Jordan Lewis - a retrospective

[David-Demon 565]

On 3/30/2022 at 12:18 AM, Bang Bang Bang said:

I will sit on the fence a bit here.

On one hand, he cost us next to nothing in terms of draft picks and may have brought a raft of intangibles to the club during his three years. Also, there's an argument that every single recruiting decision we made from 2013 onwards contributed positively in some way to what eventually happened in 2021.

But... his on-field performances fell well below initial expectations. He brought finals experience with him, yet was one of our worst performed players during the 2018 Finals Series.

Conclusion? It probably WAS worth it because of the minimal costs involved in getting him across. However, I think he was underwhelming, even factoring in his age at the time.

Jordan himself could count himself a little unlucky. He chose the Demons based on his expectations of us becoming a major force within a couple of years. He just missed misjudged it slightly. I think if he had his time over again he would have gone to Richmond who nobody could have predicted to rise the way they did at the time Jordie was exploring his options. 

Look I disagree with your view as to why Jordan Lewis came to Melbourne with respect. I quote him here at the time....Lewis, who commenced with the Demons in the 2017 Premiership Season, said he was excited about the new opportunity and the chance to pass on his knowledge. The Demons were not in contention for a Premiership year in 2017 ....“When I decided to retire, I still wanted to have a connection with the Melbourne Football Club,” he told Melbourne Media. And he did through to the 2020 Season end.... My understanding is that he left Hawthorn due in part to their Salary Cap issues at the time. Either way his 55 games with the Demons helped lift the culture of our great Club. I just wonder if he would have ever left the Hawks if not for the Salary Cap unrest that saw his buddy and best friend Jarryd Roughead re commit. Lewis at one stage @ 28 years of age was touted as the next captain of the Hawks. Wiser heads prevailed.. to our advantage. 

Edited April 12, 2022 by David-Demon

[Webber 10,468]

Interesting that Jordie Lewis (who some forget played great games for the Dees in his first two years) and Daniel Cross (who was an outstanding get, culturally and footy-wise) both played the half-back general/sweeper/distributor role. Luke Hodge did the same for the Lions. Seems to be the perfect late career role for tiring/slowing midfielders, as against the pre-retirement forward role, which rarely works (Jack Ziebell’s last game excepted!). 

[daisycutter 29,614]

2 hours ago, Webber said:

Interesting that Jordie Lewis (who some forget played great games for the Dees in his first two years) and Daniel Cross (who was an outstanding get, culturally and footy-wise) both played the half-back general/sweeper/distributor role. Luke Hodge did the same for the Lions. Seems to be the perfect late career role for tiring/slowing midfielders, as against the pre-retirement forward role, which rarely works (Jack Ziebell’s last game excepted!). 

and kevin bartlett excepted!  🙂

[Demon3 2,541]

Lewis was a good signing but in my opinion Daniel Cross was better and was probably released a year earlier than he should be. But Jordy was a successful, premiership player who gave us a bit of cred. 

[BDA 22,753]

Jordan Lewis and Daniel Cross were both good professionals who lifted standards around the place. I also think Bernie Vince was a great pick-up. He came to us when we were at our lowest ebb, won a best and fairest and gave very good service. He and Cross were the first proper recruits after years of rubbish list management

[jnrmac 20,061]

17 minutes ago, BDA said:

Jordan Lewis and Daniel Cross were both good professionals who lifted standards around the place. I also think Bernie Vince was a great pick-up. He came to us when we were at our lowest ebb, won a best and fairest and gave very good service. He and Cross were the first proper recruits after years of rubbish list management

People forget there weren't many many players (let alone multiple Pemiership players) wanting to come to Melbourne. We were a laughing stock for many years.

These guys changed the narrative and I for one will always be grateful for them coming to us.

[Wizard of Koz 1,085]

21 hours ago, Sydee said:

Count yourself as a very lucky supporter 😀

1981

[Old Bear 388]

6 hours ago, Demon3 said:

Lewis was a good signing but in my opinion Daniel Cross was better and was probably released a year earlier than he should be. But Jordy was a successful, premiership player who gave us a bit of cred. 

Loved having Cross at Melbourne 

I remember him being really tiny playing Rep under 14 Basketball for Albury

When I was coaching Wodonga 

He was undersized but skillful

[The heart beats true 18,123]

10 hours ago, binman said:

Agree. 

I was actually just thinking that given fox use clueless dinasaurs like brerereton so much it weird how little air time they give Lewis.

I wonder if that is his choice?

If I had to work with Dwayne Russell I’d have a lot of ‘other commitments’ too.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,754]

On 3/30/2022 at 4:04 PM, jnrmac said:

This,

Who else had premiership experience?

Our fortunes improved as a club when we started getting people that had been to the top in recent times including Choco and Yze

 

 

Chris Daws. And like Lewis and Cross, added credibility to us as a destination and appeared to improve the professionalism of the club. Although wasn't a great on-field performer.

[jnrmac 20,061]

8 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Chris Daws. And like Lewis and Cross, added credibility to us as a destination and appeared to improve the professionalism of the club. Although wasn't a great on-field performer.

Forgot about him. He wasn't as big a signing as Lewis though...

And Mitch Clark was probably the first we snagged out of the hands of other teams. I remember that as being a coup.

I was having a laugh the other day thinking about players we 'missed out on' and Landers gnashing their teeth over like Jack Hannath and Jamie Elliott.

Thank God we have moved on from those days,,,

[Guest]

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

And Mitch Clark was probably the first we snagged out of the hands of other teams. I remember that as being a coup.

😢 I have this up on my pantry wall. such a powerful pic…

This pic is also the reason I can’t hate Chris Scott, dagnabbit. 😑

Edited April 14, 2022 by WalkingCivilWar
Removed a *shudder* typo (thanks, Jontee 💕)

[Fritta and Turner 4,411]

9 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

This pic is also the reason I can’t hate Chris Scott, dangnabbit. 😑

I must say +10 points for using a word that led to some very interesting reading on the Googles, dagnabbit

[Guest]

13 minutes ago, Jontee said:

I must say +10 points for using a word that led to some very interesting reading on the Googles, dagnabbit

😮 Noooo! I’ve been misspelling it all this time! I know that’s not the point but it probs means I won’t be able to sleep for at least a week. 😳 

Edited April 14, 2022 by WalkingCivilWar

[Dee Dee 1,108]

Gee I almost forgot! While not as influential as Lewis or Cross we also benefited from the services of two time Geelong  premiership player Shannon Byrnes. He’s sort of flown under the radar I believe having gone back to Geelong this year after nearly ten years at the Dees as both player and coach (of some sort)!

[rpfc 28,417]

20 hours ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

😢 I have this up on my pantry wall. such a powerful pic…

This pic is also the reason I can’t hate Chris Scott, dagnabbit. 😑

I think you can still dislike Scott. 

I believe in you.

[dee-tox 4,835]

Few harsh comments here. We benefitted from many of these guys. They made us what we are today. We got there in the end so kudos to Lewis, Cross, Vince, etc. Doesn't matter how you get there as long as you get there.

Edited April 14, 2022 by dee-tox

[Left Foot Snap 2,402]

1 hour ago, dee-tox said:

Few harsh comments here. We benefitted from many of these guys. They made us what we are today. We got there in the end so kudos to Lewis, Cross, Vince, etc. Doesn't matter how you get there as long as you get there.

I loved seeing Bernie Vince in a supporters jumper in the rooms after the GF.