Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn, Jackson Ross, Pick #71 2017

[Milkshaker]

Have not seen much of him but could he be an Isaac Smith replacement?

 

[Davo-27]

Have not seen much of him but could he be an Isaac Smith replacement?

he's an x-factor forward moreso than an endurance winger.

 

[RoughysMullet]

he's an x-factor forward moreso than an endurance winger.

Our version of a Jayden Stephenson from Collingwood?

 

[RIOLINWITPUNCHS]

Our version of a Jayden Stephenson from Collingwood?

Very good comparison IMO.

 

[The Chad and I]

Have not seen much of him but could he be an Isaac Smith replacement?

https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/video/2017-11-25/pick-71-jackson-ross

Moves like a Kepler Bradley-lite, with a footy brain.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Our version of a Jayden Stephenson from Collingwood?

No.

He’s a rangy type. Long armed awkward type, but with smarts.


Think Jarod Grant from the Dogs/Suns.

 

[The Chad and I]

Or perhaps he's just an elaborate Chris Lilley prank?
Oi!

 

[MrPremiership]

Small torso, long legs.

Not much of him, but he's a clever footballer.

Doesn't seem to have much special, but just bobs up and kicks goals.

 

[KermitJagger]

No.

He’s a rangy type. Long armed awkward type, but with smarts.


Think Jarod Grant from the Dogs/Suns.

Yeah exactly, definitely not a Stephenson type as he doesn't have that raw pace to spring out and excite in that way.

He honestly has a bit of the Justin Westhoff's about him up forward. Bobs up and kicks some "How did he do that" sort of goals.

It's hard to compare players. He's skinny, rangy but not overly quick or athletic in an explosive sense, however he has really good football smarts considering how late he was in committing to it as a career. He's a crafty mark of the ball, positions himself well in contests and at the drop of the ball, and he has really good speed in getting the ball to his feet so he can kick those goals around stoppage where the ball spills out for a split second. Kind of like Gunston in that way.

He's not goal hungry either, he will look for the best option and has really showed a commitment to improve which is the most important thing a youngster can show.

 

[cryptor]

Small torso, long legs.

Not much of him, but he's a clever footballer.

Doesn't seem to have much special, but just bobs up and kicks goals.

How big are his hands though?

 

[Milkshaker]

Small torso, long legs.

Not much of him, but he's a clever footballer.

Doesn't seem to have much special, but just bobs up and kicks goals.

Sounds special enough to me!

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Compares himself to Gunston, for what it is worth...

 

[Ned Ryerson]

On the Ross comparing himself to Gunston - reminds me of this funny little exchange.

 

[Tomohawks]

He does have good endurance and to have his nous around goals with his limited footy background does suggest he may be able to move onto a wing at some stage.

 

[Mojo]

Homie's gotta eat 4000 calories a day for 12 months before he's ready to be considered for AFL.

 

[Tomohawks]

Homie's gotta eat 4000 calories a day for 12 months before he's ready to be considered for AFL.

This may be true, however there are plenty of skinny rakes getting the job done at AFL level at the moment. Despite his small stature he does look strong in the contest at times, looks can be deceiving. Some more muscle certainly wouldn't hurt though, he'll have to rely on his ability until that may come and if it does we could have a very very good player on our hands.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

This may be true, however there are plenty of skinny rakes getting the job done at AFL level at the moment. Despite his small stature he does look strong in the contest at times, looks can be deceiving. Some more muscle certainly wouldn't hurt though, he'll have to rely on his ability until that may come and if it does we could have a very very good player on our hands.

Yup, Nick Blakey looks like he’s allergic to protein but he’s holding his own.

 

[KermitJagger]

Homie's gotta eat 4000 calories a day for 12 months before he's ready to be considered for AFL.

Ross is one of those cases where bulking up too much would probably hinder a lot of his positive attributes as a footy player. He's already mixing it with mature bodies in the VFL, the AFL isn't that much of a step up in physicality.

 

[MrPremiership]

Homie's gotta eat 4000 calories a day for 12 months before he's ready to be considered for AFL.

Tim O'Brien?

Xavier Ellis (before retirement)?

 

[MatteeG]

Couldn't care less about his stats or stature- he finds goals on a regular basis. Hope we see him before the end of this year in the 1s.

 

[RoughysMullet]

Would love to see Ross get an opportunity in the 1’s this season along with Jiath, particularly if the season continues on its current trajectory..

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Tim O'Brien?

Xavier Ellis (before retirement)?

I reckon the X man would be smashing 8000 calories a day at the moment! He has been put out to a good pasture.

 

[Alite]

Jackson Ross at 193cm and maybe 80kegs... against AFL tackles and pressure... not good... Oppositions players will target him, hurt him, and maybe end his career by destroying his confidence (e.g. Watts). He is IMO our second best VFL talent. Let him get bigger, stronger, and emotionally more powerful while he dominates games in the VFL. Let him do a full Hawthorn apprenticeship.

The Hawks are not winning anything of worth this year. Development is everything and Jackson Ross is just too skinny. Give him time.

Plenty of talent has been wasted by spending too long in the seconds when they're showing form worthy of a senior debut - it's not a case of Watts where he debuted in an absolute cauldron with the weight of an entire club's expectations on his shoulders.

He's not much slighter than Jaidyn Stephenson, he's the most in form goal kicker at VFL level and has improved drastically. If the form is there, and the spot is open, play him.

Could name plenty of skinny players who played and thrived when they were young, Gunston, Fyfe...

It's about mindset.

Ross need to play at some point during the back half of the year to experience the AFL style of play and learn what he needs to work on over the preseason.

Ain't this the truth. Our AFL fwd line is like a washing machine. Jacko would feel like he was playing a different game if he was in the AFL side. Only have had to watch Wingard the last 2 weeks scratching his head about what is going on around him to understand how different Box Hill is to Hawthorn. Was the same last year when Mitch Lewis played games. He couldn't play the way he did at box hill and ended up lost. Incredibly frustrating.

Box Hills ball movement is textbook. Brilliant this year.

It is brilliant that we all have an opinion in Jackson Ross.
Some of us want to protect him and see him grow, while others want to give him opportunities and see him grow.

We all see him as a talent.

 

[Collins-Langford-Ayres]

Tim O'Brien?

Xavier Ellis (before retirement)?

Michael Tuck...

 

[LRobbo]

The game is anything but physical these days, we won’t be playing in a contested final where’s he’d be exploited either.
If anybody in the front half has a niggle in the last month I dare say they’ll be put on ice. I reckon the lad may snag a debut in the last month if form warrants