WELCOME TO THE MELBOURNE FOOTBALL CLUB - JAY KENNEDY-HARRIS

[Pates 9,562]

I'm stoked we've got this bloke, sounds like a really good small forward prospect, but is not limited to that position. It's an area we've lacked for a long time, hopefully he will be able to get in for a few games in 2014 and light up the G!

Edited November 23, 2013 by Pates

[mikeydemon 126]

His nickname for many years has been JK. short and sweet.

but i do love the idea of Neil Patrick

[tappysquads 618]

Just wondering what others who have been down to training thought about this......

JKH is the most intense trainer I've seen at a Melbourne training session. He trains as if he has Roos watching his every move. His hands at ground level are ridiculous at full pace, lightning quick, his skills are very sharp, and his work rate from what I've seen is the highest on the track. His highlight reel from last year showed a kid who played on at all costs and backed his pace. Combine that with our lack of successful small forwards and it's something to get excited about.

Just something to be positive about after a difficult decade. And I know positivity is a rare occurrence on here and will probably get picked off by the haters.

JKH is on fire!

[P-man 13,353]

He'll be a god send if he can permanently fill that small forward position that has been vacant for some time. The training reports have me genuinely excited about JKH. He's been arguably the most consistent theme running through them all.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Let's not put expectations on him just because he is training well. At the end of the day, he is a first year player drafted at 40-odd, so we should set our expectations based on that.

[Carrot Top 947]

Let's not put expectations on him just because he is training well. At the end of the day, he is a first year player drafted at 40-odd, so we should set our expectations based on that.

Not me. I love putting unrealistic expectations on all of them. If young JHK doesn't kick ten and get a rising star award in round one I shall boo him for the rest of his career.

[P-man 13,353]

Let's not put expectations on him just because he is training well. At the end of the day, he is a first year player drafted at 40-odd, so we should set our expectations based on that.

lol

I swear you could set your clock to the way these threads turn out on here.

Everyone is aware of both those things. It's not about expecting anything, it's about feeling positive at he prospect of picking ourselves up a bargain, with some evidence to suggest that we have.

[P-man 13,353]

Not me. I love putting unrealistic expectations on all of them. If young JHK doesn't kick ten and get a rising star award in round one I shall boo him for the rest of his career.

You do the booing, and I'll hiss. He will get the message.

[tappysquads 618]

How is his draft number relevant? The draft puts him on the list equal with Salem. And he has been mighty impressive since

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

Small forwards are easy to draft but after that it seems to be a difficult position to specialize at the top level. West coast have tried to move mark Le cras into the midfield and draft a small forward. Last few drafts they have come up short. Here is to hoping JKH can find his place.

[BarnDee 287]

and draft a small forward , last few drafts they have come up short ? I thought a small forward would be short ????

[Machsy 2,858]

I've been impressed, but the OP is pure hyperbole.

[monoccular 16,720]

^^^

OMG - another Colin Sylvia, drafted with OP :-(((((. (sarcasm)

Pure hyper bowl??

I've been impressed, but the OP is pure hyperbole.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

lol

I swear you could set your clock to the way these threads turn out on here.

Everyone is aware of both those things. It's not about expecting anything, it's about feeling positive at he prospect of picking ourselves up a bargain, with some evidence to suggest that we have.

"Everyone is aware of both of those things"...you might be, but I would bet my last buck many on here aren't. I am looking forward to seeing all our draftees develop and hopefully turn into good senior footballers, but I won't be expecting to see JKH named come round one (great if he is) as many have already called for after just a couple of weeks of training.

[CBDees 3,162]

HF - Howe - Dawes - Watts

F - Hogan - Clark - JKH

Firzy and Gawn rotating through from the ruck

Bring on 2014 is all I can say

Nice forward line. I cannot wait to see who St Kilda would match-up on that for Round 1.

[hardtack 10,187]

Nice forward line. I cannot wait to see who St Kilda would match-up on that for Round 1.

And the best thing is that if we don't have Dawes up and ready to go round 1, then Fitzpatrick is waiting in the wings. Nice to have a little depth for a change.

[Little Goffy 13,076]

Except, Watts has clearly been marked as a midfielder for 2014, and Howe also has been discussed as spending increasing time in the midfield, based on the observation that with a full fitness base he could be a 'total threat' kind of player.

I do still worry sometimes about the top-heavy 'look' of our forwards, with Clark, Dawes and Hogan. But I take comfort remembering just how mobile and flexible Clark has proven to be, that Dawes has a glorious work-rate to lead to the wing to present options 80m from the forward line where necessary, and Hogan apparently is some kind of magic act waiting to happen.

Anyway, a draftee who is visibly intense and focused during training is a great sign, no question on it. If nothing else, it means he'll gravitate towards the other players with that attitude, and end up giving himself every possible chance of being a solid AFL player and a positive long-term part of the club culture.

There's just one problem, it sounds like this Kennedy-Harris kid is not an 4rs3h0le, which as well all know, is pretty much a requirement to be an effective small forward.

[Whispering_Jack 28,135]

There's just one problem, it sounds like this Kennedy-Harris kid is not an 4rs3h0le, which as well all know, is pretty much a requirement to be an effective small forward.

Paul Roos' job is to instill that particular quality into the right players so that they will be effective in their respective positions. We think of JKH as a crumbing forward because of his size but from what little I saw of him when revisiting the Foxtel vision of the Under 18 championships, I do sense that he could be more than that and while I'm loathe to make comparisons with out and out champions, I'm thinking of Brent Harvey. Of course, that's still a fair way off in the future if it's going to happen at all.

[stueyspencer no12 73]

Paul Roos' job is to instill that particular quality into the right players so that they will be effective in their respective positions. We think of JKH as a crumbing forward because of his size but from what little I saw of him when revisiting the Foxtel vision of the Under 18 championships, I do sense that he could be more than that and while I'm loathe to make comparisons with out and out champions, I'm thinking of Brent Harvey. Of course, that's still a fair way off in the future if it's going to happen at all.

Well Milne added a great deal to the StK forward line with its 2 talls. Even on his bad days he was a threat; I reckon he won quite a few games for them. Someone, whether it be Byrne or JKH, is going to be needed assuming most of the talls are playing. Howe is very different, Blease perhaps the other possibility? To me , with good coaching, Blease should be an ideal wingman. So I like Jkh's prospects

[Bring-Back-Powell 13,680]

People keep referring to "who will be THE small forward for round 1"?

Don't you need 2 small forwards? E.G - Ballantyne and Walters.

So I see Byrnes, JKH, Blease and Kent fighting for 2 positions. I would say Byrnes would be the most likely starter. He needs to lift next year. Thought he was an overall disappointment last year.

[rjay 24,203]

Paul Roos' job is to instill that particular quality into the right players so that they will be effective in their respective positions. We think of JKH as a crumbing forward because of his size but from what little I saw of him when revisiting the Foxtel vision of the Under 18 championships, I do sense that he could be more than that and while I'm loathe to make comparisons with out and out champions, I'm thinking of Brent Harvey. Of course, that's still a fair way off in the future if it's going to happen at all.

…and given that we don't want a small forward but someone who has the flexibility to play forward and move through the middle and up the ground, this kid has all the makings.

[S.R.J 418]

I don't mind the small forward position, however they do need to be able to have a go in the middle I think gone are the days of a pure small forward. Even Milne played up the ground the last couple of seasons. He does look the goods so far,, let's wait and see what happens after a couple of seasons

[All the Jacks 99]

Like it..dreaming already with all the positive talk and what an exciting potential forward structure to feed off..

[640MD 3,122]

Like it..dreaming already with all the positive talk and what an exciting potential forward structure to feed off..

with this season over, we can dream as much as we like, but we have all done that far too much the last few years

Come the dreaded 31st Dec and the New Season reality how the hell do we win that first game

enjoy the positive spirit Joy to the World (except Collingwood, Essendon, GWS et al)

enjoy the moment friends and all the BEST for 2014

[1 red eye 1 blue eye 762]

Won't it be lovely if he turns out a better pick up than D Garlett.