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

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[perrdan86]

This.

This stood out for me as well. The way he can handball to a team mate, and actually put it in a good spot for them, while he's under immense pressure from an opposing player is really impressive. Some of the handballs he made over a decent distance whilst pretty much being tackled are

 

[hardway]

Shiels, Howe or Cousins need to make way for Jai and allow him gain experience in the AFL.

 

[LMGjr]

Another kid - means more chance that a few come through together - this is key - add the ND in at years end and we should have a nice little crop of kids where even if only 50% make it it still means what 5 or 6 spots filled for the next decade.

Day
Worps
Kosi
Lewis
Jeka
Saunders
our only father son
Callow
Newk Jai
Mitchell
Morris
Brocky
Cj
Reeves
DGB
Plus 3 kids min from the ND

Hell yeah HAWKS - loving the pivot

 

[mknaven]

I thought they did trimmed Worpel down too - as they've done w/ almost every player that's come to the hawks (Hartigan the exception), but Worps looks like he's got bigger shoulders now than when he debuted in AFLX.

Duke's BHH interview says he missed out a bit on the junior development programs and he is a bit heavyset, so I do wonder about his ability to run out an AFL game atm and if the hawks will trim him down a bit - I defs wanna see him at AFL level asap, but i suspect he's only trained w/ Box Hill, so will have to prove himself at training before getting a game in the seniors so I doubt we'll see him against the Swans... my bet is he'll be the sub before he gets a proper gig too.

 

[WireHawk]

It's time for him to kick ass and chew bubble gum. And he's all out of gum.

He's just what we need! I hope he channels Roddy Piper!

 

[bumsonseats]

I want him to stay in the 72

might be the only way we jag a couple of wins....play with 72 players on the field

 

[Eloc]

 

[Beandip]

Haforn rorting the system!

Has anyone checked in on Kane Cornes?!?

 

[Brishawk]

Incredible overreaction.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Another kid - means more chance that a few come through together - this is key - add the ND in at years end and we should have a nice little crop of kids where even if only 50% make it it still means what 5 or 6 spots filled for the next decade.

Day
Worps
Kosi
Lewis
Jeka
Saunders
our only father son
Callow
Newk Jai
Mitchell
Morris
Brocky
Cj
Reeves
DGB
Plus 3 kids min from the ND

Hell yeah HAWKS - loving the pivot

I like what I see there, but there is no doubting that we need more top-end first rounders. We only have two there.

 

[Gaborone]

Shiels, Howe or Cousins need to make way for Jai and allow him gain experience in the AFL.

Why this continual undervaluing of Shiels. He has been one of the most consistent Hawthorn players for a long time. He has never got the credit due to him.

 

[hardway]

Why this continual undervaluing of Shiels. He has been one of the most consistent Hawthorn players for a long time. He has never got the credit due to him.

Served the club well, but we need to move on . Also see Jai being a like for like replacement in the role they play with the added bonus of being a better kick.

 

[LMGjr]

I like what I see there, but there is no doubting that we need more top-end first rounders. We only have two there.

Bloody oath mate - but it's a effing good start to the pivot yeah?

Since Wright was "removed" we've chased pace and height - by **** it was overdue.

 

[Brant]

Reminds me a bit of Daniel Rich. Probs moves a little better but doesn't kick quite as well.

 

[threesixpio]

Just quietly. Shame on the HFC media team. That's a horrible excuse for a pun!!!!

Jai agree

 

[LMGjr]

Why this continual undervaluing of Shiels. He has been one of the most consistent Hawthorn players for a long time. He has never got the credit due to him.

I can answer that - he has got the credits in the bank - where some people are struggling (not me) is that he was never able to take the next step and lead this group, once Lewis, Hodge and Mitchell all departed.

He was held in such high esteem by many that once it became obvious that he couldn't live up to it people struggle with their expectations being wrong. He's still a role player after 12 or so years - people had higher hopes and you know what people are like when their hopes are dashed.

There is nothing underhanded or evil about the simplicity of this.

 

[Alite]

I have a question for those that have seen a lot of Jai during games and / or during training. How good is he on his left foot?
None of the highlight packages show a left foot kick.

I’m pleased he is now a Hawthorn Hawk and would love to know more about what to expect.

Thanks in advance for the insights

I’ll now go watch a Box Hill game to see if I can find one.

 

[Hawk Dork]

I have question for those that have seen a lot of Jai during games and / or during training. How good is he on his left foot?
None of the highlight packages show a left foot kick.

I’m pleased he is now a Hawthorn Hawk and would love to know more about what to expect.

Thanks in advance for the insights

I’ll now go watch a Box Hill game to see if I can find one.

should have some on Catchup tv 7

 

[hardway]

I have question for those that have seen a lot of Jai during games and / or during training. How good is he on his left foot?
None of the highlight packages show a left foot kick.

I’m pleased he is now a Hawthorn Hawk and would love to know more about what to expect.

Thanks in advance for the insights

I’ll now go watch a Box Hill game to see if I can find one.

Hasn’t got a lot of competition on the quality of using the opposite foot at hawthorn so I’m guessing equal or better to what we have. The one thing I have noted with his kicking is that he will be our longest kick from our mids.

 

[Alite]

Hasn’t got a lot of competition on the quality of using the opposite foot at hawthorn so I’m guessing equal or better to what we have. The one thing I have noted with his kicking is that he will be our longest kick from our mids.

Agreed, he does very nicely on his right. He seems to have good touch as well. I loved the lob over the top of the defender to Adduci in the pocket. There was not much room for error in that kick.
I can also see the mirrored Rich technique that Brant put forward.
Aside: Shiels is decent on his non-preferred left.

 

[bumsonseats]

Shiels, Howe or Cousins need to make way for Jai and allow him gain experience in the AFL.

You have to think that at least one of, if not both, of Howe or Cousins is not on our list next year.
As for Shiels, we need to keep some of our more experienced premiership players that are still getting the job done to show the younger what it takes.

 

[Blackhawk42]

You have to think that at least one of, if not both, of Howe or Cousins is not on our list next year.
As for Shiels, we need to keep some of our more experienced premiership players that are still getting the job done to show the younger what it takes.

Cousins stays for depth IMO. He's had two of the best games of his career in the past month. There is still improvement there. We'll certainly recruit some quality mids in the draft i'm sure, but we'll still need all the help we can in there.

I'd be trying to move on Titch for another first round pick. Select the two best available mids with those selections.

Primary midfield group of Worpel, O'Meara, Newcombe, Wingard, the two first round selections, Maginness, Cousins with Shiels staying on for one more year to help the young guys transition into full timers. Add in a potentially traded in player (ie. Lipinski, Narkle if i'm dreaming in hopeful reality).

 

[matey]

Probably only remember Hodgey using his right foot a couple of times in his whole career!

 

[The Chad and I]

Reminds me a bit of Daniel Rich. Probs moves a little better but doesn't kick quite as well.

A mix of Daniel Rich/Ben Allan in his physical attributes.

 

[Alite]

Probably only remember Hodgey using his right foot a couple of times in his whole career!

Yep, I remember a couple of shockers from Hodgey when in space (he didn’t need to use his right foot) and switching the play towards the end of his time at the Hawks. . I think he enjoyed the challenge of improving his skills late in his career, though not always to the benefit of the team. But he is Hodgey! and a few minor luxuries could not be begrudged.

Plenty of players have, and currently do, get away without an effective kick on their non-preferred side. Few players will ever be as sublimely adept on either side as Sammy Mitchell (though he had to work on it even when told coaches by his jun coaches told to stick to kicking on his preferred side... which was the right... or was it the left.... definately the reft ... it was hard to tell when he was dropping the ball with his right hand and yet deciding late to kick it with his left foot... and still hitting the target. ) Dangerfield kicks with power on his left but often misses his target.

If Jai has an accurate 30 meter pass on his left, that would be awesome! If not, so be it, that is something to work on, and he is effective in other ways. I am just asking those in the know which situation is true.


Aside: after an hour of watching highlights of the Box Hill games I have seen: 0 attempts or need for Jai to kick on his left, Saunders is not only fast but surprising effective in one on ones (draft that guy... oh wait, we already have), Jeka has it, and Adduci is infectiously fun. The hunt for information on Jai’s talents on his left foot continues.