Let's take a walk down memory lane to NAB Challenge 2014, Game 1, Richmond vs Melbourne.

Some post game reactions to the debut performance of one Jay Kennedy-Harris:

Jkh u beauty! We have a new wiz!

JKH is a star in the making!

Why didn't anyone mentioned JKH in the training reports...

You don't need to look at a stat sheet to know this kid has what it takes.

Jay Kennedy Harris - your going on my list of favourite players. What an exciting young kid.

JKH has also given us fans someone to get excited about when the ball's in his area and hopefully worry some defenders into coughing it up, it's a shame Flash isn't around to mentor him.

JKH - If football IQ was measured like basketball IQ his would be off the charts

JKH will ignite the young supporters' excitement. Seems a great and talented kid.

One thing on JKH's speed: I noticed several times during the match that his pace when not sprinting --- when just getting to the next contest, or switching from one side of the ground to the other --- was naturally much quicker than his opponent. He just seemed to have that knack for going at 90% when others are at 80%. And several times that meant that, when his opponent was inattentive for just a second or two, suddenly JKH had three metres on him, and that was the crucial space.

Good skill to have!

And on it went.

What's happened since?

Two years on, we have a player described by many on here as possessing no elite AFL traits. Small but not quick, sloppy disposal, little player awareness, poor endurance and little defensive accountability.

Was that sparkling debut where he lit up the MCG just a pre-season flash in the pan?

Is this the last we are seeing of the spectre of poor player development at the MFC? A talented kid going backwards?

Most importantly, what is his role going forward? Where is he best suited, assuming he can work and improve upon areas of his game?

For the record, I remain a fan. I think he is more creative and daring with the ball in hand than the majority on the playing list, but we simply haven't seen enough of it to date.

Where to from here for the enigmatic JKH?

With Bugg and Kennedy coming in, plus general list improvement JKH is going to have a stellar 2016 to get a regular game at AFL level.

He isn't sprint speed quick but I believe his running speed is maintained for longer than most but it's his brain that gets him to the right spots. He needs to get more involved in the game tho. He can make it as a player, it's all there but he needs to put it together for full games and then multiple games in a row.

Just don't know if he will make it. Lacks pace, endurance, penetration in his kicking and poor overhead. Is there a role for this kind of bloke?

Whats the rush? No need to write off a 20 year old who is entering just his third preseason and has played just 22 games

Hes a good player and makes smart decisions with the footy and is a nice kick

Remember just about everyone had thrown Nev Jetta on the trash heap too. He was rookie listed, and now hes our best small defender and one of the best lock down defenders in the AFL

Typical case of 2nd year blues after what was an impressive debut season (especially 1st half of the year).

I think JKH is more of a high half forward then crumbing forward pocket, think more in the Trav Varcoe mould. He just needs to learn to apply maximum forward pressure and take his chances when they present.

I went to a Casey v Werribee match late in the year where nothing went right for JKH, couldn't get near the ball and didn't have an impact on the match. But his pressure,chasing and tackling was really good and it was pleasing to see the kid keep his head up and work hard even when the chips were down.

He's got some work ahead of him and isn't currently best 22, but i wouldn't write him off just yet.

Gone after 2016.

Doesn't have enough talent

Gone after 2016.

Doesn't have enough talent

Or.........oodles of talent, a beautifully natural footballer who needs to find his role and his consistency. I know which version the coaches think he has.

Give the guy a go FCS. he wouldn't be the first decent player to have an ordinary second season.

But right at the moment - on his most recent form - he looks like depth.......but far far more talented depth than our current lot. And never forget that good teams have good depth.

I wish him well and hope he progresses this year.

I've said for a while I'm unconvinced that he'll make it. He's neat with his disposal, has good agility, but lacks pace and I think he has ultimately struggled to adapt to the pace of the league. He's still young, but he'd want to show a bit more next year.

Or.........oodles of talent, a beautifully natural footballer who needs to find his role and his consistency. I know which version the coaches think he has.

Agree...oodles of talent and started off playing with instinct. Then defensive coaching took the shine off that.

An (obvious) on-field spray or two from Dawes in early games didn't help his instinctive play/confidence. Not sure whether the spray(s) were Dawes doing a hissy-fit or JKH not playing to team rules. Probably a bit of both.

Clearly JKH needs to learn the defensive side and to play to 'team rules'.

But hopefully these don't snuff out his instinct.

I remember the story when leading into the 2014 season JKH kept asking (begging) Roos for games. That is serious enthusiasm which Roos rewarded. Atmo he is ironing out a few weaknesses at Casey.

There will be more competition next year for a senior spot but I think we will see his flare on the 'G' again.

Once back he will be difficult to dislodge.

I was just about to write a complimentary post about D'Landers discussing a player in an adult way and then along comes Olisik...

I would like to see him tried as a small defender.

Jetta started out as a forward and didn't excel because he wasn't quick enough.

Like Jetta, JHK is tough and had enough speed and neat kick to play in the backline. Jetta should adopt him and teach him everything he knows.

Given his history of injury, I would like to have a Jetta backup anyway.

Just seems like one of those guys that was quicker and more slick than all the other juniors, but has taken a while to realize that's not the case anymore at AFL level. He's not quick, at all, now that he's in the speed of the seniors, and seems to have struggled to improve his awareness so far.

However, he does seem a "competitor". He runs hard, he tries to make things happen, and he chases. I don't see him getting any quicker, but if we can improve his awareness he will go a long way to being regular 22 as I believe his skills and fitness will naturally improve as they do for most kids that are willing to work hard.

Let's remember, he was a 3rd round selection, so shouldn't place too much pressure on him just yet.

Mainly needs to get more of the ball. 10 touches a match is not enough.

He is basically Jamie Bennell 2.0, really.

Has a little more flair, but lacks pace for someone of his size.

He doesn't seem to have an elite aspect to his game, I think he is a mid but unless he can show a reason for playing him in the rotation he is going to struggle to get a game.

HBF should be his target really (isn't it every player that is finding good form tough?) but his skills are not Salem's...

As for his career to date - it has been good - in better teams he wouldn't have seen a game yet but 2016 and 2017 will be big years for JKH.

He has been 'damned' by exposure he wouldn't have elsewhere - a little bit unfair but that's life.

_{JKH always had ok pace, without being exceptionally quick for a player of his size. As a junior he was good in traffic with great agility and his sidestep got him out of traffic nicely. With good endurance and generally good game awareness and vision (with a neat kick to back it up), his game always suggested he’d be better suited to a midfield or high half forward role than an out and out Garlett type fwd pocket crumber.}

_{I think if he graduates into this type of role, we’ll see the best of him, but it did feel like his year was stilted through injury. He missed a decent chunk of the season, so I don’t think we got a really fair idea of where he’s at. Does need an injury free season in 2016, because he does have a few direct competitors for that role in Kent and Kennedy.}

_{JKH always had ok pace, without being exceptionally quick for a player of his size. As a junior he was good in traffic with great agility and his sidestep got him out of traffic nicely. With good endurance and generally good game awareness and vision (with a neat kick to back it up), his game always suggested he’d be better suited to a midfield or high half forward role than an out and out Garlett type fwd pocket crumber.}

_{I think if he graduates into this type of role, we’ll see the best of him, but it did feel like his year was stilted through injury. He missed a decent chunk of the season, so I don’t think we got a really fair idea of where he’s at. Does need an injury free season in 2016, because he does have a few direct competitors for that role in Kent and Kennedy.}

I agree with most of that. But I think its his indecision that kills him, and I'm not sure that a midfield role would help.

He is an interesting proposition.
I was at that pre season game vs. Richmond, sitting two rows back from Jake King who was stating that both teams had gone out to 'have a kick'. It just goes to show the pre season for what it is and why we shouldn't get too worked up about it.

The best way to look at blokes like JKH is that along the way some players will get lost in the shuffle and we shouldn't take that too much to heart. So long as the team is on an upward trajectory, it doesn't matter what young draftees have failed to live up to their potential. JKH may very be one of those.

I will give him a pass for the time being. He is second year and it's very possible he is suffering second year blues.

He is basically Jamie Bennell 2.0, really.

Has a little more flair, but lacks pace for someone of his size.

Surely not.

JB version 2?

Please no!

Needs to put in a big pre season and find his spot and keep it, if he can.

With the 3 new blokes in, Garlett entrenched, Kent, AVB and hopefully Petracca and Trengove back, it is going to be hard for JKH.

JKH needs to develop a stand out quality (or two), because at the moment there is nothing about him that suggests he is more than handy depth. There is nothing seriously wrong with him, but nothing exceptional either.

He definitely has to find a way to get more involved in the game, because 10 touches a game doesn't cut it unless you are kicking multiple goals or providing serious defensive pressure. He currently does neither.

I wouldn't object to him being tried in defense, because I'm no great fan of Jetta as a small defender and I think Jay will take the game on more.

Edited October 28, 20159 yr by poita

Mainly needs to get more of the ball. 10 touches a match is not enough.

Jeff Garlett averaged 10 disposals this year.

Jeff Garlett averaged 10 disposals this year.

But he also kicked 40 goals. Small forwards can survive on low possessions if they make the ones that they do get count.