Past #5: Ben Jacobs - delisted after 64 NM games/10 NM goals - thanks Benny

[Devington]

Solid game while not tagging. Last night seemed to be a lot more about structures than individual match ups anyway.

Still seems to be a bit of a confidence player, and is still prone to brain fades, but is a decent enough bloke to have going through the middle and pushing back. Is an added asset playing that role when you consider that if anyone begins to really burn us then we can get him to clamp down. As inflated as some stats were for a few doggies players last night, I didn't feel worried about any individual one of them during the game.

Certainly wouldn't be devastated to seem him dropped for Dumont because I think we really need to see what he can bring at this level ASAP, but at the same time won't bat an eyelid if we keep him in the team.

Dumont, Garner, Jed and Wood are the 4 of the 'young' players I want to see us getting a good number of games into. They're the future in a couple of years.

 

[tazaa]

He stands up in finals. Id rather him in the team than not tbqh

 

[the big lebowski]

I'm not a huge fan of him playing if he's not doing a hard tag but he was solid on Friday night.

 

[Dodecahedron]

That mark running back blind into danger is why he will always be picked for our finals.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

So why is he not tagging?

 

[tazaa]

So why is he not tagging?

I think it was more run with rather then hard tag.
Example being he was happy to allow Macrae to get possession at half back and picked him up going the other way. I didnt notice Macrae doing anything damaging forward of centre. Job done IMO

 

[Pykie]

That mark was fantastic.

I can't help but think Dumont would be a better option if he isn't tagging though. Also gives us flexibility with pushing Ziebell forward.

 

[Reginald0]

benny has a Defensive mindset, protects the ball,keeps possesionand knows how to mind a man
v good hands and foot skills good
seems to play a lot better on thetv as is mostly on the bottom of packs
has made some blues, sure but not panicking lately and I like his creativity
if Dumont cant defend as well as Jacobs then Froggy will have to wait for someone? else swallow has come good!
Saying that If he Improves the team then OK, give Froggy a go

 

[giantroo]

http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2016-05-06/jacobs-staying-flexible

 

[roos_fanatic08]

http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2016-05-06/jacobs-staying-flexible

So I guess the coaches have moved away from the hard tag this season because it hurts our centre square work and also impacts our rotations?

Was hoping he'd stick to that lock down role, but if it's not in the best interests of our on field success then I trust the coaches decision.

Hopefully BJ can make that spot his own. But if he isn't playing as a genuine tagger, he'd want to start getting his hands on the footy more I think.

 

[Heaps of fun]

North one step ahead of the game again. Clubs would have expected Jacobs to remain a dedicated tagger but now they don't know what to expect and since Blowie is that flexible he can hold his spot and we always have the ability to put the best tagger in the game against the most damaging mid when we need to shift momentum. No doubt our clearance work is more dynamic with Wells in instead of Jacobs too.

 

[Devington]

http://www.nmfc.com.au/news/2016-05-06/jacobs-staying-flexible

Its so good to hear him sound confident in his abilities and ability to play multiple roles. My biggest knock on him for a while has been how most of his footballing issues seem to stem from the mental side of the game (freezing up, making bad decisions, unforced skill errors, rushing when not needed). He's got some great physical traits and some more-than solid skills for an inside/outside midfielder and that was before we unearthed his ability to tag. Feeling really comfortable about his future now. Player/strategy versatility is one of my footballing obsessions, and he's showcasing his at a decent level these days. We can't forget that he is still fairly young and inexperienced and has had health/injury issues in the past. Decent contributor right now and has more upside than most in our team IMO.

 

[giantroo]

We don't see it much but I'd like him to utilise his massive kick on him. He can launch them but very rarely does.

 

[Joshen]

We don't see it much but I'd like him to utilise his massive kick on him. He can launch them but very rarely does.

He took a few kick outs last season (maybe before that) and I was very impressed. With time and no pressure he was launching them 50+ to a target with ease. Was much more pleasing than the usual; bomb it to the pack.

 

[D23D]

We don't see it much but I'd like him to utilise his massive kick on him. He can launch them but very rarely does.

Thought I was in the Nahas thread for a second there!
Play on

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Can kick a football

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Still a liability with his glacial decision making.

Will need to offer more than he is if he isn't going to tag.

 

[nicko74]

Does still have deer in the headlights moments but hasn't been too bad IMO

 

[indy nile]

Why is it that this "deer in the headlights" phrase only gets brought up with Jacobs? We have plenty of players who don't dispose perfectly under pressure, and its not like he's the worst of the lot

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Why is it that this "deer in the headlights" phrase only gets brought up with Jacobs? We have plenty of players who don't dispose perfectly under pressure, and its not like he's the worst of the lot

Gibson, Thompson and Atley all have deer in headlights moments too...

 

[D23D]

Can kick a football

wow, that was at the pre-season game about Feb '13 if I remember correctly. I was there and we also played Richmond with Maj also kicking a good one.

 

[indy nile]

Gibson, Thompson and Atley all have deer in headlights moments too...

Yep, and a few others. It just confuses me that 99% of the time i see that phrase on this website, it's in direct relation to Ben Jacobs

 

[the_one]

Anyone else think he's slimmed down heaps since then?? Looks completely different.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

wow, that was at the pre-season game about Feb '13 if I remember correctly. I was there and we also played Richmond with Maj also kicking a good one.

pretty sure it was his first game in north colours. Maj gave Steve Morris an epic don't argue then kicked one on the run.

 

[D23D]

pretty sure it was his first game in north colours. Maj gave Steve Morris an epic don't argue then kicked one on the run.

Yep that's it. If you see the replay I am the first bloke up in the crowd cheering it off Maj's boot.
But that's about it for my fillum career