Yeah, he'd definetly offer more than LRT against good sides. LRT went completely missing during our games against good teams.
Yeah, he'd definetly offer more than LRT against good sides. LRT went completely missing during our games against good teams.
You know that's completely unfair on Jesse. Hawkins was playing with arguably the best midfield in the comp and drawing the third best tall defender after mooney, pods, etc. white on the other hand only started getting the second best defender this season and towards the end of last season.
For those of you who hate him go back and have a look at two of our better recent wins - Carlton final ans Geelong at Geelong.
His cards have clearly been marked - either he has agreed to go somewhere else or there has been a falling out - but he has always offered more as a forward ruck than lrt. Lrt offers more versatility and is clearly a better defensive tall - ie his job is to spoil his tall defender - Scarlett, Taylor etc, or to tackle them once it hits the ground.
In reality neither is much good and our strategy all season of bombing long to a contest has never given either of them any real opportunity to mark on a lead - but that is obviously the game plan.
I am over this debate but I am sick of the criticism that gets hurled his way. Go and watch the Richmond game and it is clear that our midfield got destroyed by them - but he and seaby were the scapegoat for that. And sure maric won on the day, but so did Cochin, deledio, houli, Martin, riewoldt, etc etc etc
Hammer once again you are on the money. I'd add it obviously our game style that prevents many marks inside 50. Its not much good leaving one tall to play on 2 or 3 backs. We flood back hard and often finds it hard to move forward against the good teams. I hope if we don't play that way all game if down midway through the match. I'd rather see us role the dice and take risk. We have been kicking long into the forward line all year so we can't change the plan now. We must have a couple of talls to pull down a few contested marks (Not LRT). Let's hope Reid has his best game for the year. I'd back White because he must have hardened up playing ruck all year.
It will not happen for a final (barring injury etc)...but I am in the "Give Jesse another chance" club!
Swannies for life!
If he went as hard as some of his smaller teammates he'd be worth giving a go. But he doesn't, he's a big huge man who's afraid to engage the opposition physically. The amount of times where he could of really impacted an aerial contest and I've watched him slow down so that he doesn't even make the contest when the balls there to be won. It's frustrating as all hell. I'm off him. Keep as a ruck option for injuries but cant see him getting too many games.
I also think Jesse is of value if selected. Its easy to forget the difference he made to the forward line early on in his career at the Swans and the fact that he has kicked more goals in a reserves game than any other player than I can remember (12 goals) and has kicked 3 or 4 on several occasions in the seniors. The fact that he has played well as a lone ruckman in the seconds for so long seems to have improved both his stamina and his mental application. His ability to bust packs is undoubted and he is very good on the ground, making up for being ordinary in the air. He will certainly occupy a key defender and on a good day kick 2 or 3.He is bigger and stronger than LRT and is a 10 times better kick at goals that Tommy W. He stands out as a really strong option except for the fact that it seems , as you suggested, MelbourneHammer, there has been a falling out with the coaches or he has agreed to go elsewhere at the end of the season.
I hope for the best and that he has not decided to go elsewhere because he is one of the better 3rd ruck/forward options in the competition. Especially if his stamina and mental application have improved.
We have them where we want them, everything is going according to plan!
If Jesse were an 18 y.o. playing in the NEAFL, he would be talked up like a possible number one draft pick. Physically he would be compared to Jonathon Brown. With his size and ruck domination the pundits would be saying he is perfect for the new Ruck Forward role so hard to find these days. The only problem is that he's taken 6 years to get to this stage, and you have to wonder if he has any improvement left in him.
He's the sort of player that's hard to play in the seniors and hard to delist. You just live in hope.
Driver of the Dan Hannebery bandwagon....all aboard. 4th April 09
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