Player Watch Welcome to Hawthorn : Jai “Duke” Newcombe - 2024 Peter Crimmins medalist

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[toomanysquibs]

Worpel would be more Martin like, especially with his fend off
Newks more like a young Lethal

Martin was queried for lacking focus early on.

Newcombe about the most focussed Hawk since Hodge and Mitchell.

 

[KermitJagger]

On the Foxtel first crack show they said they see a young Martin in him.

Not the best comparison IMO. Jai can fend off but he doesn't look for it like Martin does, it's Martin's #1 move for getting separation from his opponent. Jai just powers through the tackles, I never saw Lethal play but to me it's much more Petracca, Ricciuto or even Swanny.

 

[toomanysquibs]

Not the best comparison IMO. Jai can fend off but he doesn't look for it like Martin does, it's Martin's #1 move for getting separation from his opponent. Jai just powers through the tackles, I never saw Lethal play but to me it's much more Petracca, Ricciuto or even Swanny.

Jai was rolling out of contests a little like Martin was for a month or two. But haven't seen as much of that lately, and it seems to have just been a phase of his development.

Pretty ridiculous watching his game evolve the way it has. Worth watching our team just for that at times.

 

[matey]

One of my fav highlights v Dogs!

 

[Billyc]

Not the best comparison IMO. Jai can fend off but he doesn't look for it like Martin does, it's Martin's #1 move for getting separation from his opponent. Jai just powers through the tackles, I never saw Lethal play but to me it's much more Petracca, Ricciuto or even Swanny.

Midfield Ricciuto is the best comparison I think. Brutishly strong. The next challenge for Newk is to add that consistent forward and goalkicking ability. I am confident he will do that and when he does, he can be a top 10 player in the comp.

 

[OnWardnUpWard]

Seeing a bit of Sam in how Newcombe is starting to weave and shimmy around traffic and the precise kicking. He may not have the nous that made Mitchell so damaging but he’ll make up for it in physicality.

 

[Rowie6]

Not the best comparison IMO. Jai can fend off but he doesn't look for it like Martin does, it's Martin's #1 move for getting separation from his opponent. Jai just powers through the tackles, I never saw Lethal play but to me it's much more Petracca, Ricciuto or even Swanny.

I did see Lethal play and I see the comparison more than the players you have mentioned.
I am still not 100% sure what it exactly is that reminds me of Leigh Mathews perhaps it’s his power and strength?
I just wish I could put my finger on it!
But IMOP Lethal is my closet comparison to Jai,hopefully he can go forward in his twilight years and snag a few bags as well?


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[bigmaxi]

For me, who has seen both play I’m for a hybrid of Leigh and Luke, Jai has the strength but also the burst. The best thing I like is his own snarkiness when he mows someone down. A not so quiet word in their ear, “ yep, it’s me you ………” (add in your own expletives please)

 

[naysayer]

Not the best comparison IMO. Jai can fend off but he doesn't look for it like Martin does, it's Martin's #1 move for getting separation from his opponent. Jai just powers through the tackles, I never saw Lethal play but to me it's much more Petracca, Ricciuto or even Swanny.

I like the Petracca and Ricciuto comparisons. The toughness, the footwork, the bulldozing attack on the ball, the strong-marking, long-kicking game style. God love him.

 

[grumbleguts]

For me, who has seen both play I’m for a hybrid of Leigh and Luke, Jai has the strength but also the burst. The best thing I like is his own snarkiness when he mows someone down. A not so quiet word in their ear, “ yep, it’s me you ………” (add in your own expletives please)

Cool: because I've been trying out an excel sheet I have made which randomly generates a Shakespearean insult.

1640 Jai Newcome:
Yep, it's me, thou warped milk-livered pumpion.
Yep, it's me thou mammering, knotty-pated boar-pig.
Yep it's me thou currish, rude-growing ratsbane.
Yep it's me thou bevenomed, sheep-biting bugbear.

 

[Roby]

Tell me you're a generation talent, without telling me you're a generational talent

(top 20 in the coaches votes against top 8 teams, amongst top 20 votes getters)

Player	Votes
Dawson	52
Newcombe	43
Taranto	37
Cripps	36
Bontempelli	35
Sinclair	33
Merrett	29
Anderson	29
Rozee	25
Liberatore	25
Daicos	24
Butters	24
Jackson	23
Viney	22
Houston	21
Serong	17
Gulden	15
Neale	12
Greene	10

 

[Simon Crawshay]

I like the Petracca and Ricciuto comparisons. The toughness, the footwork, the bulldozing attack on the ball, the strong-marking, long-kicking game style. God love him.

Just needs to add the consistent goal kicking like Roo and Track and he will be a top 5 player in the league IMOH.

 

[robiecampbellbrown]

I did see Lethal play and I see the comparison more than the players you have mentioned.
I am still not 100% sure what it exactly is that reminds me of Leigh Mathews perhaps it’s his power and strength?
I just wish I could put my finger on it!
But IMOP Lethal is my closet comparison to Jai,hopefully he can go forward in his twilight years and snag a few bags as well?


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

Same. Wearing no 3 is totally appropriate

 

[flinchfree]

I did see Lethal play and I see the comparison more than the players you have mentioned.
I am still not 100% sure what it exactly is that reminds me of Leigh Mathews perhaps it’s his power and strength?
I just wish I could put my finger on it!
But IMOP Lethal is my closet comparison to Jai,hopefully he can go forward in his twilight years and snag a few bags as well?


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

I see it the same. Reckon it's the way he sinks his hips and further grounds his considerable build as he stops and pivots, then drives in a new direction while keeping a little forward lean to assist his momentum and make tacklers feel like their fingers are hitting the sides of a concrete column.......just so hard to hold on while their momentum is taking them away from him.

Lol to those who thought he'd top out as a B+ grader, kid is a champagne supernova.

 

[TylerDurden]

 

[cryptor]

AFL media industry always very quick to throw the term "star" and "gun" around but can only muster "consistent performer" for one of the better first 50 games you'll ever see.

 

[SSSSSS]

AFL media industry always very quick to throw the term "star" and "gun" around but can only muster "consistent performer" for one of the better first 50 games you'll ever see.

Pretty sure Ty Vickery has been called a star more than Newk has!

 

[CHUBBSS]

Still very under rated, if you’re not a high draft pick it’s so funny how long it takes. Bruest has taken an eternity

 

[Simon Crawshay]

I see it the same. Reckon it's the way he sinks his hips and further grounds his considerable build as he stops and pivots, then drives in a new direction while keeping a little forward to assist his momentum and make tacklers feel like their fingers are hitting the sides of a concrete column.......just so hard to hold on while their momentum is taking them away from him.

Lol to those who thought he'd top out as a B+ grader, kid is a champagne supernova.

I admit my initial thoughts on Newk were that he was Brad Sewell MKII.

Obviously he is going to be a much more rounded footballer than Sewell ever was. His balance and footwork for a man who is basically a slab of concrete is remarkable.

And that’s taking nothing away from Brad who was an absolute warrior and one of my personal favourites.

 

[Roby]

Today, he barged through the congestion a couple of times, although he got caught, he nearly ran through three players. Can he get even stronger with one or two more preseasons? If he does, it's goodnight for the rest of the competition.

 

[Walshawk]

Today, he barged through the congestion a couple of times, although he got caught, he nearly ran through three players. Can he get even stronger with one or two more preseasons? If he does, it's goodnight for the rest of the competition.

I reckon he needs to get that out of his game. The one weakness in his game is that he gets caught holding the ball frequently. It won’t cut it in finals.

 

[toomanysquibs]

I reckon he needs to get that out of his game. The one weakness in his game is that he gets caught holding the ball frequently. It won’t cut it in finals.

The issue isn't so much him doing it, as it's chosing when to do it when he has the ball.

I'd hate to think we'd be deprived of the great stiff arms and Cody Weightman type moments we've all been enjoying this year.

He ran through multiple players bumping and tackling against Heave Ho.

I'd rather he bring that stuff out in finals, can win you matches if the whole team gets a lift from it.

 

[Blackhawk42]

I reckon he needs to get that out of his game. The one weakness in his game is that he gets caught holding the ball frequently. It won’t cut it in finals.

He does?

I watch him incredibly closely and I honestly can't recall that many times. Do you have any stats to back it up?

He did just break the record for broken tackles in a season too didn't he?

 

[Simon Crawshay]

I reckon he's odds on to win his first PCM this year.

The first but not the last though.

The real question is how many PCMs will he have in his trophy cabinet by the time he is done, I'd say at least 3.

 

[Burtman]

I reckon he needs to get that out of his game. The one weakness in his game is that he gets caught holding the ball frequently. It won’t cut it in finals.

His ability to break tackles, get from inside a contest to the outside is what sets him apart from other mids, his bullocking and power is next level. To take that away would destroy his game. He also gives away 1 free a game. Even if every single one of those was a holding the ball (which it isn’t), the good still far outweighs the bad