11 hours ago, dl4e said:

I think he theory with Jefferson is he will learn the game better from the back half.

Yep, learn the fwd craft by playing down back; see where the fwds run and how to position themselves

23 minutes ago, Jontee said:

Yep and it was recognised as a mistake

I remember at the time, thinking, why are they crucifying Fritsch of half back!?

I get the feeling that playing 5 talls in the forward line won’t help anybody develop. JVR needs somebody in the forward line with him that knows what they’re doing. Someone to run patterns with, block for him and be a threat of their own. Schache was none of this and offered little in the ruck from what I saw too. Maximum opportunity to the immediate solutions (brown, fullarton) is fine by me. I expect petty to be given clean space to operate on his return too. Jefferson will be 20 this year. If he’s not pressing a good case mid year I’ll join a chorus saying it’s a failed pick. But in a preseason match where we have afl issues to solve, I’d happily have him be ruled out of contention for now. 

Wow, so much handwringing with Jefferson in a back pocket for a practise match in the VFL!  It's common for forwards to play some time as backs to see leading patterns etc. 

Also consider:

BBB and Fullerton are more likely to get a senior call up before Jefferson, possibly even this week against the dogs, they probably got priority as forwards for this match so we can see them as an option for round 1.

Verral and KFW had the ruck duties, and TMac is playing as a back this year, that is where he trained all year, why would that be a surprise.  

Breathe people, you're gonna pop a blood vessel before round 4!!! 

I felt sorry for Jefferson at numerous points last year because that forward line he was trying to get a kick in was land of the giants and even with injuries this year, it’s still massive. 
 

He battled along side Tmac, BB, Joel Smith, Schache at numerous points last year and still kicked 20 odd goals. 
 

This year he’s still battling BB, Schache will be back there, Fullarton potentially + Verrall and Kyah Farris-White. Unfortunately I think this year will be another of development for Jeffo but the fact Melbourne extended his contract very quickly to the end of 26’ shows what the club know they have in my opinion. Next year, a lot of those older fringe talls will be gone, and Jeffo will be able to have some space to get to work. 
 

Big forwards take time. JVR was the anomaly of that in his second season last year, not normality. 

I don’t mind playing developing forwards in defensive roles for a while.

It can help in a bunch of ways - freshen them up a bit, learn what makes life hard for a defender and it can also help a bit with intensity and physicality (which Jefferson lacks).

No room to hide in the backline - you can’t drop a mark or miss a contest/tackle and you can’t waste a kick.

High goal accuracy level by Casey.

If there is anything in the May niggle TMac may get an AFL game sooner than we think

I love reading that we're giving Jeffo a go down back. He's a mile off AFL footy as a key forward. Years away. But he has great skills and will find more of the ball down back. And with May and Tomlinson in the best 22 (contrasted with Petty/JVR as the forwards) we need to bring young tall defenders through. Disco's out for a long time. So let's have a good look at Jeffo as well as Adams and see if one of them can work towards a debut sooner than later.

I can definitely see the Mitch McGovern/Harry Himmelberg comparisons.

Otherwise without stats and a proper report it's hard to know how the boys are going but Sestan seems to be hitting the score board consistently in practice games which is nice to see.

 

58 minutes ago, Demon 16 said:

I don’t mind playing developing forwards in defensive roles for a while.

It can help in a bunch of ways - freshen them up a bit, learn what makes life hard for a defender and it can also help a bit with intensity and physicality (which Jefferson lacks).

No room to hide in the backline - you can’t drop a mark or miss a contest/tackle and you can’t waste a kick.

One of the best CHB we ever had became a great forward.Go Neita

all this handwringing about jefferson is absurd

23 goals in his first vfl season is not bad

give the kid a chance to develop

1 minute ago, whatwhat say what said:

all this handwringing about jefferson is absurd

23 goals in his first vfl season is not bad

give the kid a chance to develop

23 goals really is pretty average. its not amazing.

he needs to bulk up considerably 

7 minutes ago, Tracca said:

23 goals really is pretty average. its not amazing.

he needs to bulk up considerably 

Average? Are you joking? Look at the forward line he was trying to get a kick in at Casey? Smith, BB, Tmac, Schache. 
 

the kid barely had a chance. If you think delivery into the forward line is bad in the senior side, try watching Casey. 

Of course he needs to bulk up, he’s a kid. Not everyone is like Roo. 

1 minute ago, 12345_54321 said:

Average? Are you joking? Look at the forward line he was trying to get a kick in at Casey? Smith, BB, Tmac, Schache. 
 

the kid barely had a chance. If you think delivery into the forward line is bad in the senior side, try watching Casey. 

Of course he needs to bulk up, he’s a kid. Not everyone is like Roo. 

Roo was skinny when he got here too.

 

BB and tmac were injured last year and smith was in our seniors at times.

and yp i think 23 goals is average for a season that we made finals too

3 minutes ago, 12345_54321 said:

Average? Are you joking? Look at the forward line he was trying to get a kick in at Casey? Smith, BB, Tmac, Schache. 
 

the kid barely had a chance. If you think delivery into the forward line is bad in the senior side, try watching Casey. 

Of course he needs to bulk up, he’s a kid. Not everyone is like Roo. 

i watched most games at casey when at home, and imo i dont think jeffo has it. hes quite lazy at 2nd efforts. this could come with maturity, but this is a make or break year for me. if he cant get in front of josh schache, then you have serious issues.

1 minute ago, Tracca said:

Roo was skinny when he got here too.

 

BB and tmac were injured last year and smith was in our seniors at times.

and yp i think 23 goals is average for a season that we made finals too

Roo came into the club at 88 kgs. He’s now about 96-97.

 

Jefferson came into Melbourne at 76kgs and now sits at 86-87.

 

evidently you don’t watch Casey, so making comments on what’s good and or average seems irrelevant in your argument. 
 

go back and watch Casey last season and you see how that ball is delivered and the players around Jefferson consistently taking up space. 

2 minutes ago, Tracca said:

i watched most games at casey when at home, and imo i dont think jeffo has it. hes quite lazy at 2nd efforts. this could come with maturity, but this is a make or break year for me. if he cant get in front of josh schache, then you have serious issues.

A second year 19 year old key forwards make or break year is their second season in the AFL? What a load of rubbish😂

 

says all you need to know. 

1 minute ago, 12345_54321 said:

Roo came into the club at 88 kgs. He’s now about 96-97.

 

Jefferson came into Melbourne at 76kgs and now sits at 86-87.

 

evidently you don’t watch Casey, so making comments on what’s good and or average seems irrelevant in your argument. 
 

go back and watch Casey last season and you see how that ball is delivered and the players around Jefferson consistently taking up space. 

I said I do watch casey. I go every home game, I live opposite the ground. its still a wait and see for me, at the moment I dont think hes going to make it but hey Id be happy if i was wrong

23 minutes ago, Tracca said:

i watched most games at casey when at home, and imo i dont think jeffo has it. hes quite lazy at 2nd efforts. this could come with maturity, but this is a make or break year for me. if he cant get in front of josh schache, then you have serious issues.

Edited March 9, 20241 yr by DeeZone
Incorrect info.

4 minutes ago, DeeZone said:

For comparison sake Tracca JVR kicked 28 goals in his first season at Casey and was quite a bit more developed that Jefferson, Jeffo kicked 23 goals, that’s pretty similar. I wouldn’t write him off to quickly all talls develop differently, this year he needs to build body mass and muscle, he is a good mark and kick already. Hopefully he kicks 30-40 goals at Casey and puts his hand up for selection later in the year.

hey mate thats incorrect JVR kicked 42 goals 

1 minute ago, Tracca said:

hey mate thats incorrect JVR kicked 42 goals 

again totally hope im wrong, i just cant see it, I see Michael Newton vibes

17 hours ago, Redleg said:

Jefferson in the back pocket, seriously?

Must be trying to teach him something.

Sometime-backup for May?

4 minutes ago, Tracca said:

hey mate thats incorrect JVR kicked 42 goals 

Ha ha he actually kicked 28 on debut, heat must be getting to me. Lol.!!

1 minute ago, DeeZone said:

Ha ha he actually kicked 28 on debut, heat must be getting to me. Lol.!!

lol

 

it is hot!

3 hours ago, Jontee said:

Yep, learn the fwd craft by playing down back; see where the fwds run and how to position themselves

At this stage of his career, yep, the perfect conditioning for forward nouse (and how it might be beaten).

22 minutes ago, Tracca said:

lol

 

it is hot!

Check the humidity it seems that is cryptonite for some living in the southern state that claims to be “different”