Welcome to Demonland: Jacob Van Rooyen

[leave it to deever 16,172]

On 10/8/2021 at 12:11 PM, Caligula's cohort said:

I hope we get Van Rooyen. With Woewodin jnr coming through as midfielder as a late pick, we should look at drafting a key forward.

 some have said Josh Rachele could be another option, but we already have Laurie with similar attributes and skill sets IMO.

I agree about another key forward. Tmacs first  half of the season was excellent and a big factor in us winning so many. But he did drop in form for a significant number of games and wasn't great in the finals. He seems to be either " on or off" for want of a better description.  Great in 2017 but the opposite the year after. More consistency is required. And Sam W is an unproven forward still. We also need some younger fwd talent to be recruited if we are looking at flags in five years plus.

[dpositive 1,563]

Ewas interesting to see the muscle structure in his arm on one of the pics.

For one so young it seemed pretty developed.

Wonder if tennis, squash or weights?

[adonski 9,281]

[WalkingCivilWar 33,315]

Reminds me of a young Conan O’Brien.

Edited November 25, 2021 by WalkingCivilWar

[dees189227 11,016]

 

Did 

Did he say who he used to barrack for? 

[Demonland 66,450]

9 minutes ago, dees189227 said:

Did he say who he used to barrack for? 

Good bet it was either West Coast or Freo.

[58er 5,670]

32 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

I agree about another key forward. Tmacs first  half of the season was excellent and a big factor in us winning so many. But he did drop in form for a significant number of games and wasn't great in the finals. He seems to be either " on or off" for want of a better description.  Great in 2017 but the opposite the year after. More consistency is required. And Sam W is an unproven forward still. We also need some younger fwd talent to be recruited if we are looking at flags in five years plus.

Was2018 when Tommy started with 53 goals. Wasn't the same after he came back from injury later in the season. 
Still played team role and IMO can go back into defence at any time.

Now with JVR and Sam who is quite capable in the 2nd ruck and rest forward role. He needs to move around not be static where he stands like a statue. Understudy like Dogga really.

Great versatility IMO with Petty Tmac and Jacob all of who can play forward or back. 

Sam could  also play CHB as well IMO. 
 

[one_demon 826]

11 hours ago, Turner said:

also we seem to have a thing for the acronyms, JVR, AMW and TAJ all in one draft! 

Those aren't acronyms, they're abbreviations 

[58er 5,670]

57 minutes ago, loges said:

So the family are reasonably happy then 

Stoked in fact. Once McGowan lets them free they are on the next Transport Truck across the Nullarbor. 

Seriously amazing how young kids don't give a sh.. about State  borders etc. and adults are locked in meetings dog  fights and open conflict on the Media! 

[58er 5,670]

1 hour ago, DubDee said:

Fantastic we picked up a very promising tall fwd - our biggest need.  But he can also play down back and can run so potentially on a wing too

Looks a very big unit for a kid so we have mitigated a lot of the risk in picking a player especially in covid times.  He has exposed form unlike most kids

Please stop trying the TMac trick He is not a winger really can play 5 minutes at best at start of game!!

Nor is it will be JVR a winger. 

If we wanted a winger then  JT would have chosen Blake Howes.

Dont try and make special KP players into running machines 

If the GF proved many things one is that we have 2 of the best centreline players in the State. Different types again to our advantage. Hard to match up on. 

[Deemania since 56 6,237]

On 10/19/2021 at 9:24 PM, spirit of norm smith said:

JVR actually reminds me of Jack Watts in his Under 18s year.  Strong mark. Athletic.  Can play back but much better as a forward.  Good ability to run up and back and use endurance.  
 

I think JVR would be in much better hands for his development now and certainly much less pressure. 

Watching the highlights reel, for whatever its accuracy may be, JVR is showing some adept skills at both ends, on the ground and in the air. This is the player we needed, for sure. As for reminding me of someone from the past with similar skillsets, I think he may develop into another Graeme Molloy - height, weight to come, physique to come, skills to burn and develop, slight 'mongrel' attitude, confident of his role. Much to look forward to - can't wait!

[spirit of norm smith 13,409]

6 minutes ago, Deemania since 56 said:

Watching the highlights reel, for whatever its accuracy may be, JVR is showing some adept skills at both ends, on the ground and in the air. This is the player we needed, for sure. As for reminding me of someone from the past with similar skillsets, I think he may develop into another Graeme Molloy - height, weight to come, physique to come, skills to burn and develop, slight 'mongrel' attitude, confident of his role. Much to look forward to - can't wait!

Graeme Molloy. Wow. That’s going back. Probably Watts comparison not quite right. Perhaps a young Neitz 🤞type (as good forward as back) or as a modern comparison perhaps he’s similar to Oscar Allen at the Eagles. 
 

I agree his versatility and ability in the air and on the ground is a good blend and we can give him time to develop. Another strategic JT pick 👍🏻

[daisycutter 28,684]

32 minutes ago, one_demon said:

Those aren't acronyms, they're abbreviations 

think you backed the wrong horse here, 1d

[Demon Disciple 11,132]

1 hour ago, leave it to deever said:

I agree about another key forward. Tmacs first  half of the season was excellent and a big factor in us winning so many. But he did drop in form for a significant number of games and wasn't great in the finals.

No TMAC was not as influential in finals or second half of the year, however his form in the first half was fantastic. He was our main KPF and was very good at it, which saw us start the year 11-1.

If we didn’t get the start we did, we might not have made top 4 (definitely not top 2, let alone minor premiers).

TMAC’s time might be up, but boy did he contribute to our flag in a big big way.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Reminds me of a young Conan O’Brien.

Hope he is more advanced with his development than Conan is. 
 

 

[drdrake 3,052]

The only thing I don't like about this player is he is from Claremont, front running soft private school boys.  Give me a south of the river player any day but the north of the river boy always questionable.

 

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,533]

2 minutes ago, drdrake said:

The only thing I don't like about this player is he is from Claremont, front running soft private school boys.  Give me a south of the river player any day but the north of the river boy always questionable.

 

Not sure there are many players drafted these days who aren't from private schools. We've done alright with that cohort recently including Salem and Hunt (Brighton Grammar), May, Langdon and Spargo (Melbourne Grammar) and others I'm sure others will know.

[drdrake 3,052]

1 minute ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Not sure there are many players drafted these days who aren't from private schools. We've done alright with that cohort recently including Salem and Hunt (Brighton Grammar), May, Langdon and Spargo (Melbourne Grammar) and others I'm sure others will know.

It was a throw away comment, Claremont is the top end of town club in WA silver spoon club nothing against the kid a lot of good players come from Claremont.  Good players at MFC come from South of the River(again tongue in cheek) Jackson, Rivers, Farmer, Woey, Jakovich, Alan Johnson, Spalding, Darren Bennett all from the South.

[WalkingCivilWar 33,315]

30 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

think you backed the wrong horse here, 1d

They’re examples of Initialism. Capital letters each representing a word and pronounced separately. 

[58er 5,670]

4 hours ago, IvanBartul13 said:

Not sure in what way I've been tough.  I've said I thought he would be drafted higher and surprised that Brisbane - and Sydney, in particular once Tom Brown was taken ahead by Richmond- didn't take him ahead of us to be honest.  I've compared him as a defender to a good player in Harry Petty, but i think as forward, whilst he's performed very well at Colts level and other junior levels, there isn't a big positive sample size of him beating the ilk or physique of player he is going to come across at AFL level and without seeming to be outrageously skilled or uber athletic that puts a question mark on whether he can be a dominant AFL figurehead forward, remembering that when most Demonlanders were waxing lyrical about Jack Watts dominating an under 18 game, he was playing on Brad Sheppard with a 10cm and 12kg physical advantage.  Watts I think was a good player, but these concepts are behind the reason I think he is at Pick 19 in a draft incredibly bereft of his type of player and not in the top half dozen picks.  

I think its a  good list management pick from a positional list build viewpoint and you are 100% he comes into a great situation for himself at the Dees (most, it has to be said, will, given we have a very balanced list) and I think he could be a good player, maybe a Nick Larkey type, but unlike someone like the patronising and condescending Spirit Of Norm Smith, I'm not going to guess and shamelessly make constantly wrong and grandiose statements or inflated comparisons and bombard the site with drivel. Rather am just providing what I pray to be a balanced, honest assessment.  I hope he is the second coming of Neita, but at this stage Im only happy to concede that he is at least going to be a handy structural spine player.

Its a great pick by you to identify him as the man we were going to take and I think its going to be interesting for you to compare him and Andrew going forward, because their careers are going to be kind of the lab study of your thesis about Andrew and youve got a very good chance to be proven right. but I need to see him beating good players to be confident.  Josh Schache was routinely murdered by Jacob Weitering in his draft year and Van Rooyen hasn't played on someone like that.  I need to see either optics of dominance or class, or to see him beating quality players first to be confident.

AFL comparison: Harry Petty or could be a Nick Larkey, whichever way you swing. 

In your long and very thoughtful post there are some points you seem to miss when assessing Jacob . ( And Mac Andrew no doubt)!

Here are my 5cents worth.

1. The fact that he has played and succeeded at his own level in 2 comps in DEFENCE and KICKED MULTIPLE GOALS when up forward gives him double the chance of succeeding in our very good team.

2. When looking at highlights forget about the opposition and look at the player and his skills he uses in ONE on ONE contests.  JVR appears very good user of his body has good marking judgement and good skills When he has the ball in hand and a feel for the game as well.

3. JVR like all new players will no doubt be given a very thorough professional examination as to his physical status ( which often is revealed at  Combine stage ) so JT would be all over this. Extra kilos are a given for him to succeed at KP level ( look at Dogga and his extra 6/8 kg and no loss of pace etc.) 

4. Change of Environment will kick in ( yes some get homesickness ) but our Culture at the Club and the huge reaction ( see in this JVR Welcome post) from family and friends will be a solid Base plus our selflessness and the Choco Yze and Goody factors that Kossie Riv Dogga Harrison P Bowser have all blossomed enhances his prospects with the competitiveness seed in most players these days of being a good pick up.

5. I saw Pettys highlights from Day 1 and he used his body and marked the ball and knew some defensive reactions to earmark him as good potential.It has not been plain sailing for Harry but he has a good grasp of his craft and his development is well on irs way. There is no reason why JVR  can't do the same and it's up to him and our coaches to provide the best opportunity we can to train him ready to take over from say Maysie  or Tmac or BBB whenever that opportunity arises. Harry Petty SamW and Dogga will make him earn his colours and he will be all the better fir it.

6. He might still have a little bit of growth ( height ) in himself we never know just let's hope so. 

Yes he will have opponents taller quicker and maybe more skilled at times or on the odd occasion but that's what sport is about the ability to compete and that's  what JT said was his big trait and impressed the Dees about Jacob as a Demon style KP player who is strong in the clinches and fights every last inch for advantage. 

We can at least trust our FD recruiting team to have got it right since about 2015 and this showed up esp at the centre bounce in that glorious 17 mins which we mortgaged the Cup. We were too strong at  the bounce and ball ups in close as a team. 

Welcome Jacob. 
 

[Spirit of '87 321]

2 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

They’re examples of Initialism. Capital letters each representing a word and pronounced separately. 

Correct. Except for Taj, which neither - it’s just his actual name :) 

[daisycutter 28,684]

4 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

They’re examples of Initialism. Capital letters each representing a word and pronounced separately. 

exactly, and called acronyms

[Demonstone 19,692]

8 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

exactly, and called acronyms

Not so, dc.  An acronym is an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word (eg NASA, AIDS, RADAR, AWOL and FOMO).

[IvanBartul13 2,564]

4 minutes ago, 58er said:

In your long and very thoughtful post there are some points you seem to miss when assessing Jacob . ( And Mac Andrew no doubt)!

Here are my 5cents worth.

1. The fact that he has played and succeeded at his own level in 2 comps in DEFENCE and KICKED MULTIPLE GOALS when up forward gives him double the chance of succeeding in our very good team.

2. When looking at highlights forget about the opposition and look at the player and his skills he uses in ONE on ONE contests.  JVR appears very good user of his body has good marking judgement and good skills When he has the ball in hand and a feel for the game as well.

3. JVR like all new players will no doubt be given a very thorough professional examination as to his physical status ( which often is revealed at  Combine stage ) so JT would be all over this. Extra kilos are a given for him to succeed at KP level ( look at Dogga and his extra 6/8 kg and no loss of pace etc.) 

4. Change of Environment will kick in ( yes some get homesickness ) but our Culture at the Club and the huge reaction ( see in this JVR Welcome post) from family and friends will be a solid Base plus our selflessness and the Choco Yze and Goody factors that Kossie Riv Dogga Harrison P Bowser have all blossomed enhances his prospects with the competitiveness seed in most players these days of being a good pick up.

5. I saw Pettys highlights from Day 1 and he used his body and marked the ball and knew some defensive reactions to earmark him as good potential.It has not been plain sailing for Harry but he has a good grasp of his craft and his development is well on irs way. There is no reason why JVR  can't do the same and it's up to him and our coaches to provide the best opportunity we can to train him ready to take over from say Maysie  or Tmac or BBB whenever that opportunity arises. Harry Petty SamW and Dogga will make him earn his colours and he will be all the better fir it.

6. He might still have a little bit of growth ( height ) in himself we never know just let's hope so. 

Yes he will have opponents taller quicker and maybe more skilled at times or on the odd occasion but that's what sport is about the ability to compete and that's  what JT said was his big trait and impressed the Dees about Jacob as a Demon style KP player who is strong in the clinches and fights every last inch for advantage. 

We can at least trust our FD recruiting team to have got it right since about 2015 and this showed up esp at the centre bounce in that glorious 17 mins which we mortgaged the Cup. We were too strong at  the bounce and ball ups in close as a team. 

Welcome Jacob. 
 

Good post, but I'm not really sure how your dot points really conflict with my post.  I'm just suggesting that expectations of him as a forward be tempered because of the level of competition he was up against at WAFL colts level, which were basically and mostly smaller non-AFL prospects, and because as a 194cm specimen multiple clubs who would definitely love to have a forward with those dimensions bypassed him.  That's not to say he won't develop into a fine player at all.

[Spirit of '87 321]

9 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

exactly, and called acronyms

They only become acronyms when the abbreviated letters or initials themselves form a word - e.g. NATO or UNESCO. 
The examples in the original post, i.e.  “JVR, AMW” do not form a pronounceable word, so they are not acronyms, just initialisms.