Mike & Dan with Sam Jacobs

[Aphrodite]

Another great article by Mike & Dan

Welcome to the Seniors Sauce !!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.carltonfc.com.au/season2008/newsarticle/tabid/4311/newsid/73417/default.aspx

For the third year in a row, Mike & Dan have had the pleasure of having a chat to one of our favourite young Blues, and not just a favourite because at 200cm and with red hair he stands out in a crowd. And like the two years beforehand, Jacobs is still a Rookie for the Club, but in 2009, he can further stand out as a Nominated Rookie. As such, he gets to take the field this year as though he was on our senior list, and we’ve got some money on that starting in Round 1 against the Tigers. We were able to catch up with the Ardrossan Express about a week before his likely Senior debut.

Bunbury is a bloody long way away... Have you been to the west before? How does a bloke your size go on a plane?
Well, it’s a pretty long flight. Lucky for me I was on an Exit Row whilst Hampson wasn’t so lucky. Anyway, they looked after us with a private flight straight in to Busselton, and then a 45 minute bus ride to Bunbury. Yes, first time in WA.

Harvey had a sook about Sandilands getting held in the contest, but surely that's rucking - two big blokes having a wrestle to see who can get the ball first... all clubs use the third-man-up, and I'm sure you've seen it at VFL level. Do you think it's an illegal tactic, or just part of the game?
I was pretty surprised by that to be honest – he’s probably just sick of teams using those tactics against Sandilands. But it makes sense to do it; he’s 10 cms taller and 20 kilos heavier so opposition ruckmen have to use all the tactics they can. You have to try something different against different opponents and I’d have thought it’s been part of the game for a long time.

Who was your toughest opponent in the NAB Cup & what lessons did you learn from the campaign as opposed to in the Bullants?
Well Sandilands was definitely a hard match-up but I have to admit I found Brad Ottens tougher. Against Sandilands you know you can have a crack at him but Ottens is stronger than Sandilands and moves around a lot. Anyway, it’s all about moving up another level to play in the AFL.

Red Hair and tall as timber - you'd be used to standing out, but you've had to fight for a spot on the senior list. What does the elevation mean to you?
It was massive news – you know as a Rookie you feel like you’re at Draft Camp for 2 years, just continually proving yourself. I know I can compete at this level.

Were you worried that your chance might have passed you by when the club recruited Warnock?
You can’t worry about stuff like that too much – I just worried about the basics; what I was eating, how hard I was training. I didn’t set myself too many goals to be honest – it was about working hard and hopefully getting a chance.

What is the competition like between yourself, Hammer, Warnock and Cloke for a spot? Do you all get on well outside of the club?
It’s like most Clubs I think – we’re all good mates off the field and we get along well. We all also get along well with Matt Capuano the Ruck Coach.

But when it comes to training, and to match simulations, you have to push to get your name noticed so it’s very competitive out there.

You actually went off the rookie list at the end of last season. At the time, did the Club make assurances they would seek to redraft you?
I always knew I was going to stay at Carlton. I don’t know where that rumour about the South Australian Clubs came from, it was all news to me.

At the Rookie Draft, we’d already all signed the papers for me to stay at Carlton. In the National Draft and Pre-Season Draft anyone could have taken me, but for the Rookie Draft there can be a lot more certainty and you basically sign on as a player for a Rookie Draft. It was all done before the day.

What do you put your improved form down to? Has it been from increased training or better fitness or something else?
Look, I thought if I was given an opportunity, I’d be able to compete at this level. I’ve had a really good pre-season, I know I’m fit enough – but can always improve that – I’ve just got a strong desire to make it at this level.

You’ve done a lot more media this year. How do you find it – do you have to speak politely and less ‘yeah / nah’ type stuff?
Nah, it’s all good! It doesn’t faze me at all.

Are you the best thing to have come out of Ardrossan?
I wouldn’t say that, but it’s a great town. I always like giving the town a plug.

Yes, that’s why we ask you about it year-in year out…
Thanks for that! Make sure you visit it some time!

You've really developed your attack on the ball after it hits the deck - is this something the coaches are hot on, or something you saw that you needed to improve?
I’d say Matty Kreuzer has set the target for stuff like this. I was a bit of a watcher last year and it’s something I’ve been working on, particularly with Kreuzer being so good at it. He just sets the standards for second and third efforts and it’s something I have to work on.

We've seen Kreuzer in the centre as a midfielder whilst you took the ruck. What can you tell us about this tactic? Is it testament to Kreuzer's athleticism, or an attempt at unsettling the opposition match-ups?
It’s really interesting football actually – he is an elite runner for size, and it’s good having him in there whether its as a second ruckman or part of the midfield runners. It really opens up the strategy to it and Krooze knows all the plans.

We don't see you get forward very much. Are you a naturally defensive ruckman, or is it a question of structure?
I’ve probably just been seen as a ruckman in the past, but I’ve needed to improve my mobility and I’ve been working on that. I’d like to think I could go down there, if not to kick goals but to change the match-ups.

I’d like to think I was a straight kick too.

What about that shocker against Geelong…?
Yeah other than that one.

You live with a couple of South Australians - are they as bad as you expected? Since you are the tallest, do you have to clean the top of the fridge?
They’re both awesome – Gibbs and Austin. It’s a lot of fun us three South Australians and we get on very well. The fridge? I do all of the cooking and cleaning anyway….

Thursday 26 March v Richmond at the MCG in the season opener. Judd v Cousins. Wiggins v. Everyone. Ratten v Wallace. How would it feel to have Jacobs v Simmonds?
Huh! I hope to be out there – I just have to train hard this week and impress as many people as I can.

He may not be express but our Ardrossan Express looks likely to get some good senior action in Season 2009. He stands out from the crowd and we’re pleased to push his case, particularly if he gets more complaints out of any ex-Essendon players!

 

[thylacine60]

Positive, mature attitude much? Love him.

 

[BlueTouchPaper]

Positive, mature attitude much? Love him.

The CFC TV segment on him confirms as much.

On that, Joseph said his goal was solely to shut out GAJ, but couldn't wait until he could hurt the opposition going the other way. Reeks of confidence

 

[CarltonFan]

Judd v Cousins. Wiggins v Everyone. Ratten v Wallace.

the chief!!!!!!!!