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2023 Player Reviews: #21 Matt Jefferson

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Date of Birth: 8 March 2004

Height: 195cm

Weight: 86kg

Games CDFC 2023: 20
Goals CDFC 2023: 24

Melbourne’s first pick at #15 in the 2022 AFL National Draft, Jefferson showed some early promise with the Casey Demons as a goal kicking key forward but his form tapered off late in the season. Will benefit from a full period season that should see him add weight and strength to his body.

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    Matt Jefferson will be 20 at the start of the ‘24 season and as pointed out by DLand he needs additional kg’s of muscle like JVR and as WCW pointed out if they can straighten out his posture he might be 198cm. Good mark and accurate kick, would be a welcome addition to our forward line when he starts to hit his straps. Harrison Petty, Jacob van Rooyen, Matty Jefferson, Bailey Fritsch and Tom Fullarton and maybe a fit BBB. Would make us a very dangerous side indeed. Let’s see what you have got Matty.

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    Looks a long way from senior selection, which is fine as a long term key position prospect, but there are some serious Weideman vibes about Jefferson. Let's hope he develops the intensity and competitiveness that Weideman was never able to show, because otherwise he will struggle to deliver upon his potential.

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    5 hours ago, poita said:

    Looks a long way from senior selection, which is fine as a long term key position prospect, but there are some serious Weideman vibes about Jefferson. Let's hope he develops the intensity and competitiveness that Weideman was never able to show, because otherwise he will struggle to deliver upon his potential.

    I haven't seen Jefferson play in person - what is the Weed analogy based upon, others than being tall and skinny?  (and I do understand that very few young talls show the intensity of JVR) 

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    I have a lot of fingers and toes crossed that MJ works out for us.

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    49 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

    I have a lot of fingers and toes crossed that MJ works out for us.

    I AM VERY CONFIDENT HE WILL!

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    10 hours ago, poita said:

    Looks a long way from senior selection

    Not sure I agree completely.

    I'm expecting him to be in the mix post bye 2024

    His 2023 season showed real glimpses. Far more than I can recall from Weid at a similar time of his development.

    With TMac down back and Brown as the main decoy forward he should get a good try out at Casey

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    Watched him several times & didn't see much to enthuse about.

    Seemed to cruise around, lacked aggression & not much 2nd or 3rd efforts. Ineffective when the ball hits the ground.

    Needs to lead much more not just once & then jog back.

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    I can't say I've watched lots of game minutes, but from what I've seen, the following has stood out:

    He marks the ball at a high point in his leap (a bit like Weid, so probably the source of comparisons) and looks like with a bit more size/strength he'll be a great mark.

    He has a knack for finding goals. Some are out the back. Some are from loose positions away from his man. But I actually think it's really important that he knows how to create that space and positioning, that he knows how to be a threat through uncontested work. Because when you add the size and strength and contested work to that, he'll do both. A bit like Tom Lynch does.

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    a tall forward who marks the ball at the highest point of his leap and averages more than a goal a game in his first season in a side that perennially makes finals?

    what's not to like?!??

    from what i saw he needs to add bulk to his body and repeat efforts to his football

    lots to like

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    Seems to have weid covered for marking which means he can get to the ball

    Eg. Contest. Looks to be a reliable kick also

    Needs more time

     

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    On 19/12/2023 at 10:35, DeeZone said:

    Matt Jefferson will be 20 at the start of the ‘24 season and as pointed out by DLand he needs additional kg’s of muscle like JVR and as WCW pointed out if they can straighten out his posture he might be 198cm. Good mark and accurate kick, would be a welcome addition to our forward line when he starts to hit his straps. Harrison Petty, Jacob van Rooyen, Matty Jefferson, Bailey Fritsch and Tom Fullarton and maybe a fit BBB. Would make us a very dangerous side indeed. Let’s see what you have got Matty.

    Two different type of players Jefferson and Roo. I still think Jefferson will play a similar game to Fritch rather than a tall bash and crash forward.

    Edited by Ugottobekidding
    Grammar police trigger

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    Cannot help but think that our September forward line will be very different to what we start with. And wouldn't be at all surprised to see Jefferson nail a regular spot. Add McAdam, Kossie, Fritta, an improving JVR, Trac resting (even a great ball user in Seston) and we have a less one-dimensional forward line.

    Each to their own but I'd rather Petty down back.

     

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    In the 2 finals Casey played in 2023, winning the first by 100 odd points, Jefferson averaged 3 disposals, no goals and 0.5 tackles. One disposal of 3 metres his only stat in second final.

    Will probably need to add to that to warrant promotion.

     

     

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    He is a lanky kid who needs 23/24 and 24/25 preseasons to build size and endurance before he can be assessed. So far though he has shown signs of taking one grab marks at the highest point and making the most of opportunities. Not easy to kick bags in a 2023 VFL forward line which  had him at different times competing with Brown, Schache, TMac, Grundy. A 2024 at Casey as more of a focal point where he kicks some bags but is inconsistent in output and likely tapers as the season finishes is what I would expect. 

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    3 hours ago, Bystander said:

    In the 2 finals Casey played in 2023, winning the first by 100 odd points, Jefferson averaged 3 disposals, no goals and 0.5 tackles. One disposal of 3 metres his only stat in second final.

    Will probably need to add to that to warrant promotion.

     

     

    I don’t think many first year players are flying at the end of their first season. 
     

    Let’s hope he has a huge pre season and sees the year out better in 24. You’d hope he’d be in selection talks by 2nd half of season. 

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    25 minutes ago, Pipefitter said:

    I don’t think many first year players are flying at the end of their first season. 
     

    Let’s hope he has a huge pre season and sees the year out better in 24. You’d hope he’d be in selection talks by 2nd half of season. 

    Think he will be ok and as Lil Red FE said he probably needs this pre season and another to show his best.

    With BBB apparently fit and JVR, Fritta, FullRton, Petty coming back and Mc Adam it will be pretty crowded, not forgetting the forgotten Scache.

    We will know if he can make it, probably during the 25 season. I am confident he can. He has nice hands and a lovely kick for goal.

    Development, experience at Casey and some confidence will give him his chance.

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    9 hours ago, Bystander said:

    In the 2 finals Casey played in 2023, winning the first by 100 odd points, Jefferson averaged 3 disposals, no goals and 0.5 tackles. One disposal of 3 metres his only stat in second final.

    Will probably need to add to that to warrant promotion.

     

     

    Can't sugar-coated that. Pretty dismal efforts for a high pick after a full season in the VFL.

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    51 minutes ago, Cranky Franky said:

    Can't sugar-coated that. Pretty dismal efforts for a high pick after a full season in the VFL.

    Long season for a young player. Didn't think Casey did a very good job on development of players. Brown, McDonald and Schace down in the twos, did Jefferson get a full benefit of a season at Casey 

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    2 hours ago, Cranky Franky said:

    Can't sugar-coated that. Pretty dismal efforts for a high pick after a full season in the VFL.

    Not true Cranky. I crapped on about Lucas Cook needing just a little more time from start to finish. It's all in the wording. Even now, not completely ready to let go.

    Edited by Return to Glory

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    1 hour ago, Return to Glory said:

    Not true Cranky. I crapped on about Lucas Cook needing just a little more time from start to finish. It's all in the wording. Even now, not completely ready to let go.

    Lucas Cook was a different kettle of fish.

    My son watched his first training run with us and told me that Cook would never play a game with us, or in the AFL with anyone else.

    I laughed at the comment, as he was a high pick and it wasn’t possible we could get it so wrong.

    My son got it absolutely correct.

    Matt Jefferson is no Lucas Cook.

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    On 21/12/2023 at 12:18, whatwhat say what said:

    a tall forward who marks the ball at the highest point of his leap and averages more than a goal a game in his first season in a side that perennially makes finals?

    what's not to like?!??

    from what i saw he needs to add bulk to his body and repeat efforts to his football

    lots to like

    I have seen him play a couple of times and l agree

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    On 22/12/2023 at 18:05, Redleg said:

    Lucas Cook was a different kettle of fish.

    My son watched his first training run with us and told me that Cook would never play a game with us, or in the AFL with anyone else.

    I laughed at the comment, as he was a high pick and it wasn’t possible we could get it so wrong.

    My son got it absolutely correct.

    Matt Jefferson is no Lucas Cook.

    I certainly hope he's not another Cook but I was pretty underwhelmed by his first year.

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    2 hours ago, Cranky Franky said:

    I certainly hope he's not another Cook but I was pretty underwhelmed by his first year.

    You shouldn't be.

    He was a young kid playing his first year of senior footy, in a crowded key forward line, where he was often played up the ground, out of position.

    He took some beautiful contested marks against senior players and is a lovely kick for goal, which will be an asset in our inaccurate forward line.

    Give him another year of senior footy and another pre season and with BBB, Tom Mac and probably Schache gone he will get his chance.

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