I saw the lad in the practice match at Princess Park and was impressed by his aggression and tap work, however I was a little taken back when he kicked into the man on the mark not once but twice.

So my questions to those who have seen a bit of him:-

1) Can he mark?

2) Can he run?

3) Can he kick?

4) At pick 35 in the Rookie draft of 2007 and at 19 years of age is Jake Spencer a better prospect for MFC than Robert Warnock is for Carltank?

Yesterday was the first time I've seen him and he was subbed on and off for meesen so probably played 2/3rds of a game. He seems to be able to run OK. I can't remember seeing him do much of either marking or kicking so for me the the jury is still well and truely out. Has a way to go before he proves himself in my book but looking forward to seeing how he goes this year.

1) , 2) & 3) He can do them all but is very raw. Like all big men, he will take time to develop. His ruckwork is good so he will become a valuable player for us.

4) Even money at this stage as both have a long way to go but Spencer isn't costing us $400 big ones to sit on his backisde and watch proceedings ATM.

It's probably fair to say that he's around the ground work had improved a fair amount since last season, if he can continue in that vein then there's no reason why he can't be in the top half dozen rucks within 3 or 4 years.

I saw the lad in the practice match at Princess Park and was impressed by his aggression and tap work, however I was a little taken back when he kicked into the man on the mark not once but twice.

So my questions to those who have seen a bit of him:-

1) Can he mark?

2) Can he run?

3) Can he kick?

4) At pick 35 in the Rookie draft of 2007 and at 19 years of age is Jake Spencer a better prospect for MFC than Robert Warnock is for Carltank?

Need anymore be said this guy is doing great so far lets give him time, big guys ake a long time to mature i like what i am seeing so far

Can mark, can just kick, can run.

Warnock is the better prospect, but in terms of what we've saved and what we're getting I think we're currently ahead.

He looks like Napoleon Dynamite, that is all I know about him other than he is freakin huge!

If he can solve our ruck problems (face facts, mees is a bum, and jamar does little around the ground to warrant him being our Number one prospect going forward) then we have just hit oil!

If he can help out PJ and win the ruck for us, we may just be a little more competitive than most think.

Jake only took up football as a 17 year old playing in the Qld state champs with the Western Taipans, getting limited game time. The thing that set him apart, apart from being huge, was his love of the contest.

The gentleman who had a bit to do with scouting Jake, Kevin Kluver, is the guest at the Queensland Demons night on the 3rd of April. All are welcome and Kevin will be taking questions from the floor.

More details to follow on the main board but more information at http://fcmelbourne.com.au/blog/post/FCMelb...t-night-kluver/

Can mark, can just kick, can run.

Warnock is the better prospect, but in terms of what we've saved and what we're getting I think we're currently ahead.

R Warnock is poo! I am very happy we didnt get him. The hungrier rookie Spencer will eat him.

R Warnock is poo! I am very happy we didnt get him. The hungrier rookie Spencer will eat him.

Exactly, in PJ and Spencer we have two ruckmen with a real heart for the contest.

Last year I found him to be deceptively quick for a guy that size....he was an ok mark...

But his kicking let him down big time...you virtually need someone running past so he can handball...

But an excellent prospect for Melbourne in Jake Spencer...hope he does well if he gets the chance to play for Melbourne..

Last year I found him to be deceptively quick for a guy that size....he was an ok mark...

But his kicking let him down big time...you virtually need someone running past so he can handball...

But an excellent prospect for Melbourne in Jake Spencer...hope he does well if he gets the chance to play for Melbourne..

I always though his kicking was terrible when I had seen him as well but suprisingly against Hawthorn in Tasmania his kicking looked fine.

I'm guessing it's something Jake worked on over the summer.

Exactly, in PJ and Spencer we have two ruckmen with a real heart for the contest.

Johnson. Really?

I know he did that run down on Sherman but he doesn't really have any agro about him. Spencer does, actually reminds me alot of Jamie Charman.

I have only seen this lad play once and that was on tv when we played Hawthorn at Aurora in Launceston. I was more than impressed by his enthusiasm and his ability to actually palm the ball to a teammate. He also did a great pass to a leading forward when under pressure. The boy is raw but from all reports has a passion to succeed and I think he will be a great assett to our team. Put a few kilos on him and a couple of seasons and he is going to be really worth watching.

I was watching Jake at training one day when Redleg noted why his style "looks so wrong". The kid is such a big unit he has arms which nearly reach the ground.

For whatever reason, he doesn't drop the ball from a position in front of his body like most footballers. He actually drops the ball with his arms at about 45 degrees.

The result is that the ball falls only a foot or so from hand to boot. It looks really weird, and has a strangely unusual effect.

That is he rarely fails to kick the ball accurately. It has little opportunity to be moved by wind or other effects between hand and foot. And with such a short drop, it is rarely off-centre.

It seems to take longer to execute, but for such a big bloke, having one who will hit the target consistently is unusual.

The other good news about Spencer is that he has a bit of "mongrel" about him. Others who saw him at Sandy last year said he really likes hitting bodies.

So while raw at this point, a tough hard at it 203cm giant who can hit a target........

The result is that the ball falls only a foot or so from hand to boot. It looks really weird, and has a strangely unusual effect.

Anthony Ingerson was the same. Low ball drop, looked awkward, but was effective.

It's something I did in my few seasons of footy too because it was the only way I could kick it straight. The low drop gave my unco body more opportunity to drop it straight and therefore kick it straight. It's harder to kick it any great distance like that but it gives better control. I wonder if it's something Jake has learned on purpose to curb an erratic kick.

Maybe Cam Bruce could try that kicking technique.

Johnson. Really?

I know he did that run down on Sherman but he doesn't really have any agro about him. Spencer does, actually reminds me alot of Jamie Charman.

Johnson has plenty of heart! He is hard at the ball and contest.

Remember when he missed most of the season for his hardness at the ball against the Swannies. He did his shoulder that game. He was flying early that year and was probably our best!

Very team orientated player with a big heart.