Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn, Changkuoth Jiath - 2017 category B rookie

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[satan1]

Ginnivan is sad. He wanted 5 years.

 

[cryptor]

Ginnivan is sad. He wanted 5 years.

And so ends the great mystery of why Ginnivan was looking unhappy during the song on Sunday.

 

[VandoHawk]

Like Day coming back from his ankle injury in 2022, I feel like we haven't seen anywhere near CJ's best.

His trademark runs or agile moments have been absent. He's still gaining confidence in his own body while also learning a new position.

He's been decent playing on the defensive wing but I'm really looking forward to what he can do next year.

 

[Bugs1977]

Firstly congrats on the contract extension

Second I see your Mac Andrew name drop @1.45

 

[HeHateMe]

I know he mentioned a number of times how easy of a decision it was for him to stay but I'm sure he would have had some tempting offers he turn his back on.

He must really love the club!

And we love him back

 

[Bedi]

Love Changkuoth. Integral cog in our future generation of immortals. This year keeps getting better and better.

 

[The Chad and I]

I think CJ could become a good forward for us.
He's a strong mark and has good goal-sense too.

High-half forward/wing.

 

[Flukey!]

11 games this year but never really had a significant impact.

I feel like he is a bit of an enigma - he could be a superstar as he has athletic abilities that few others do.
Yet for injury and interrupted preparation, we never quite get to see it on field.

I think he is an intriguing prospect for next year and is one on our list who could literally be anything.

Which CJ do we get in 2025?

 

[burner1]

11 games this year but never really had a significant impact.

I feel like he is a bit of an enigma - he could be a superstar as he has athletic abilities that few others do.
Yet for injury and interrupted preparation, we never quite get to see it on field.

I think he is an intriguing prospect for next year and is one on our list who could literally be anything.

Which CJ do we get in 2025?

If weddle is moving to wing CJ is going to have his work cut out for a best 22 spot when he’s fit. When he played did a good job of running patterns and disrupting opposition but didn’t get much of ball.

His ability to play back also less valuable now given our stacked backline. Can he provide a forward marking option?

The pressure for spots puts pressure on guys like CJ to keep evolving their game.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

11 games this year but never really had a significant impact.

I feel like he is a bit of an enigma - he could be a superstar as he has athletic abilities that few others do.
Yet for injury and interrupted preparation, we never quite get to see it on field.

I think he is an intriguing prospect for next year and is one on our list who could literally be anything.

Which CJ do we get in 2025?

If he gets a genuine pre-season I think we see him back to his best. I would like to see him move back to the half back line also - move Weddle up the ground and allow Amon or Morrison to play the other wing. CJ's best work was when he was intercepting/rebounding and using his pace to turn defence into attack. I think he is not quite as adept on the wing.

 

[OnTheRocks]

CJ's best work was when he was intercepting/rebounding and using his pace to turn defence into attack. I think he is not quite as adept on the wing.

This is it for me too. While his kicking can improve, his execution isn't quite good enough for a wing position. I'm ok with him kicking kaos balls into the forward line after he's come bounding out of the backline.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

Could see Weddle forward and Jiath staying on the wing? Atleast until Lewis is fit.

 

[HedgeFund]

This is it for me too. While his kicking can improve, his execution isn't quite good enough for a wing position. I'm ok with him kicking kaos balls into the forward line after he's come bounding out of the backline.

If he is to play as a half back, then he better hope we have other players injured, or Hardwick playing forward, so he gets a regular gig.

As he has struggled with his body, many others on the list have improved significantly.

6 seasons of AFL for only 56 games.

The fact he has a deal until 2027 on the back of 3 months of playing injury free is great for his financial security.

However, those around him are clearly more physically resilient, and he needs to get/stay fit. Otherwise he may well stagnate / regress as the team improves.

 

[OnTheRocks]

If he is to play as a half back, then he better hope we have other players injured, or Hardwick playing forward, so he gets a regular gig.

I doubt he would want this.
Fingers crossed that his body holds up & he can truly reach his full potential, his best is in our best 22.
But yeah he really needs to get in amongst it next year

 

[Simon Crawshay]

With regards to CJ staying fit this is totally unscientific but just from my visual observations he looks like he needs to really develop his core / upper legs.

It’s the same when Mitch Lewis returned, he looked like a baby giraffe his legs were so skinny I was almost waiting for the moment his knee was going to give way.

Compare both CJ and Lewis’s builds with those of Newk and to lesser extent Worps who are just bulls and Newks quads are a thing of legend. And these bulls play week after week without missing a beat (Newk hasn’t missed a game in three and a half years straight).

I know comparing CJ to Newk is comparing apples with oranges and they are totally different body types but I feel to make it in the AFL you need to have an AFL body and a certain amount of muscle/bulk to absorb the impacts / build resilience.

 

[SSSSSS]

11 games this year but never really had a significant impact.

I feel like he is a bit of an enigma - he could be a superstar as he has athletic abilities that few others do.
Yet for injury and interrupted preparation, we never quite get to see it on field.

I think he is an intriguing prospect for next year and is one on our list who could literally be anything.

Which CJ do we get in 2025?

It's a pretty interesting selection dilemma for next year.

Does Sam prefer to play a Morrison who is a 6-7/10 every game, week in week out.

Or Does Sam prefer to play a CJ who is anywhere from a 4/10 to 9/10.

 

[TheFourPillars]

It's a pretty interesting selection dilemma for next year.

Does Sam prefer to play a Morrison who is a 6-7/10 every game, week in week out.

Or Does Sam prefer to play a CJ who is anywhere from a 4/10 to 9/10.

I'm not sure Sam is playing CJ if he is inconsistent

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

I'm not sure Sam is playing CJ if he is inconsistent

as it should be. He needs to produce consistently to earn his position like everyone else.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

I'm not sure Sam is playing CJ if he is inconsistent

Especially considering Sam played maybe 5 bad games in his entire 329 game career! He was probably the most consistent player I've ever seen.

CJ needs a massive pre season and it's vital he keeps healthy. If he cops another soft tissue injury he's going to fall even further behind and as we saw with DGB this year if you are not improving other players will zoom past you to take your spot before you can blink.

I think after his final series that wing spot is Harry's to keep in 2025, CJ will need to do the hard yards in the VFL to make a challenge.

 

[Randy Campbell]

CJson.
No one better sweep his leg.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

CJ had a great return tonight and it was his best game in years for mine. Last year he looked a bit fumbly and indecisive I felt - but tonight he was back to his very best. Hard running, both ways, putting his body on the line, spoiling and he went at 90% DE as well. So good to have him back to his old form - hoping it continues.

 

[TheFourPillars]

I have already mentioned this to some of the hawthorn supporters i know. I will say it again. There are two players that i see that could take us all the way. CJ is a difference maker. If he stays fit and plays to his best we're going to go close this year. He fits our game style as well as anyone else in the team. The other player is Lewis. Fingers crossed what a great game by CJ. He is only going to get better

 

[cryptor]

The game tonight wasn’t played in a way that really gave CJ space to show off his run and carry, but watching at the ground I thought he used his run really well defensively to cover the ground laterally to prevent Carlton from being able to exit their D50 with a long kick.

He really paired well with Barrass in that it allowed TB to just sit back as the spare and make sure our defensive zone was holding shape and not have to do too much running himself.

 

[peetoo]

I was a little hesitant but he was a great opposition play disruptor tonight and not just in defence

 

[MasterSamurai]

Loved his game. Way better than I expected.