2021 Player Reviews #29 Jayden Hunt

[Demonland 64,414]

Jayden Hunt was sailing towards a place in the Demons’ finals line up when he injured an ankle early in the Round 21 game against the Eagles at Optus Stadium. He underwent surgery and was ruled out for a month but was unable to reclaim his place in the team. Until injured, the hard running defender formed an integral part of Melbourne’s powerful backline.

Date of Birth: 3 April, 1995
Height: 187cm
Weight: 81kg

Games MFC 2021: 20
Career Total: 94

Goals MFC 2021: 2
Career Total: 43

[Lucifers Hero 36,983]

A real improver this year.  Helped by being played in his 'best' position. 

It was really sad that he missed the finals after missing the 2018 finals.  Who knows if he wasn't injured he would be a premiership player.  Nonetheless, his sheer joy after the GF showed how well he dealt with any disappointment and exemplified 'being a good teammate'. .  

Its no secret that he is my equal number one favourite player.  He is OOC next year and a RFA.  A bit of talent and competition coming up the ranks.  Hope he stays.

Edited October 25, 2021 by Premiers

[Fritta The Hair G.O.A.T. 510]

Can't help but feel bad for Hunty, he had a great year before he went down with injury. Played with a heap of tenacity and provided so much spring off half-back. Probably my number one favourite thing to watch in any Dees game is seeing Hunty put the burners on and sprint through the middle of the ground, ball in hand. He directly generated a bunch of scores from his runs off HB. Would love to see him back in the team next year (replacing Hibbo maybe?) and get a crack at becoming a premiership player like his team mates.

[spirit of norm smith 12,839]

Absolutely a key part of our year. He played 20 games and his run and carry as well as defensive roles were part of our success. Love his pace to chase or burst clear.  
 

As soon as he got injured v Eagles, you could tell how upset he was. Hunt knew we’d be pushing for that premiership and his injury would put his role in that in doubt.  Really sad he missed out. 

Still his enthusiasm when we won the GF was great. 

I think he’ll be in our best 22 in 2022 and be hungry for success.  It’s a tough team to crack into but we will have Hunt and Tomlinson bursting to get in and the pressure for spots will be hot.  

[DeeZone 7,667]

Jayden Hunt adds to the list of bad luck stories that dog grand finals. Without that injury in round 20 Hunty is probably a premiership player and either Hibbo or Bowey miss out. I hope that Jayden can get back to his 2021 form and share in the spoils going forward.❤️💙

[DemonDave 1,078]

Hunt's loss was Bowey's gain. Feel for him as we having a good, consistent season, kept to the one position for once and was really playing to his strengths with that run off half back.  For mine is still in our best 22/23, ahead of Hibberd as he's a better rebounder, albeit a negligibly lesser defender. Bowey may well have a couple of sophomore form dips, so competition for this spot will be hotly contested. 

[Pates 9,536]

Jayden was THE hard luck story for me. Tomlinson is another but his injury came relatively early and it ruled him out immediately. Hunt had a really good year and had some fantastic link up play with Langdon, his injury just came close enough to dangle the possibility in front of him but Bowey was just too good to knock off. 

I hope he fights his way back in, I loved his reaction to us winning the premiership. If he was bitter at all he didn’t show it. 

[jnrmac 18,914]

I forecast at the start of the year Hunt would be in the top 3 most improved players

Boy we had a lot of improvers but Hunt was right up there,

Cops a lot of knocks for trying to take the game on but he can play a lot of roles and has a big heart. Very tough as well

Stiff to have missed out after playing 20 games but a hard call with Bowey playing so well and Hibberd finding form

 

 

[WERRIDEE 5,198]

Definitely a hard luck story if he didn't get injured he would be a premiership player ahead of Hibberd. I'm backing him to get his spot back.

[roy11 2,918]

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1028967/speed-star-hunt-fastest-demon-for-2021

Top five fastest Melbourne players in 2021
Jayden Hunt 35.24km/h
Kysaiah Pickett 34.56
Alex Neal-Bullen 33.95
Ed Langdon 33.91
Christian Salem 33.80

Top ten fastest players in 2021
Nick Hind 36.07km/h
Oleg Markov 35.89
Adam Saad 35.75
Tim Membrey 35.60
Jason Castagna 35.46
Travis Colyer 35.39
Griffin Logue 35.35
Jayden Hunt 35.24
Aiden Bonar 35.23
Bobby Hill 35.14

[Lucifers Hero 36,983]

23 minutes ago, roy11 said:

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1028967/speed-star-hunt-fastest-demon-for-2021

Top five fastest Melbourne players in 2021
Jayden Hunt 35.24km/h
Kysaiah Pickett 34.56
Alex Neal-Bullen 33.95
Ed Langdon 33.91
Christian Salem 33.80
 

No surprise that Hunt and Langdon are in the top 5.  Their run and carry down the wing is a joy to watch.

Quite a few posters regularly pot Salem for being slow - hope that stat quietens them.

[dieter 3,325]

On 10/26/2021 at 9:08 AM, Demonland said:

Jayden Hunt was sailing towards a place in the Demons’ finals line up when he injured an ankle early in the Round 21 game against the Eagles at Optus Stadium. He underwent surgery and was ruled out for a month but was unable to reclaim his place in the team. Until injured, the hard running defender formed an integral part of Melbourne’s powerful backline.

Date of Birth: 3 April, 1995
Height: 187cm
Weight: 81kg

Games MFC 2021: 20
Career Total: 94

Goals MFC 2021: 2
Career Total: 43

His highlights 2021 reel is fantastic. What bad luck to ruin his ankle in Round 21. The Demons List looks very deep at the moment.

[DeeDJ 56]

what impressed me through the year with Jayden was his improvement in his defensive efforts, his one-on-one negating was often unnoticed and underrated

[WalkingCivilWar 31,142]

I can’t wait to see him running around next season. He’s my favourite player so if for no other reason (yeah, right) I wanna see us go back-to-back so as Jayden gets to experience what he so richly deserves. 
❤️💙JH29❤️💙

[Fritta The Hair G.O.A.T. 510]

https://youtu.be/xnZjI2c7hP0

 

Hunty streaming down the wing/middle is my favourite thing to watch in any Dees game. 

And can I say, our long-sleeve home jumper with navy shorts looks 🔥

[DeeZone 7,667]

14 hours ago, DeeDJ said:

what impressed me through the year with Jayden was his improvement in his defensive efforts, his one-on-one negating was often unnoticed and underrated

After watching the highlight reel DeeDJ his defensive work is fantastic and he has become a tackling machine,so tough. Well done Jayden.💕❤️💙

[Ollie fan 2,116]

19 minutes ago, DeeZone said:

After watching the highlight reel DeeDJ his defensive work is fantastic and he has become a tackling machine,so tough. Well done Jayden.💕❤️💙

Watching the highlights reel, this was exactly what I thought. If he could work with Choco over summer on kicking the ball accurately at pace, he would become a true champion of the competition.

[leave it to deever 15,163]

Poor bloke. Seemed to be having his best season yet.

Hoping he comes back next year faster and fitter than ever.

Exciting to see dashing down the ground.

 

Edited November 5, 2021 by leave it to deever

[leave it to deever 15,163]

On 11/4/2021 at 10:29 AM, roy11 said:

https://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/1028967/speed-star-hunt-fastest-demon-for-2021

Top five fastest Melbourne players in 2021
Jayden Hunt 35.24km/h
Kysaiah Pickett 34.56
Alex Neal-Bullen 33.95
Ed Langdon 33.91
Christian Salem 33.80

Top ten fastest players in 2021
Nick Hind 36.07km/h
Oleg Markov 35.89
Adam Saad 35.75
Tim Membrey 35.60
Jason Castagna 35.46
Travis Colyer 35.39
Griffin Logue 35.35
Jayden Hunt 35.24
Aiden Bonar 35.23
Bobby Hill 35.14

Over ten metres id wager trac was quick.

I loved his explosive bursts out of the middle in the granny.

But when Hunt puts on the after burners its fun to watch players try and catch him.

 

[Nicko 1,219]

9 hours ago, DeeZone said:

After watching the highlight reel DeeDJ his defensive work is fantastic and he has become a tackling machine,so tough. Well done Jayden.💕❤️💙

Agree 

just watched his highlights package and was impressed with his tackling - seemed a lot tougher this year 

 

[monoccular 16,012]

Certainly a hard luck story: injured just that little bit too late in the year to get back into the lineup.  
I hope he gets back in but will be up against Bowey and Hibberd in particular. 

[Diamond_Jim 11,679]

Probably of all the players Hunt surprised me the most in 2021.

Having seen no glimpse of his run and carry from the backline in the VFL I was convinced that the game had renedered his main skill nugatory and that he was a medium level forward opportunity only.

How wrong I was.

He'll be vying for the spots presently held by Bowey and Hibberd. Pre season match form will be vital in the short term as both he and Tomlinson try to break back into the team

[Demonised 1,198]

2 hours ago, Diamond_Jim said:

nugatory

You are a gentleman and a scholar.

[Lucifers Hero 36,983]

Was rapt to see his 100th game recognised in the banner yesterday even tho it was the previous week. when appropriately the ANZAC  banner took priority.

He has become our lock down of small forwards.  Completely shut down Shai Balton.

He is our new Neville Jetta.  Not as great, yet but it is terrific to see his has found his niche in the team.  It is a niche that plays to his strengths and minimises his weaknesses. 

It is the sort of role that the less you are noticed the better you are doing the job. 

I'm biased but think his performance in that low profile role deserves more recognition.

Interview post his 100th

A humble and honest guy.

Just love him!!

Edited April 30, 2022 by Lucifers Hero

[Nasher 33,047]

30 minutes ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Was rapt to see his 100th game recognised in the banner yesterday even tho it was the previous week. when appropriately the ANZAC  banner took priority.

He has become our lock down of small forwards.  Completely shut down Shai Balton.

He is our new Neville Jetta.  Not as great, yet but it is terrific to see his has found his niche in the team.  It is a niche that plays to his strengths and minimises his weaknesses. 

It is the sort of role that the less you are noticed the better you are doing the job. 

I'm biased but think his performance in that low profile role deserves more recognition.

Interview post his 100th

A humble and honest guy.

Just love him!!

I love that while pace and drive are key assets of his, he’s turned in to a legitimately hard nosed defender in recent years. Toughness and helping his teammates have become the cornerstone of his game, any time he gets to go for a run is just a bonus. Great stuff.