Alwyn needs to be dropped. Just not hunting the contest enough for me. He seems to always be sitting off on the chance the ball spills out for a uncontested opportunity.
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Jayden is playing much better than Alwyn ever has at VFL level. He is getting more possessions, has more tackles, kicks more goals and seems faster. It’s just a matter of time before he replaces Alwyn in the AFL level.
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That’s just not true, though. Jayden kicks more goals, but he averages 8.6 disposals (last week’s 15 was his first double digit possession game) and 1.5 tackles (high of 4) in the VFL. Alwyn averages 13.1 disposals (high of 22) and 4.7 tackles (high of 9).
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Last week was the outlier, needs to do that a few more times.
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I reckon for him, the coaches would be looking first at his pressure acts, tackles, ability to cover ground and to make multiple efforts without needing to stop to a walk for a breather.
Getting on the end of a few goals is great and should be good for his confidence but when it comes to AFL selection and fitting into a system it’d more about the other stuff first.
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I might be wrong, but I reckon Jayden may be quite a long way off the selection frame. Given the physical demands and defensive pressure required at AFL level and how slowly they have reintegrated him to even VFL football - I think he is a slow burn and will be given the year in the VFL to battle-harden and build his tank for those repeat efforts.
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Realistically the aim was always for him to maybe debut late in the year at best, we just got excited because he kicked 3.
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Careful, he may back it up with another 3 this week and knock on the door for Dreamtime.
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Great update. Thanks.
I agree, but I still think he is showing a lot more than Alwyn, but he does need more VFL time to prepare him for a shot at AFL. Afterall he is returning from 2 ACLs and that’s not easy, but he has the tools and I hope they don’t bring him into the AFL until he’s really ready. Give another 2-3 years and they could become a dynamic duo.
I havent caught much VFL. Hows he going? Is this year basically a rehab year only?
Or should coaches telling him “start kicking 2 or 3 and you’ll get an AFL game” ?
He does the odd really classy thing but doesn’t get it enough. He probably needs to double his possession count to warrant senior selection.
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or triple his tackle count and defensive chasing without the ball.
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Caddy wasn’t getting a lot of it at vfl level. Jaydens skills are such he might be one that does better at the next level with space and better delivery.
He’s definitely not a pressure forward at present, but he could finish off better than his brother.
He isn’t as quick as alwyn, he is soft like him but i don’t think as soft, he is better around goals than alwyn. That’s how I’d describe him at the moment.
Given his injury history, this year is fine to just be about playing footy again.
But equally, next year, he does need to be stringing together some top notch VFL performances where he looks like a constant threat both offensively and defensively for close to 4 quarters. Do this and it will obviously lead to getting a chance to show his wares on the big stage.
I hope he’s motivated to put in a massive off season/pre-season to allow him to set himself up to succeed.
You have to be in a rush to make the grade and in year 3 on a list as a non key position player, notwithstanding an injury hit year 1, you want to start making some significant strides in your game and turning things up a notch.
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So reading between the lines you’re definitely saying he’s the Zach Merrett of the two and will completely outshine his brother and is a future captain. Not a question btw.
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Unless he shows something before the end of this year, he’ll get the chop I reckon. He doesn’t provide much pressure without the ball, doesn’t get the ball much or hit the scoreboard. From his 13 games he’s averaging 8 possessions, 1.0 goal and 1.1 goals.
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his first four or 5 goals were all highlight reel stuff. Imagine he gets at least another year.
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