Rate a Season # 16 Darren Jolly

[AnnieH]

Rate away ...

[Triple B]

7.

Season of two halves. First half an 8.5, second half a 5.5

Struggled late in the year, probably tired from a lack of any reasonable support from Spida.

I look to him next year to bounce back and energised with Crusher as his understudy. They have the makings of the premier ruck duo in the competition in the years to come.

[reigning premier]

Great start to the season but fell away towards the end. Was more than handy on a few occassions and is one of the better ruckmen going around. If we can extract a few more around teh ground posossions from him week in, week out, we'll be a much better team for it.

7

[ShockOfHair]

8.

Made a big contribution - one of the big improvers I thought. Was effective both in the bounces and in taking marks up forward and in defence. Rucking is critical to the way the Swans play, so I look forward to seeing Currie (I assume) step up next year.

Jolly also took two of the best marks of the year.

[573v30]

7/10

A solid contributor and delivered more in the ruck when Spida couldn't deliver. He certainly improved on his 2007 performance but consistency was a problem especially towards the end of the season.

His stats have improved from 2007 in disposals (avg. 11.3 disposals in 2008 vs. 9.9 in 2007) and hitouts (22.6 vs. 19.9), with little difference in the other stats. He ranked 3rd in total hitouts and hitouts per game this year (behind Sandilands and Cox).

For most of 2008, he was the dominant ruckman for the match easily winning the hitouts which included 39 against Richmond and 40 against Melbourne. His best game was in Round 8 against Essendon with 15 kicks, 5 handballs, 8 marks, 3 goals, 3 behinds, 3 tackles and 25 hitouts. He also had a good run possession and hitout-wise from Rounds 12 to 17, but his form slipped and that resulted in a pantsing against Geelond in Round 20.

If he was more consistent in hitouts to advantage and his possession-game in the midfield, he'd rate higher than 7. No doubt he'll improve in 2009 as he won't be partnered with an experienced ruckman in Spida and we could see him more in the forward line, similar to Ottens.

[ScottH]

8 even though he took a slide in the latter part of the season.

[BSA5]

8. Was almost in AA form (in 2007 it would have been enough to qualify) for the first 2/3rds of the year. Fell away in the latter part, but still, a bloody good year.

[2005]

Rating : 7

Great start and poor finish as everyone as mentioned, though he had to carry Spida though and that probably took its toll by years end

[AnnieH]

8 for a fantastic season (not much bitching from RWO this year) plus 1 extra for carrying Spida.

Top job Jolls - hope you can keep it up for at least one more year.

[Darren Thomson]

Rating : 7

Great start and poor finish as everyone as mentioned, though he had to carry Spida though and that probably took its toll by years end

couldn't agree more