Jack Steven

[BigMart]

I see a lot of people gave him votes tonight...

Not sure whether he's on speed or he has ADHD, because he simply cannot compose himself. His decision making and disposal is shoddy, generally because he is a full pace trying to complete skills.... He has no balance steps...

He is like the anti-Dal

He is a good ball winner/clearance player because he has good burst of speed, allowing him to hit space, or break away from a pack

But,

His decision to cost us a goal tonight was stupid and costly, because he did not think. A huge turnover in the second was because he did not balance.....he is a messy player, with a serious lack of polish.

He can keep the explosion..... But needs to learn how to balance before disposal and not be so hurried.

[maverick]

Agree, but are you sure he heard the whistle, at the game I'd didn't look like it.
The advantage call and rule is seriously flawed inside 50.

[battye]

That wasn't his fault. Didn't he basically kick it off the ground? How on earth can advantage be called when the guy doesn't have possession?

Umpires totally in the wrong IMO.

[mad saint guy]

His roving is absolutely first class but he's got no idea what to do with the ball once he gets it. So often he gets a great hard ball get, sprints forward, stops, runs around in circles for a while and then turns it over. Some of his game is elite and some of it is poor by VFL standards

[Richter]

You're right Marto, though comparing him to Dal in terms of composure is like comparing a Ford with a Porsche. a better comparison is with Lenny or Dane Swan. Neither are elite users of the footy but both are efficient and have learnt to play within their capacities from that point of view. He's only just turned 22 and played just the 36 games. In 2 years he'll be 24 and at 70-80 games... then watch out...

[The Redeemer]

I see a lot of people gave him votes tonight...

Not sure whether he's on speed or he has ADHD, because he simply cannot compose himself. His decision making and disposal is shoddy, generally because he is a full pace trying to complete skills.... He has no balance steps...

He is like the anti-Dal

He is a good ball winner/clearance player because he has good burst of speed, allowing him to hit space, or break away from a pack

But,

His decision to cost us a goal tonight was stupid and costly, because he did not think. A huge turnover in the second was because he did not balance.....he is a messy player, with a serious lack of polish.

He can keep the explosion..... But needs to learn how to balance before disposal and not be so hurried.

He was probably the one out of the famous four from the NZ camp that had the meds that were supplied and mixed with alcohol....

[saintsRrising]

His decision to cost us a goal tonight was stupid and costly, because he did not think..

Was a rubbish decision by the umps. Steven was not even in possession.


That was Steven's 36th game.
There was a lot to like...but yes his decision making is sometimes poor in him holding the ball too long, and in his disposal lacks. He needs to work harder at both.

Rule of thumb is most players need 50 to start to hit their straps.
I see a lot of upside in him and believe that with more experience that his game will settle.

I see a lot more upside him that in Armo.

Indeed at present Steven is the only young mid to date that has shown that he could become elite.

[Seaford_Saint]

BigMart.... "anti-Dal" as you put it...... that has to be regarded as a compliment after #26's output over the last 2 weeks.

Jacky Steven is a HUGE positive..... one of the few players we have who can truly break the lines, and do so on a regular basis.

[mr six o'clock]

Yes
he needs more polish
however he was much better than dal tonight !

[Scollop]

You're right Marto, though comparing him to Dal in terms of composure is like comparing a Ford with a Porsche. a better comparison is with Lenny or Dane Swan. Neither are elite users of the footy but both are efficient and have learnt to play within their capacities from that point of view. He's only just turned 22 and played just the 36 games. In 2 years he'll be 24 and at 70-80 games... then watch out...

This

[groupie1]

I see a lot of people gave him votes tonight...

Not sure whether he's on speed or he has ADHD, because he simply cannot compose himself. His decision making and disposal is shoddy, generally because he is a full pace trying to complete skills.... He has no balance steps...

He is like the anti-Dal

He is a good ball winner/clearance player because he has good burst of speed, allowing him to hit space, or break away from a pack

But,

His decision to cost us a goal tonight was stupid and costly, because he did not think. A huge turnover in the second was because he did not balance.....he is a messy player, with a serious lack of polish.

He can keep the explosion..... But needs to learn how to balance before disposal and not be so hurried.

This is an excellent post. Spot on. He's like the 'anti-Dal' I like everything you say. This is hands down the most intelligent and insightful post I've read on here. You speak with the mind of a coach, man, well done. Identify problems and offer solutions.

[Con Gorozidis]

jack steven is the least of our worries .kill this thread.

[andrewg]

Steven will be a gun and will be picked everyweek for the rest of his carrer are we seriously picking on a 36 gamer..........lets look at some senior players our 'leaders' instead I think

[BigMart]

Not talking about a comparison with Dal with respect to performance....... The comparison is made about how Steven is flat out, hurried and can't hit a target, the other is composed, balanced and always hits a target....

And we need to stop using age as an excuse..... Jack Steven has been in the system 5 years, in Dals 5th year he was All Australian...... Ball was best and fairest and All Australian, likewise Lenny...

He's a good young player, but like Gilbert has a massive flaw in his game..... He is a poor decision maker, poor disposal and is not composed.
He did choose to take the advantage last night, he soccered the ball under pressure when we had a 20m shot on goal... He did it purposefully and not sure WTF he was thinking, or whether he was.....

Seaford Saint..... Dal had 32 possessions (19 contested) last week and got 5 votes in the Sun

Again
Not comparing their performance.....but their game style...

[perfectionist]

... but like Gilbert has a massive flaw in his game..... He is a poor decision maker, poor disposal and is not composed...

You'll be shocked to find that I agree (some people will give him votes just for running out onto the ground). However, the number problem (of the three) is the disposal, with both hand and foot. If that was better, then he would be more composed and his decision making might improve and he wouldn't fumble or triple touch so much - they often improve with confidence. He would do well to get a tape of Sam Mitchell and look at it. Sam has played 203 games and Jack just 36, so there is hope. I'm afraid we don't have much else in the locker, so there is little choice but to persevere.

[jays]

hell get better over the year

[spert]

Plays just like Dane Swan at a similar age, and is on the improve each game

[plugger66]

Love these threads. Easily in our best 3 but start a negative thread. The best young player we have and by a huge margin. Why not look at Armo. Couldnt get a kick and ducked his head at a vital moment. BM did he dog it. Not at all but if it was Cripps he would have. It happens to nearly every player who plays AFL. You learn from it. Armo is one of hardest players but needs to learn to cheap kicks.

[nw7]

Steven is ok, yes he turns the ball over too much but he wins his own ball and can break away from a pack. He will get better and better and his strengths will out way his weakness's by a long way.

[8856brother]

Love these threads. Easily in our best 3 but start a negative thread. The best young player we have and by a huge margin. Why not look at Armo. Couldnt get a kick and ducked his head at a vital moment. BM did he dog it. Not at all but if it was Cripps he would have. It happens to nearly every player who plays AFL. You learn from it. Armo is one of hardest players but needs to learn to cheap kicks.

What happened with Armo and that mark. Did he dog it or was it just a lame attempt. Either way it was a terrible and ultimately costly mistake.

[Teflon]

Steven is ok, yes he turns the ball over too much but he wins his own ball and can break away from a pack. He will get better and better and his strengths will out way his weakness's by a long way.

This is right.

At game 36 I think he has some room to move to improve decision making/skill errors.

What cant be taught and we are seeing this from Armo and others - is Steven has the ability:

1. win his own bal
2. spread from congestion
3. stay in the game
4. goal sense

I really liked his game last night and outside Hayes he was our best mid.

Montagna.................................? cheap kicks when its all over.
Dal - Get the f@Rk OFF the Footy Show.

[saint66au]

I think Jacks decison making is an issue because we have 5-6 other players who are similarly poor in this area..and its killing us right now. If we had a team of great decision makers we could get away with it..but we dont

Ive seen players with 36 games of footy who make much better decisions consistently. Tom Simpkin is one

[plugger66]

I think Jacks decison making is an issue because we have 5-6 other players who are similarly poor in this area..and its killing us right now. If we had a team of great decision makers we could get away with it..but we dont

Ive seen players with 36 games of footy who make much better decisions consistently. Tom Simpkin is one

Yep he sometimes he does things his skills dont allow but I have also seen many 36 gamers no where near as good at getting the ball from stoppages as Jack. Decision making can be worked on but reading the play, pace and skill at breaking away arent as easily worked on. There is plenty more upside to Jack than most of our young guys drafted around that perion and one of those he is still at least at the club. I think he will end up the most positive thing out of this year. Big call after 6 games but I reckon this guy can really play. I am biased though.

[TJMcCarthy]

Some players have more talent in getting the ball while others have more talent in moving it forward. I don't buy the "anti Dal" comment.

[perfectionist]

...What happened with Armo and that mark. Did he dog it ...

I don't think so, although it looked like it. The kick was too strong, but he had ample time to step back to take it. But I have seen before that he gets "stuck" in a position and doesn't seem to be able to adjust as you would expect. Certainly Brent Guerra have it too him, although a little more desperation from him towards the end of 2004 (one minute before our end, in fact) might have been helpful.