I rate JJ highly. He should be playing at the highest level. If we can't offer him that then he has every right to explore his options.

a very solid player that rarely makes a mistake. Would hate to see him elsewhere.

Has a Scott Thompson feel about it.

Thought he was superb on Monday. His speed and disposal skills made him look a different player. Much smoother than previous seasons. His improvement really surprised me. 

He's going to be hard to knock out of the side if Sunday's performance is anything to go by. He looked quicker and sharper than what I had in my mind. Keep doing that and he puts the heat on players such as Harmes, Sparrow, Hunter, Bowey and even Viney and ANB if their form dropped off. Would hate to see him leave but players are going to.

42 minutes ago, Roost it far said:

He's going to be hard to knock out of the side if Sunday's performance is anything to go by. He looked quicker and sharper than what I had in my mind. Keep doing that and he puts the heat on players such as Harmes, Sparrow, Hunter, Bowey and even Viney and ANB if their form dropped off. Would hate to see him leave but players are going to.

Totally agree. I thought it was his best game for the club. He looks to have fined down a bit and has been coached to keep movement on the ball. Super fit and looked the 3rd best midfielder in our team. Went straight past Harmes in one game. Reminded me of McRae from the Dogs. Really hope we keep playing him and find a way to keep him on our list.

1 hour ago, old55 said:

Has a Scott Thompson feel about it.

Scott Thompson was a South Australian and wanted to go home, JJ is a Victorian and there's no go home factor.

I think Scott was a better player than JJ.

Maybe it's just a simple case of seeing how the year pans out and how many players are ahead of him, what are his chance of regular games and what sort of money will we offer. I think he will stay.

I join the chorus.

Unequivocally, Jordon is better than Harmes.

2 hours ago, spalding said:

I really rate JJ. Having watched Adelaide play Port on the weekend, they are setting up nicely to be a force in a few years. The midfield depth is their weakness and I could see him being a good replacement for Rory Sloane (who really wound back the clock last weekend). Sparrow could also be a target. Previously I thought that Sparrow would be the one to keep, and have been expecting him to breakout, but I think he might not have the game awareness and craft of JJ. It might be a fascinating watch this year as to who progresses further.

I see Harmes as being “I’m Melbourne, Tony”, but maybe we do have to be supportive of him finding a new home if it means we keep both the SA boys 

Burgess has transformed their fitness and knows JJ well

Put my hand up for not believing JJ deserved to be selected before Sunday.  Agree with all that’s been said, particularly that Sunday was his best game by far.  One of the things I hadn’t noticed before was his long kicking, be interesting to see a ‘kick off showdown’ between him and Rivers. 

3 hours ago, wheaters31 said:

Has put contract talks on hold.

Was very good on the weekend. 

Really good at the weekend against Sydney. JJ is a second Chandler with an array of alternative skills. He needed to learn to play on rather than to go back and take a kick (after trying to visualise a target from the over-covered static forward lines last year) and has achieved that - and shown that aptitude to very good effect this year. JJ is a dangerous player with perceptive skills execution - and finds targets very well. He's also a bit taller than expected from a distance, capable of good intercepts and spoils on the opposition - and nearly always lands on two feet, ready to take off or scrounge for the team taps. 

Oh, I forgot: JJ goes vertical for the spoil - he ain't huge or gravitationally challenged - and the 2-feet landing enables him to utilise a great first two/three steps with possession of the ball, and this reminds me closely of one of our great backmen of the past who did the same to win heaps of the ball and its delivery - Brett Bailey.

Edited April 5, 20232 yr by Deemania since 56

I don't get this Adelaide talk? He's Victorian.....

1 hour ago, hemingway said:

Thought he was superb on Monday. His speed and disposal skills made him look a different player. Much smoother than previous seasons. His improvement really surprised me. 

He has been to a Chocco and JJ finishing school and is a very valued 5th or 4th member of our midfield. Credit to him he has been patient and he is now skilled and more polished under pressure. Deserves a new contract of 2/3 years as his best footy is starting to be just ahead of him. 

He has put talks on hold, why? To get more opportunity at another club? If that's the case, then HE doesn't believe he can get ahead of the likes of Sparrow, Harmes, etc. Why would you play someone with that mindset! 

2 hours ago, Brownie said:

I totally agree. Both Harmes and Melksham really shouldn't be getting selected ahead of the likes off JJ.

Now's the time to be giving the younger ones games.

Jordon ain’t sticking around to be sub. Also can we not have the tail wagging the dog with tactical decisions.

We are going to lose good players over the next 5 years. 

‘Why rpfc? WHY?!’

Because we have generational mids that soak up most of the midfield minutes and will squeeze out good players. I thought it was to be Harmes last year, and it might still be, but it also may mean Sparrow or Jordon leave because we simply can’t get them into the roles they are suited to. Personally, having 3 more mids than you need and playing them in positions they hate is called the Western Bulldogs..er… I mean… lunacy…

1 minute ago, bobby1554 said:

He has put talks on hold, why? To get more opportunity at another club? If that's the case, then HE doesn't believe he can get ahead of the likes of Sparrow, Harmes, etc. Why would you play someone with that mindset! 

He's already ahead of them as a footballer - but I'm not sure the coaches agree when it comes to team selection, that's the problem!

I’d still be [censored] Goodwin didn’t sub someone for JJ in the GF if I was him.

3 hours ago, mo64 said:

I'm a JJ fan, and thought he was hard done by at the selection table last year. Whilst others were struggling, JJ would be the first player dropped. He showed his class on Sunday.

Wouldn't blame him if he walked.

We really must retain and further develop/encourage JJ to do his thang. He is a rilly goodie.

46 minutes ago, bobby1554 said:

He has put talks on hold, why? To get more opportunity at another club? If that's the case, then HE doesn't believe he can get ahead of the likes of Sparrow, Harmes, etc. Why would you play someone with that mindset! 

Nonsense, he would’ve put talks on hold so his football can do the talking.

We would only be offering him depth player money if he’s in the 2’s and other clubs probably wouldn’t be all that interested.

Both he and the club will be able to get a more accurate indication of his value once he’s played a block of games.

A player who won’t negotiate late in the season is a problem. A player striving for his spot in the side to demonstrate his value isn’t a problem at all.

1 hour ago, bobby1554 said:

He has put talks on hold, why? To get more opportunity at another club? If that's the case, then HE doesn't believe he can get ahead of the likes of Sparrow, Harmes, etc. Why would you play someone with that mindset! 

This is a situation where I can actually understand putting talks on hold. An under 23 y.o on the fringe of the best 22 with some stiff competition for spots, he's likely set himself the task of working his way in there and probably feels that should be the focus. The next few months is very big in the scheme of things for someone like JJ. 

Edited April 5, 20232 yr by layzie

I heard Yze quoted as saying in his time at the hawks and us there are no harder trainers than JJ (and Spargo) leaving no stone unturned trying to improve. It seems to be working. 

2 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Nonsense, he would’ve put talks on hold so his football can do the talking.

We would only be offering him depth player money if he’s in the 2’s and other clubs probably wouldn’t be all that interested.

Both he and the club will be able to get a more accurate indication of his value once he’s played a block of games.

A player who won’t negotiate late in the season is a problem. A player striving for his spot in the side to demonstrate his value isn’t a problem at all.

Fair enough, we shall see

So long JJ

On 4/5/2023 at 1:54 PM, bobby1554 said:

He has put talks on hold, why? To get more opportunity at another club? If that's the case, then HE doesn't believe he can get ahead of the likes of Sparrow, Harmes, etc. Why would you play someone with that mindset! 

I don't blame him. He's a talent and wants to play at the highest level. Doesn't mean he's not a team player he's most likely very frustrated. I think he is better than the 2 players you mentioned.

Can’t believe we dropped him after his game and bought back Tmac,  looked more dangerous playing smaller.