Farewell Jayden Hunt

[DeeSpencer 26,091]

4 hours ago, adonski said:

Hunt should play as a pressure forward ahead of ANB

We've seen Hunt in that role before and despite his excellent pace he doesn't read the play as a forward, doesn't change direction and doesn't have the tank. It's a different form of running. You can't just pick names out of a hat to replace what ANB brings no matter how much you dislike his deficiencies.

Edited September 22, 2022 by DeeSpencer

[DeeZone 10,222]

Thanks MS greatly appreciated.!!

[MoeSyzlak 669]

I like Hunt, always have. As others have said his pace is something we really lack. However, he is far too inconsistent and when he plays poorly he has absolute stinkers. 
 

He played 20 games this year  in 8 of those he got under 10 possessions. In some of our most physical games of the year, against North (5), Freo (8), Sydney (3) and Pies (9) he really went missing.
 

Possessions don’t tell the full story of a player’s contribution of course, but all the pace in the world doesn’t mean anything if you’re not getting the footy. He was good against Carlton and Brisbane (r23) but didn’t do much else  

 

[adonski 12,584]

7 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

We've seen Hunt in that role before and despite his excellent pace he doesn't read the play as a forward, doesn't change direction and doesn't have the tank. It's a different form of running. You can't just pick names out of a hat to replace what ANB brings no matter how much you dislike his deficiencies.

I'd be doing cartwheels every time ANB touched the footy if I was an opposition coach

I acknowledge he isn't there to add to his highlight reel but when your deficiencies include every aspect of the game that isn't defensive running you've got a problem

[DeeSpencer 26,091]

5 hours ago, Garbo said:

Not to fussed, won’t ever be more than a roll player. I would rather get more games into our younger players and see what they have. Every chance we already have someone who will surpass him that just needs the opportunity 

I'd like to know who you have in mind because I don't see it with any of our young defenders. Ie. Deakyn Smith and Judd McVee. McVee played some better games late in the year but he's very vanilla. With Hunt gone we'd be even more reliant on an ageing Hibbo and having very little to cover any injuries to the first picked 7 defenders.

If we lose Hunt I think we'd have to spend a pick on a proper replacement (very much a good idea anyway) as well as sign someone short term

Losing Hunt's only a good idea if we've got someone useful lined up and if he fetches a draft pick worth the risk of shedding depth.

[BDA 22,955]

He's been a good servant. If he can get a better deal elsewhere, good luck to him. If he can't I'm happy for him to stay and compete for his spot / provide depth

[bobby1554 1,267]

Hunt basically had Boweys spot in the last part of the year. Bowey is so far above Hunt in football nous. Hunt is, to quote someone else, all duck and no dinner. The fact that he has had 8 years in the system, and still not best 22, tells me all I need to know. Good luck Jayden at your new club.

[The Lobster Effect 894]

17 minutes ago, bobby1554 said:

The fact that he has had 8 years in the system, and still not best 22, tells me all I need to know. Good luck Jayden at your new club.

But doesn't 40 games played over the last 2 seasons indicate he has been best 22?

[bobby1554 1,267]

7 minutes ago, The Lobster Effect said:

But doesn't 40 games played over the last 2 seasons indicate he has been best 22?

Maybe, but not going forward

[Garbo 1,550]

1 hour ago, DeeSpencer said:

I'd like to know who you have in mind because I don't see it with any of our young defenders. Ie. Deakyn Smith and Judd McVee. McVee played some better games late in the year but he's very vanilla. With Hunt gone we'd be even more reliant on an ageing Hibbo and having very little to cover any injuries to the first picked 7 defenders.

If we lose Hunt I think we'd have to spend a pick on a proper replacement (very much a good idea anyway) as well as sign someone short term

Losing Hunt's only a good idea if we've got someone useful lined up and if he fetches a draft pick worth the risk of shedding depth.

Well Bowey came in for hunt in 2021 and went out for him in 2022 so he is the obvious one, Woewodin is also one who might be ready to step up next year, James Jordan is another who was kept out late in the year. Id also like to see what Oscar baker has to offer again to.

We are talking about a player on the fringe on the best 22 who will be 28 by the start of next season, it’s vital we continue to inject youth into the team if we want to avoid stagnation.

Edited September 22, 2022 by Garbo

[WERRIDEE 5,536]

If we are to be a better team next year Hunt has to play in the reserves. More than happy to see him go.

[Lucifers Hero 40,426]

Hunt has more than one string to his bow.  He is an important part of the run and carry chain out of defence.  Critically, he did a great job as a lock down defender in the first part of the year keeping some of the most dangerous forwards quiet.

Before we let him go we need to ensure we have someone to do that lock down role.  Hibberd does it very well but his days are numbered.  Bowey and Rivers have done it a couple of times.  Can they perform that role continuously?  Can Woewodin?

Nev Jetta is our benchmark for this role.  Roos retrained him from a forward to become an elite shut down defender, selflessly sacrificing his own game.  That is the level the next lock down person needs to reach both in attitude and performance.

Edited September 22, 2022 by Lucifers Hero

[Tracca 856]

18 hours ago, A F said:

Quite happy for Jayden to explore his options. Bowey has the same pace, but is cleaner and has elite ball use. Jayden should be a back up next year and Bowey should be in the ta ahead of him.

Bowey does not have the same pace at all as Jayden

[layzie 34,121]

Hunt's courage in 50-50 contests shouldn't be understated either. 

[58er 6,661]

2 hours ago, Tracca said:

Bowey does not have the same pace at all as Jayden

I'll back Bowey to get more balls and at a direct and fast method find a teammate more often than Jayden.

However that's  not to say I  want Jayden to leave he still has some currency  in our elite backline plans in 2023 I would assert. 

[demon3165 2,814]

10 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

If we are to be a better team next year Hunt has to play in the reserves. More than happy to see him go.

I would add Harmes to this list...

[cantstandyasam 700]

1 hour ago, layzie said:

Hunt's courage in 50-50 contests shouldn't be understated either. 

A courageous player with pace. We don't have many.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

C grade - bottom 6

Not losing any sleep over this one

[Demon Disciple 12,313]

2 minutes ago, jumbo returns said:

C grade - bottom 6

Not losing any sleep over this one

You are correct. He is currently entrenched in our bottom 6. The area we need to improve in.

[DeeSpencer 26,091]

4 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

Hunt has more than one string to his bow.  He is an important part of the run and carry chain out of defence.  Critically, he did a great job as a lock down defender in the first part of the year keeping some of the most dangerous forwards quiet.

Before we let him go we need to ensure we have someone to do that lock down role.  Hibberd does it very well but his days are numbered.  Bowey and Rivers have done it a couple of times.  Can they perform that role continuously?  Can Woewodin?

Nev Jetta is our benchmark for this role.  Roos retrained him from a forward to become an elite shut down defender, selflessly sacrificing his own game.  That is the level the next lock down person needs to reach both in attitude and performance.

I don’t think lockdown is the best use of Hunt’s abilities though. His best defensive traits are his size and ability to cover a lot of ground to win the ball back both up the ground and covering off deep.

When he came back in to the side in his best role he helped our backline start winning the ball back more aggressively up the ground. Goodwin talked about that with the Freo win.

The question might be does he win and use the ball well enough to always hold his spot in the side in that role. Especially because he’s competing with Rivers, Bowey and Salem for a half back spot and our backline don’t move the ball to the open side to use Hunt’s pace.

Apart from years and $$$, Hunt might be weighing up his role. If he stays with us the lockdown defender is likely to be his role. If he leaves he might walk in to a more suitable role at another club.

[Queanbeyan Demon 6,892]

16 hours ago, bobby1554 said:

Maybe, but not going forward

Few are suggesting he goes forward. 

[Demon17 5,208]

17 hours ago, bobby1554 said:

Hunt basically had Boweys spot in the last part of the year. Bowey is so far above Hunt in football nous. Hunt is, to quote someone else, all duck and no dinner. The fact that he has had 8 years in the system, and still not best 22, tells me all I need to know. Good luck Jayden at your new club.

And elite foot skills which is one reason taylor liked him as a selection. (Taylor says he has elite decision making skills also  - as you say)

[spirit of norm smith 16,596]

15 hours ago, WERRIDEE said:

If we are to be a better team next year Hunt has to play in the reserves. More than happy to see him go.

That’s harsh. He played some very good footy this year. Did some excellent shut down work on small forwards with pace. Yes pace. Something that is lacking. And don’t forget he was the key in the last 90 seconds v Blues with three key disposals.  
 

Hunt played 40 games across the last two seasons so clearly seen as part of the team, not just VFL fringe type. 
 

Yes he may go to get a longer contract and more $$$. But I don’t subscribe that if he stays, we are only better with him playing reserves.  (We are better with more effective delivery and connection in forward 50!!) 

[layzie 34,121]

5 hours ago, cantstandyasam said:

A courageous player with pace. We don't have many.

That's right, whether he's great or not he offers something different.

Edited September 23, 2022 by layzie

[Deespicable 2,886]

I am a little surprised we haven't signed Jayden already and imagine that our initial offer was lowball.

He certainly deserves a semi-decent two year deal and given his late start from a footy perspective, there's definitely still upside.

What I like about him most now is his close-down speed and also his ability to take the game on with his run  - he's the complete opposite to most of our players and game plan in this regard and as such is even more important. Obviously it would be nice if he accumulated more disposals, but he's never been an accumulator and the argument could be that he doesn't make himself available enough for the short kicks down the line. The other argument to that is that maybe our defensive distributors - May, Salem and Brayshaw (up until rd 18) don't look for him enough.

He still lacks a little strength in the one-on-ones but his game on Shai Bolton was huge and he takes a lot of pressure off our slower defenders because it means they don't cop the mega-fast match up.

I get that one or two here resent the fact that Bowey wasn't getting a game, but there are other spots available down back and I think Bowey's all round game means he probably could play pretty much anywhere - i'd like to see Bowser get arun in the middle for example, and he'd be more attacking on a wing than JJ.