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Embrace the pressure | van Rooyen’s fresh mindset

Jacob van Rooyen is heading into 2026 with a fresh mindset, ready to embrace the pressure as a key forward

Great article. According to the training reports he's really attacking the ball this year. I think a new faster game style will be awesome for him. More space and more freedom. If Checkers is in then hopefully Roo won't have the big gun defender on him all the time as well.

Go well big fella.

What a great attitude he exudes in this article. Proof will be in the pudding if it translates into performance, but from all reports, the right signs are there on the training track at least.

Hope he has a cracking season, gets back to his best and finds another level as he starts to mature as a key forward. Really love to here the faithful yell out "ROOOOOOOOO" around the MCG.

From the training reports it appears Roo is pushing fwd to the ball carrier much more rather than wrestling with the backmen

IF so this is a big step for the lad.

High hopes he will take the game on more this year

Don't have too good a year son, because we know what that means

19 minutes ago, ijustwannaseeaflag said:

Don't have too good a year son, because we know what that means

We will get to death ride Fremantle again in 2027?

Always a silver lining, but really I think by the end of the year Van Rooyen will understand he can be a valued part of our 2028 premiership team.

39 minutes ago, ijustwannaseeaflag said:

Don't have too good a year son, because we know what that means

Dockers are brilliantly set up forward with the show pony, Josh Treacy and Amiss. Imagine if we had that forward line.

The mob down the road might be in a better position to have a crack at JVR.

Last year JVR looked imposing up forward in the practice match v North with 4 snags. Then he got injured in the first minute of the Freo practice match which may have stifled his confidence as he was Casey by round 6. He ended up kicking 1 goal a game which was a worse rate than everyone's whipping boy Petty when he was played as a permanent forward from round 6.

Hoping for a much improved year from JVR.

He'll only ever be an average forward

31 minutes ago, lorn said:

He'll only ever be an average forward

Phew - that's a relief we don't need to worry about Flogmantle constantly knocking on his door

Imagine going to West Coast and being a blonde tall forward and the only person on the list with big shoes to fill? Although, to be fair, if he can keep himself injured for a few season he will fill the emotional need that Allen provided, 'We just need a few injured stars back in crucial positions and things will turn'.

Also, if Van Rooyen is only ever an average forward, cheers to that. We won a premiership with a decidedly average tall forward set and let's face the star key forwards consume vast amounts of salary cap space anyway.

I've decided this is my 'toxic positivity' thread.

On 30/01/2026 at 12:06, lorn said:

He'll only ever be an average forward

Not a nice comment - especially coming from you who concerns themself with correct spelling of names of players.

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by GawnOfTheDead

He looked very fit and determined when I went to training last week. Trained through an ankle roll which is ‘resilience’ and all that.

They have a mini drill that demands a hard lead on a 45 degree angle or if the two defenders are cheating, a lead behind. I don’t mind it but his issue is leading patterns and instincts in a game setting. I hope Mihocek is fit for him to learn off, for JVR to take the second defender, and crucially, to manipulate the defenders and the spaces to allow JVR to more easily find his spots to lead into and out of.

He has been worked out so he needs to develop a more dynamic movement based game to get the pill. He is worth the effort right now with only Kentfield as a viable alternative at this point.

3 hours ago, rpfc said:

He looked very fit and determined when I went to training last week. Trained through an ankle roll which is ‘resilience’ and all that.

They have a mini drill that demands a hard lead on a 45 degree angle or if the two defenders are cheating, a lead behind. I don’t mind it but his issue is leading patterns and instincts in a game setting. I hope Mihocek is fit for him to learn off, for JVR to take the second defender, and crucially, to manipulate the defenders and the spaces to allow JVR to more easily find his spots to lead into and out of.

He has been worked out so he needs to develop a more dynamic movement based game to get the pill. He is worth the effort right now with only Kentfield as a viable alternative at this point.

Based off photos and videos, the lads are looking the fittest they have been in quite a while.

I know Kingy will be smashing them, and that’s probably a lot to do with it, as well as they probably have upped their games after a few shocking years..

Has there been a strength and conditioning coach change that you’re aware of that could also display the change?