshawk]

I don't think you have actually looked if you say he lacks everything.

I go to Box Hill most weeks. What do you see as his particular strengths?