2024 Player Reviews: #14 Jack Billings

[Demonland 73,140]

The former number 3 draft pick for St Kilda had a hot and cold season at the club this year, mainly as a half forward. Needs more depth and penetration in his kicking.

Date of Birth: 18 August 1995
Height: 185cm

Games MFC 2024: 16
Career Total: 171

Goals MFC 2024: 4
Career Total: 12

Games CDFC 2024: 6
Goals CDFC 2024: 4

[Supreme_Demon 3,899]

I understand Jack Billings' manager pumped up his tyres when we traded for him last year.

Personally, I found his first season at the Demons quite underwhelming.

Hope he gets fitter and stronger during the Pre-Season.

Jack Billings also needs to toughen up after a number of soft efforts I recall seeing.

He definitely needs to use his strengths (elite kicking) to his advantage.

Season 2025 will be extremely important for his career. Otherwise, he will be facing the chopping block!

Edited October 23 by Supreme_Demon

[biggestred 5,138]

he will be lucky to be in the 23. 

we will be unlucky if he is in the 23.

[Young Blood 2,634]

Thought he was perfectly fine as a depth player and only cost a future third round pick

[Wrecker46 3,016]

19 minutes ago, Supreme_Demon said:

 

Jack Billings also needs to toughen up after a number of soft efforts I recall seeing.

He definitely needs to use his strengths (elite kicking) to his advantage.

Season 2025 will be extremely important for his career. Otherwise, he will be facing the chopping block!

Funny i thought the exact opposite he was harder at it than i expected but a much worse kick

[Robbie87 152]

For all the talk of being an elite kick, his ability to regularly turn something into nothing (especially with any heat on, perceived or otherwise) was very evident. A depth player at best - would rather have seen a younger project player in that spot. Not a contest player and as an outside runner, not enough speed. Been largely disappointing and probably would have had a lot less games if Hunter or even Spargo were available. Admittedly he was a bit better in the last few games but agree with Biggestred on his likely status in 2025.

Edited October 23 by Robbie87

[mo64 5,881]

I'd rather have that 3rd round pick this year than Billings. I don't see him as depth, as I imagine our 1st round picks will be getting a game ahead of him.

Hopefully he was only given a 2 year deal.

Edited October 23 by mo64

[DeeZone 10,100]

I have to agree that Jack was a bit underwhelming, I was expecting a lot more from his kicking as he was touted as elite. Realistically if we hadn’t had so many injuries Jack would have only played a handful of games.

Still it’s good for the youngsters to have a few older heads around the place as we are well and truly amassing a force of under 25’s on our list and if Jack can pass on some of his experience and knowledge it may prove beneficial in the long run.

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,939]

Who's idea was it to make a recruit who was bereft of confidence (in his finals Saints days) the starting sub in the first game?

Aside from that, he played a couple of ripper games against the Dogs and Hawthorn, could've had a 3.0 haul at Gather Round instead of 0.3, and then fell off the pace after that.

Actually played some good footy in replacement of Windsor in the closing games against Port and GC. 

I think his best position is the wing rather than half forward as he's a terrible converter on goal. However, Windsor and Langdon will probably make Billings redundant next year.

[bluey 1,117]

Jacko was over thinking the game plan instead of just cracking in, appeared a little lost and apprehensive, maybe. trying too hard and not having any cobbers. 

[Little Richard 6,265]

Bit of an inconsistent year and looks to be a confidence player. I thought he played a few good games though and can find the ball. Decent depth player at least, but maybe it will click for him in 2025.

[BDA 22,875]

Was excellent first up against the doggies. Really got my hopes up. He disappointed thereafter. Kicking for goal in particular was not up to afl standard.

[Demon_JB 1,385]

Jack Billings is an elite kick. Like many players. But not elite under pressure. That's the main difference. 

[Deeko2 844]

2 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

Who's idea was it to make a recruit who was bereft of confidence (in his finals Saints days) the starting sub in the first game?

Aside from that, he played a couple of ripper games against the Dogs and Hawthorn, could've had a 3.0 haul at Gather Round instead of 0.3, and then fell off the pace after that.

Actually played some good footy in replacement of Windsor in the closing games against Port and GC. 

I think his best position is the wing rather than half forward as he's a terrible converter on goal. However, Windsor and Langdon will probably make Billings redundant next year.

I've got a soft spot for the saints with my old man and brother following them and have seen a lot of there games over the years.

The above bolded section is a fair summary of his career.  Has had so many chances to really make a large impact on a game and very very rarely does.  

His kicking skills is a myth in my opinion with the majority of these possessions being well on the outside where AFL standard players should not be shanking/turning it over.  I have nothing against outside players (we need more really) but continually disappointed with his turnovers and missed scoring opportunities.

I can't seem ever changing either as you're not going to overnight improve your kicking (especially goal kicking) and believe if he is in the team, our depth is being considerably tested.

 

[whatwhat say what 22,933]

i thought he effectively replaced harmes in terms of his 'spot' on the list; we were trying to transition into a ball movement side, and he was in that group of players 23-28 or so that are 'next roleplayer up'

harmes unfortunately had a rotten run with his body in his first season for footscray, while billings at least didn't have any injury concerns that i can recall

his first game against them - without harmes, who missed thru suspension - was arguably his best game all year

i thought he was serviceable in the last few games of the year, but i hope he's not in our side as i think it means we're covering for injury again

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,510]

Judged way too harshly on here, especially for a third round pick.  

It’d be a huge change going from the Saints into this Demons lineup and I’ll make a judgement on him at the end of ‘25.  The bulk of our team has been playing together and under Goodwin for years; a massive change from where Billings has come from.

Seen enough this year to think he could still be a quality contributor.  He’ll need to increase his fitness and intensity to hold his spot in ‘25.

(And, in all fairness to Jack, he’s scored 112 goals, not 12)

[dazzledavey36 55,318]

13 hours ago, whatwhat say what said:

i thought he effectively replaced harmes in terms of his 'spot' on the list; we were trying to transition into a ball movement side, and he was in that group of players 23-28 or so that are 'next roleplayer up'

harmes unfortunately had a rotten run with his body in his first season for footscray, while billings at least didn't have any injury concerns that i can recall

his first game against them - without harmes, who missed thru suspension - was arguably his best game all year

i thought he was serviceable in the last few games of the year, but i hope he's not in our side as i think it means we're covering for injury again

Harmes played that game.

[Young Angus 802]

I am always hoping to see Billings do well, lots of promise and seemingly potential but seems to be his own worst enemy. Would have loved to see him score some of those goals that we all thought he would, but ended up being crappy misses. 
 

hopefully a big preseason and comes back and surprises us all wouldn’t that be something.