i spent years bagging Bate and Miller, listening to the experts with their 'give him a go' the faith was repaid with them wasnt it

if spencer ever plays a good game i will streak nude at the G

Did you have your pants round your ankles at quarter time yesterday? Getting closer.

jake is only 22, played 13 games and is coming off a knee reco! give him a break!!!

his game yesturday was quite good too

These big blokes take time to come on ( the likes of NikNat are freaks).

He didnt look as lost yesterday and wants to do the right things - the shepherd/block on the members wing in the first quarter was a gem.

Glad that jakey has got a win under his belt. I have watched him at VFL a few times and he is too good at that level, just to big a kid tbh, and i am glad that a few people are recognising that he has been developing his game, no way is he a world better or anything but geez he puts in effort around the ground and tries hard for a big guy, he has learned to use his body too by the soudns of it, i am about to watch the game now but i am not surprised his game is coming together

I ask those who are having a go to explain why it is a dumb thread?

He has been on the list 4 years. He is behind Jamar, Martin, Gawn when all fit.

He does not regularly win or dominate the ruck duels at AFL or even VFL level.

He is immobile. He does not win the ball around the ground or even impose himself on the game.

I know he's had a knee reco however he also showed very little pre-knee.

And how is suggesting cook play being short sighted?

I agree it is gifting a game perhaps however Spencer wasn't doing much at VFL level either.

He is a liability on the ground and nothing has changed in 4 years.

Pot me if you will but produce a quality counter argument in doing it at least.

BBBBBBUMMP

Counter argument produced.

jake killed ben mcevoy today and the commentators were pumping him, even mick malthouse had good wraps for him! 28 hitouts with his 10 disposals is a good effort from spencil. just one thing to he has already had more tackles then Jamar this year so what does that tell you. should be given a 2 year contract and apperently thats under way now as we speak.

keep it up jake!

I haven't had much faith in big Spence but after the last couple of games he has impressed me and I am starting to think he will get there.

The best bit was when he beat two saints midfielders at ground level, pulled away from the contest with speed and dished off a good pass!

I'll admit, the Pencil is proving me wrong. He was great last week and this week.

Loved his endeavour. There are a couple of midfielders who need to look at Jake and learn.

His desperation and extra efforts are always great too, never shirks the contest.

You dont see many big fellas run and chase down opponents. Good to see. ANyone think he has exceeded Stef Martin?

You dont see many big fellas run and chase down opponents. Good to see. ANyone think he has exceeded Stef Martin?

To me, they are different players but as a 1st ruckman, you would say yes.

I still think Spencer's development is a threat to Jamar more than Martin, but that is just if you look at roles and team balance.

Highlight of a crap match.

Take a bow Spencer!

I'll put my hand up and say I have potted him in the past and said I don't think he will make it, but thought he was one of our best today. Still has a way to go obviously, but he just gives his all and if he has the tools to do it then you can rest assured he will do his best to make sure it happens.

Spencer was brilliant today. Does so well below his knees for a guy his size.

Loved being proven wrong about Spence. He just all of a sudden seems to have a bit of a sparkle in his eye like he might just go a bit berserk.

The more I see the more I like.

Proving pretty much everyone wrong. Good on him.

You'd pick him well before picking some of our senior players based on his effort, grunt, clearance work and enthusiasm.

Glad that jakey has got a win under his belt. I have watched him at VFL a few times and he is too good at that level, just to big a kid tbh, and i am glad that a few people are recognising that he has been developing his game, no way is he a world better or anything but geez he puts in effort around the ground and tries hard for a big guy, he has learned to use his body too by the soudns of it, i am about to watch the game now but i am not surprised his game is coming together

Jakey was at/approaching this standard, when he hurt his knee last year..

He looks to be carrying on from where he left off, but with an older hungrier attitude about his footy, & the game itself.

Go Jake, for the Dees sake...

Proving pretty much everyone wrong. Good on him.

You'd pick him well before picking some of our senior players based on his effort, grunt, clearance work and enthusiasm.

Not proving me wrong.

I was always very happy to give him the time he needs to mature, & the support due his courage & willingness.

His disposal of the footy impressed me today too. Can't remember when it was but he roved a pack picked up the footy and kicked it straight to a team mate. I know that isn't setting the world on fire but for a guy his size it's pretty good.

He's a big unit as well, very solid. Imagine him with another 2 preseasons and 25-30 games, especially if he keeps improving at the current rate. Confidence will certainly help to sharpen this Pencil.

The only time I have every really thought Melbourne were respected and feared was when we had Big Steve Dwyer and Jim Synes in tandem. Spencer has heart and a passion to be out there playing for The Demons and a big man with heart will carry a lot of other blokes along. Someday enough blokes like Jake will twig that they can be the blokes to drag Melbourne out of the wilderness. In other words the blokes who bring home a flag will always be remembered.

Stick it up em Big Jake""""""

Correction to spelling. Steve O'Dwyer, and of course Jim Stynes. Got a bit carried away with Big Jake.

BBBBBBUMMP

Counter argument produced.

Hardly a counter argument. He wasn't even in Melbourne's best players.

He played ok today. Good on him. If he proves me wrong then that is fantastic for MFC, however let's not get ahead of ourselves.

He had 28 hitouts. McEvoy had 39. So he still got beaten in the ruck which is his primary role.

Possessions and tackles were about the same.

As i have said before. His endeavour is great and he is probably a ripping kid.

But after 5 years, today was hardly a counter argument and if it wasn't for injuries he'd still be behind Jamar, Martin and Gawn.

Good luck Jake. Keep showing that endeavour and i hope for you and MFC my opinion is wrong. But nothing has changed it so far.

As for you and i Robbie, guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.

That Niall article that said that we are trying to tie up Blease, Strauss, Bail, and Spencer is probably on the money.

His frame has filled out, and he seems less lost on the field - he also gets involved when the ball is on the ground.

I think he is well worth a spot going forward.