How far away is Matt Jefferson?

[DubDee 20,950]

When is Jefferson ready?

Whens the next Olympics?

 

*fav quote from 40yo virgin 

[58er 5,630]

14 hours ago, rjay said:

I think we will have a good idea next year...

I'm not expecting him to make the senior team, great if he does but he should show enough at VFL level in 2024 to know if we've made a good investment.

We also have to remember every recruit is different. Just as about 90% of D/Landers were ready to throw Bailey Laurie on the scrap heap about a month ago he has looked in about 3/4 games ( some D/Lers we're vocal on his being given the promotion saying how did it happen) small sample but very effective and looking comfortable and up to the AFL standard.

Another slow developer was Chin but ha has save for a game or two looked very much an AFL player. We are a little, some a lot too often writing off players and it has proven that our steady as she goes can produce AFL players. And the Judd McVees are more a rarity from the lower parts of the draft. What a beauty he is. 

Naturally we expect our high draft picks to mature quicker and that is fair enough.

Rjay has 2 knocks on Jeffo both only points in my opinion not reasons he hasn't the skill to make the grade. One is that he is introverted. That may be holding him back in his first year but next year he will have another 5plus kg on his frame and will no longer be the "baby" in the group That Will  be the 2023 Draftees and he will also be in pushed from under by wanting to develop to a higher level than the newcomers. It's a mental thing. If he thinks about his game as Picket Fence says he does I will back him to be more out going and noticedin 2024. 

The fact that he was selected on a "needs basis" and for this same reason James Cook was also and looking at him he was introverted. He was a total failure as a CHF/FF recruit so MJ has the same two reasons for failure as Cook. 

No mention of the fact that we were a basket case in Cook's years and refer to the last 7/8 years of very successful drafting and trading so let's back JT and Lambie on their record plus our development program has been high class since the same period. Also Casey has developed into a reliable and consistent base for our list I the same period with the likeness in game style etc. the same as for our AFL heroes.

Nothing is a given but most would agree that MJ has shown at times his undoubted class and skill and this is a great base to build a career upon and Avery good reason he was a No15 First Round Draft pick. That he is a boy/ man at our footy Club going through a first year is similar to first year at High School after being the big boy or kahuna at State School. Perhaps Fritta or Tmac could take him on as a sort of a project to work with him from pre season on and fast track his ability and game smarts etc.

Let us remember Juddy smf more recently Bill Laurie and that breakout lamp in the dark sensational 2015 Cattery breakout game from Maxy.

MJ is not near that yet but maybe in the scond half of 2024 he will play that breakout and be on his way then in 2025 he joins JVR in the big time regularly and our forward setup is as Goody JT and well over a quarter of a million Dees fans are salivating about now. It just takes patience and trust plus development and time. 

We gave Sam Weideman 4 years after his 2018 breakout and showed patience but it didn't work but Chin Tmac Sparrow and Laurie are proof that a little time especially for key position forwards is worthwhile and the rewards are definitely there.

T. Hawkins says Hi!

 

[layzie 29,136]

Give the guy another full pre season then we'll re-assess, I'd think he could get a game in 24 if lucky but 25 much more likely at this stage. 

[mo64 5,209]

I think that Jefferson has shown enough to suggest that he has the tools to make it at AFL level. 

For a majority of the year he was playing alongside 2/3 experienced AFL forwards who tend to command the ball. BBB, T Mac and Schache are still on our list next year, and my concern is whether Jefferson's development will be hindered. He needs to be the no.1 or 2 key forward at Casey to build his confidence. 

[rjay 23,946]

3 hours ago, 58er said:

T. Hawkins says Hi!

I think you are reading too much into what I was saying...

For your T.Hawkins we've been bitten by Sammy W...always developing but not to get there.

There are a couple of things that concern me but next year will tell us a bit.

[rjay 23,946]

1 minute ago, mo64 said:

I think that Jefferson has shown enough to suggest that he has the tools to make it at AFL level. 

For a majority of the year he was playing alongside 2/3 experienced AFL forwards who tend to command the ball. BBB, T Mac and Schache are still on our list next year, and my concern is whether Jefferson's development will be hindered. He needs to be the no.1 or 2 key forward at Casey to build his confidence. 

I think this is a good point and this is where my comment of being an introverted type comes in.

He really needs to demand the spot or he won't make it.

He's the new kid the others are on the way out.

[Neil Crompton 4,814]

14 minutes ago, mo64 said:

I think that Jefferson has shown enough to suggest that he has the tools to make it at AFL level. 

For a majority of the year he was playing alongside 2/3 experienced AFL forwards who tend to command the ball. BBB, T Mac and Schache are still on our list next year, and my concern is whether Jefferson's development will be hindered. He needs to be the no.1 or 2 key forward at Casey to build his confidence. 

Didn't he play that role on saturday with Schache, TMac and BBB out? Don't believe that his one possession game would have built much confidence. Hopefully he learns a lot from it, and that this, in part, helps drives his transformation next season. Good luck to him.

[Axis of Bob 10,266]

Underweight key forward who does not have senior level running ability plays every game of the year (the most of any player in the VFL) and struggles in a final where his team is pummeled.

Is that the issue? Am I getting that right?

I think people significantly undervalue the difference between a professional AFL environment and schoolboy football, and the toll that takes on your body over a long season. This is particularly true for a player that was nowhere near senior running ability when he came to the club and the amount of stress that his body will be going through to adapt to the changes in workload. You could see in previous games that he was running on fumes at the end of a long season, as you can for a few other young players.

 

[Jaded No More 58,497]

4 minutes ago, Axis of Bob said:

Underweight key forward who does not have senior level running ability plays every game of the year (the most of any player in the VFL) and struggles in a final where his team is pummeled.

Is that the issue? Am I getting that right?

I think people significantly undervalue the difference between a professional AFL environment and schoolboy football, and the toll that takes on your body over a long season. This is particularly true for a player that was nowhere near senior running ability when he came to the club and the amount of stress that his body will be going through to adapt to the changes in workload. You could see in previous games that he was running on fumes at the end of a long season, as you can for a few other young players.

 

JVR admitted not long ago that while he was playing well at Casey last year, he was nowhere near fit for AFL. He said he was cramping in last quarters and there is just no way he could have run out a game of AFL. And he’s a much bigger body than Jefferson. 

[Deeko2 698]

12 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I feel like I've learnt my lesson from writing off McVee last year after watching some underwhelming performances so fingers cross he has a big summer.

Yes I hope this is the case as well that I have written him off too early as well.  I'm happy to give young forward a lot more time as it takes time learning running patterns, structures and smash into contests whilst still applying defensive pressure.  I can see how some young kids may struggle early with so much to take on.

I'm happy to admit I've been wrong many times about kids and I hope again Jeffo proves me wrong.

McVee is a beauty and good comparison.  I doubt there are many who really believed the impact he'd make so early in his career.

[The heart beats true 16,375]

He was just exhausted at the end of a very long season. 

Five weeks ago when the club signed him until the end of 2026 Tim Lamb said 

“His performances at VFL level have been really exciting and whilst his talent is evident to everyone, his application to his training has also been first class.”

I’d back in our list manager who sees him up close. Our list management is one of the best in the game, and has been for a while.

[Freddy Fuschia 666]

Yeah - he’s had a couple of disappointing games at the end of a long hard year for a young bloke but it’s worth reflecting that there were times last year when Mac Andrew was really struggling for a kick in the Gold Coast Ressies and he was a number 5 pick. The Suns were out of the running for the finals so they gifted him some ALF games late last season. He hasn’t set the world on fire this year but did enough for a rising star nomination.

I’ll be interested to see how Jefferson goes with a full preseason under his belt.

[dazzledavey36 48,953]

2 minutes ago, Freddy Fuschia said:

Yeah - he’s had a couple of disappointing games at the end of a long hard year for a young bloke but it’s worth reflecting that there were times last year when Mac Andrew was really struggling for a kick in the Gold Coast Ressies and he was a number 5 pick. The Suns were out of the running for the finals so they gifted him some ALF games late last season. He hasn’t set the world on fire this year but did enough for a rising star nomination.

I’ll be interested to see how Jefferson goes with a full preseason under his belt.

Mac Andrew was playing senior AFL footy last year mate and had a fairly strong VFL year.

[picket fence 15,345]

4 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Mac Andrew was playing senior AFL footy last year mate and had a fairly strong VFL year.

Bookmark this!.. Matt Jefferson will end up a better player than Mac Andrew but dont expect it too soon!

[Kent 2,602]

Really up to matt

He has to get it together next year and start  pushing for senior selection

[Freddy Fuschia 666]

10 hours ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Mac Andrew was playing senior AFL footy last year mate and had a fairly strong VFL year.

Really?

If had you read my post properly you might have noticed that I wrote that he played senior AFL footy. The Suns of both last year and this year were a different proposition to Melbourne because they were off the pace and could afford to give the kids a game.

His selection was a surprise to many of their fans including a mate of mine who lives on the Coast and disagrees with your statement that he “had a fairly strong VFL year.” In fact, he struggled to get his hands on the footy in many games as I wrote above.

In my view, having a strong year entails being named in the best more than once in about 15 games.

But don’t believe me, the Suns fans on bigfooty  were less than impressed by him for most of the journey. Here’s an example.

[Chelly 745]

2 minutes ago, Freddy Fuschia said:

Really?

If had you read my post properly you might have noticed that I wrote that he played senior AFL footy. The Suns of both last year and this year were a different proposition to Melbourne because they were off the pace and could afford to give the kids a game.

His selection was a surprise to many of their fans including a mate of mine who lives on the Coast and disagrees with your statement that he “had a fairly strong VFL year.” In fact, he struggled to get his hands on the footy in many games as I wrote above.

In my view, having a strong year entails being named in the best more than once in about 15 games.

But don’t believe me, the Suns fans on bigfooty  were less than impressed by him for most of the journey. Here’s an example.

Sounds familiar. 😀

[dazzledavey36 48,953]

1 hour ago, Freddy Fuschia said:

Really?

If had you read my post properly you might have noticed that I wrote that he played senior AFL footy. The Suns of both last year and this year were a different proposition to Melbourne because they were off the pace and could afford to give the kids a game.

His selection was a surprise to many of their fans including a mate of mine who lives on the Coast and disagrees with your statement that he “had a fairly strong VFL year.” In fact, he struggled to get his hands on the footy in many games as I wrote above.

In my view, having a strong year entails being named in the best more than once in about 15 games.

But don’t believe me, the Suns fans on bigfooty  were less than impressed by him for most of the journey. Here’s an example.

Lol taking word of a GC nuffie supporter off bigfooty. It's no different to some of thr comments written here about MJ.

I find your comments strange about him "struggling to get his hands on the footy" last year at VFL level when clearly according  to his VFL stats he had a number of games where he had over 20 plus disposals and mostly averaging mid to high teens. 

He also had a number of games where he took some high number of marks one which included 13 marks against Geelong.

So remind me, which part does it look like he's struggling to get his hands on the footy? 

[dazzledavey36 48,953]

11 hours ago, picket fence said:

Bookmark this!.. Matt Jefferson will end up a better player than Mac Andrew but dont expect it too soon!

I'm reluctant to believe someone that was shouting all year that the Petty forward experiment would be a complete failure and would never work..

[manny100 1,023]

Its a bit rough judging whether a player will male it based on his 1st year at a club.

Everyone develops at different rates.

[Dingo 825]

On 9/4/2023 at 10:47 AM, Axis of Bob said:

Underweight key forward who does not have senior level running ability plays every game of the year (the most of any player in the VFL) and struggles in a final where his team is pummeled.

Is that the issue? Am I getting that right?

I think people significantly undervalue the difference between a professional AFL environment and schoolboy football, and the toll that takes on your body over a long season. This is particularly true for a player that was nowhere near senior running ability when he came to the club and the amount of stress that his body will be going through to adapt to the changes in workload. You could see in previous games that he was running on fumes at the end of a long season, as you can for a few other young players.

 

Thank you .Spot on.Bring on 2024.

[Whispering_Jack 28,015]

On 9/5/2023 at 9:23 PM, dazzledavey36 said:

Lol taking word of a GC nuffie supporter off bigfooty. It's no different to some of thr comments written here about MJ.

I find your comments strange about him "struggling to get his hands on the footy" last year at VFL level when clearly according  to his VFL stats he had a number of games where he had over 20 plus disposals and mostly averaging mid to high teens. 

He also had a number of games where he took some high number of marks one which included 13 marks against Geelong.

So remind me, which part does it look like he's struggling to get his hands on the footy? 

Your defence of Mac Andrew is admirable but you’re sadly missing Freddy’s point which is that like Andrew who was a first round draft pick, Jefferson attracted unfair criticism from the nuff nuffs on social media for his overall performance. Andrew kicked on a bit in his second year eventually getting a rising Star nomination.

Like Andrew, Jefferson was hot and cold in year one but he also had some highlights playing in a team where he competed with other KPFs including TMac, BBB and Schache leaving him with less game time. Yet he did show promise kicking 23 goals (including two bags of four goals) to be second highest Casey goal kicker in his first year. He looked pretty well gassed at the end of the year and had little support as a KPF in the final in a game where the Bulldogs dominated but let’s see how he goes with his first full preseason and some work on weights behind him before canning the kid. 

[Davos 734]

Don't reckon we need to analyse this beyond agreeing he's shown enough to suggest he could be a good player at some point, but doesn't yet have the body to stand up tot he rigours of an AFL season (which everybody knew when we drafted him, so I'm not really sure why it's a point of contention now).

[drysdale demon 4,184]

21 minutes ago, Davos said:

Don't reckon we need to analyse this beyond agreeing he's shown enough to suggest he could be a good player at some point, but doesn't yet have the body to stand up tot he rigours of an AFL season (which everybody knew when we drafted him, so I'm not really sure why it's a point of contention now).

There a quite a few on here who can't help canning the players, must be the ones who played hundreds of AFL games and naturally starred in them.

[dazzledavey36 48,953]

57 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Your defence of Mac Andrew is admirable but you’re sadly missing Freddy’s point which is that like Andrew who was a first round draft pick, Jefferson attracted unfair criticism from the nuff nuffs on social media for his overall performance. Andrew kicked on a bit in his second year eventually getting a rising Star nomination.

Like Andrew, Jefferson was hot and cold in year one but he also had some highlights playing in a team where he competed with other KPFs including TMac, BBB and Schache leaving him with less game time. Yet he did show promise kicking 23 goals (including two bags of four goals) to be second highest Casey goal kicker in his first year. He looked pretty well gassed at the end of the year and had little support as a KPF in the final in a game where the Bulldogs dominated but let’s see how he goes with his first full preseason and some work on weights behind him before canning the kid. 

To be honest Andrew wasn't copping as much criticism in his first year as much as what Jefferson has. Andrew was at least performing well enough at VFL to warrant senior opportunities which he's obviously used as a stepping stone for this year to play good AFL footy. I have provided his VFL stats to prove that.

Anyone that has a 0 stat next to his name on game day will always cop criticism regardless whether it's a first year player or senior veteran. 

I don't see it as people canning Jefferson as you as you say. I just see some are just holding reservations on him purely because some maybe expected more from a first round pick.

I'll admit, he didn't impress me as much the few tines I watched him this year but neither did McVee last year. But no way am I certainly writing him off as it's his first year in the system.

I prefer to use the Judd McVee model of seeing what a full pre season will do for him.

Edited September 7, 2023 by dazzledavey36