Player Watch Welcome to Hawthorn : Jai “Duke” Newcombe - 2022 AFLCA Best Young Player, extends to 2026!

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Dewyyyyy

Norm Smith Medallist
Oct 28, 2020
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Pretty sure he shined one they other week against the dees. I didn’t think an AFL could do that without been pushed but there it was. He has to cut that kind of howler out as it is team deflating.
That's just about it tho, has one of those a game. Had two bad kicks that game, one was a turn over the shoulder bomb forward, intercepted and the shin one when he burnt a couple blokes and used his pace well.
 
That's just about it tho, has one of those a game. Had two bad kicks that game, one was a turn over the shoulder bomb forward, intercepted and the shin one when he burnt a couple blokes and used his pace well.
If you could stop trying to convince everyone on this board that our fringe players are actually best 22 players, that would be great.

This thread is about Newcombe.
 
That's just about it tho, has one of those a game. Had two bad kicks that game, one was a turn over the shoulder bomb forward, intercepted and the shin one when he burnt a couple blokes and used his pace well.
I am a big supporter of his. But he has now been given every chance and the clangers aren't reducing. Happy to keep him as depth but he is flawed like 1/3rd of our players.
 

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The issue with Jai is he is a bit of ‘more of the same’ of our current mids. Mid sized accumulators with neither elite pace or skills. Yes he can tackle but that’s not enough if you can’t keep up with your opponent. Maybe after a preseason or two we’ll see a different player but needs to find a yard and a tank.
No he's not. He can control opposition players with his strength. Remember Brad Sewell? Having one of these blokes means the really talented mids in the middle with him can get a run at it and when they don't and the tap goes to Jai and his opponent chances are he can win it. Blokes like this mean plan B in the middle is often as reliable as Plan A.
 

theiaofseed

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Jun 17, 2019
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The issue with Jai is he is a bit of ‘more of the same’ of our current mids. Mid sized accumulators with neither elite pace or skills. Yes he can tackle but that’s not enough if you can’t keep up with your opponent. Maybe after a preseason or two we’ll see a different player but needs to find a yard and a tank.
He has no foot skills? It's literally his biggest strength

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The easy thing would have been to keep playing him after his first game

On the back of no real pre season there’s no real point in thrashing him for the rest of this season

Let’s face it - it’s not about this season
We’ve now seen enough to know that with the right physical preparation this bloke will be a real player

Nicely “managed” Hawks
 

burner1

Premiership Player
Nov 3, 2005
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Both Jai and Nash stick to their roles as bash and crash, tackle hard and distribute cleanly and we look a far more cohesive midfield for it. Very different to way worpel and JOM play who often try to do too much (eg try to fend off every time, kick outside their limitations etc).

Really interested to see Jai after a preseason.
 

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Very impressed with his game today. Wasn't overly surprised, but impressed to see that he had 11 tackles this match - leading the field (Nash with only 3 - maybe a shift in role to the outside?).

Agree with the above posters. Hit some excellent kicks. I think that's a change in our game plan - we're attempting some of the more challenging kicks and actually making them. Jai is a part of this, and our future.
 

Jazzfan

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Apr 12, 2021
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Brad Sewell with a roost of a kick.

Super, super, clean hands. Tough. Tackles to hurt. It was good to see him get some easier ball yesterday too.

I'm generally very cautious, but all in on this kid... think he will become our Oli Wines in time.
 

TylerDurden

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Brad Sewell with a roost of a kick.

Super, super, clean hands. Tough. Tackles to hurt. It was good to see him get some easier ball yesterday too.

I'm generally very cautious, but all in on this kid... think he will become our Oli Wines in time.
He dumps blokes harder than Sewell did, as he's much bigger than Brad. Not saying Brad wasn't a better player, but Jai is an absolute beast of a kid.
 

toomanysquibs

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What was apparent from his highlight reel at Box Hill suddenly looks even more apparent at the highest level, against what is supposed to be the league's best midfield.

Look out 2022. The boy from Poowong is coming back from the break fit and hungry.

His bush league mate Bramble will be the same.

This duo is proof that lightening does strike twice. Incredible.
 

toomanysquibs

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His hands and in tight are really good. He looks better with every game. Incredible find, along with bramble.


Guys that step out of the bush, into VFL and look at home in a few games, then do the same at AFL level are destined for stardom.

His hands, marking, tackling, ball winning and kicking all looked very good on the weekend.

Pretty incredible story even at this early stage.
 

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