2011 Player Review - # 42 Jake Spencer

[Whispering_Jack 30,199]

The Demon tall man was making good strides in the ruck at Casey biding his time and waiting for an opportunity to return to the AFL when tragedy struck against the Northern Bullants.

On the same weekend that number one ruckman Jamar injured his knee, Spencer damaged his ACL and missed the rest of the season following a knee reconstruction. He will miss the pre season and the early part of 2012.

Games MFC 2011 0  MFC Total 8 Goals MFC 2011  0 MFC Total 0

Games CSFC 2011 5 2011 Goals CSFC 2011 0

[Deeoldfart 8,033]

In his fourth year at Melbourne, Pencil was just starting to show a little at Casey when he did his ACL. It was horrible luck, as he was the obvious choice to replace Jamar in the senior team when he was injured on the same weekend. Unfortunately for Jake, he has now been overtaken by a couple of others, and is no longer the long-term heir apparent to Jamar's senior ruck berth. He needs to make a speedy recovery from the reco. and have a good second half to 2012, to bolster his chances of remaining on our list after 2012. On the other hand, he could find that there is some interest from other clubs keen to recruit a big bodied tap ruckman who has already served a sound apprenticeship. In either case, 2012 will be an important one for Jake.

[Weedster 174]

One of several who made no progress under Bailey's watch

[Disco Demons 92]

eight games in four years. will need to improve a lot. probably not enough to hold his spot when his contract runs out.

[rpfc 28,489]

Edit... he is a competitive tap ruckman who is lucky enough to have a AA ruckman in his way, Max Gawn at his heals, and a knee requiring reconstruction.

He may not stick around beyond 2012 but he isn't.... edit.

And you are not living up to your moniker here.

Yoda would not say these things...

Edited October 24, 2011 by Fan
refers to a deleted post

[Nasher 33,616]

Started the year second in the ruck queue and finished it behind Gawn and Martin (and obviously Jamar). Development wise it was definitely an unfortunate year to do a knee (if a knee injury can ever be anything but 'unfortunate'). He gets a hard time around here, but he's still only a baby in ruck years. He's not the best user of the ball and he's a bit slow but he's strong and competitive - these are all the same things people said about Jamar at the same age.

I still believe he's got a future at AFL level, but I can't see how it can be at the MFC. He's just behind too many now.

[H_T 3,049]

Started the year second in the ruck queue and finished it behind Gawn and Martin (and obviously Jamar). Development wise it was definitely an unfortunate year to do a knee (if a knee injury can ever be anything but 'unfortunate'). He gets a hard time around here, but he's still only a baby in ruck years. He's not the best user of the ball and he's a bit slow but he's strong and competitive - these are all the same things people said about Jamar at the same age.

I still believe he's got a future at AFL level, but I can't see how it can be at the MFC. He's just behind too many now.

Whilst I don't think it's quite clear cut in terms of pecking order for our tap ruckman understudies, the knee injury was unfortunate. However, the bright side is that he is young and ruckmen take some time. (See Jamar career). I think the next 12-24 months will definitely see more progress for not only Spencer, but Gawn. So too Martin. It's a great situation to be in for the club in terms of young competitive ruckmen developing their talents and trying to win spots. Can only be a good thing for the club and Casey too.

[DemonWA 3,934]

I think Spencil showed as much as Gawn. He did his knee at the worst possible tiem though

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

Will be the victim of our ruck fortunes.

[jayceebee31 761]

Started the year second in the ruck queue and finished it behind Gawn and Martin (and obviously Jamar). Development wise it was definitely an unfortunate year to do a knee (if a knee injury can ever be anything but 'unfortunate'). He gets a hard time around here, but he's still only a baby in ruck years. He's not the best user of the ball and he's a bit slow but he's strong and competitive - these are all the same things people said about Jamar at the same age.

I still believe he's got a future at AFL level, but I can't see how it can be at the MFC. He's just behind too many now.

would need to improvedrammatically to hold his place on the list post 2012

[John Dee 445]

I saw a couple of Casey's early games when Spencer was first-ruck with Gawn spelling him as second-ruck. They absolutely cleaned up and worked very well as a tandem. One match in particular was against Geelong who had Blake, West and Vardy playing for them.

Spencer is definately a keeper, and it will be interesting to see how he recovers from his knee reconstruction. I rate Gawn very highly, but I would have Spencer in front of him at the moment.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,846]

Surplus to requirements.

I wonder if they shopped him around?

[Yoda 33]

It seems my post equating Spencer to an arid-soil growing common vegetable were deemed unacceptable.

How shall I put it then ... The force is not strong with this one.

[rpfc 28,489]

It seems my post equating Spencer to an arid-soil growing common vegetable were deemed unacceptable.

How shall I put it then ... The force is not strong with this one.

Yoda wouldn't say these things, can he just get his 'Range Rover' moniker back? Mods?

[Axis of Bob 11,836]

Spencer is chronically underrated on here. He looks like an unco, but he has a lot of things that will make him a good, solid AFL ruckman. He is big, aggressive and will become a seriously strong man. Massive frame.

Everyone assumes he's bad because he is an awkward looking kick. But he'll be a good, physical ruckman. If he goes anywhere at the end of next year it will be his own decision to move for more opportunities.

[Rogue 585]

I like Spencer's efforts but worry about his skills and coordination. I reckon Gawn is a more likely prospect but I can see Spencer carving out an AFL career. We'll see.

[Axis of Bob 11,836]

I think his skills and co-ordination are improving a great deal as he develops in size. It often happens with big men. Look at Cox and Sandilands.

That said, Gawn is a freak. He has reasonably good co-ordination already at 19 years old and 208cm. That's amazing. Plus his incredible running ability for someone that size means that Spencer will probably always be behind him. I don't see that as a negative on Spencil, but just unlucky for him that we drafted a freak.

[titan_uranus 25,020]

To be perfectly honest, he's wasting a spot on the list.

Will not be here in 2013, unless something unbelievably ridiculous happens, and I do not see that happening.

[monoccular 17,432]

Spencer is chronically underrated on here. He looks like an unco, but he has a lot of things that will make him a good, solid AFL ruckman. He is big, aggressive and will become a seriously strong man. Massive frame.

Everyone assumes he's bad because he is an awkward looking kick. But he'll be a good, physical ruckman. If he goes anywhere at the end of next year it will be his own decision to move for more opportunities.

There is no doubt that he is 'awkward', and also no doubt that his injury came at the very worst possible time for him, as Gawnius Maximus clearly debuted in a far more advanced stage than was Jake even after his several years on the list.

Unfortunately for him he now needs to play catch up to Max, who looks far more athletic and shows more footy smarts already.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

List clogger.

Harsh but true.

Edited October 30, 2011 by stevethemanjordan

[Lutz 76]

I think he'll attract interest in the coming offseason.

Will be a capable ruckmen - as good as someone like Ivan Maric or Mark Seaby, maybe better.

Not a world beater, but serviceable.

Worth hanging onto for 2012 though.

[Dee Fan 3,247]

If he moves on he may be our next Darren Jolly, he can play a bit and is very aggressive.

[Bay Riffin 1,475]

If he moves on he may be our next Darren Jolly, he can play a bit and is very aggressive.

watching some Casey games, he was starting to look an imposing figure and is becoming a useful force at stoppages. he is taller than most ruckman and starting to build up into a giant. his skills are limited but he was showing he would have been a capable replacement for Jamar, until an injury curse seem to hit us all of a sudden.

He could become a capable AFL tap ruckman.

[titan_uranus 25,020]

If he moves on he may be our next Darren Jolly, he can play a bit and is very aggressive.

That is the most optimistic analysis of a player I have ever seen.

It would be akin to saying 'If we moved Lynden Dunn on, he could be the next Brendon Goddard'.

Ridiculous.

[Redleg 40,945]

That is the most optimistic analysis of a player I have ever seen.

It would be akin to saying 'If we moved Lynden Dunn on, he could be the next Brendon Goddard'.

Ridiculous.

Why is it ridiculous? Jolly was no star when he left us, I don't recall too many complaining at the time.