Let's talk about Jason Heatley

[Rubyjo]

Just watching a 1997 game on fox ..vs the roos . He looks like one of the best forwards we have ever had. What do the Experts on this site think ..

[Otiman]

The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long.

A huge point of difference in our '97 campaign.

[shanegrambeau]

I’ve asked the very same question here a couple of years back. The folks around then gave me the impression he didn’t take training and physical conditioning too seriously.

So he fell away.

I had often wondered too. It I must say, on reflection, he don’t look so conditioned.

[Waltzing St Kilda]

Extremely accurate in front of goal (except in the GF sadly) and should have been retained despite other deficiencies, IMHO.

[skeptic]

I think most had the same impression… incredible in 97 and the first half of 98… then where did he go? Never close to his peak form again after that.

A forumite posted here a decade ago that he came back early 98 quite out of shape and given that he was
by all accounts a heavy drinker and gambler…well one can see how it all fell apart.

That 97-98 group (Brown, Sziller, Lappin, Heatley, Young, Trianedes and more that I can’t think of) squandered building something even more special with us on account of the party culture.

A handful like Jones, Peckett etc pulled the nose up whilst Lappin got it together elsewhere.

Very sad. This for me was the first truly great era of my time

[SaintPav]

Heatley was a dead eye dick but from memory the defensive side of his game left a lot to be desired. He didn’t like to tackle and chase.

I’m pretty sure injuries stuffed Jason Traianidis up.

[saynta]

Just watching a 1997 game on fox ..vs the roos . He looks like one of the best forwards we have ever had. What do the Experts on this site think ..

Good footballer and an excellent and accurate kick for goal, but a lousy trainer who liked a beer.

[King Max]

He made his Saints debut in Round 3 against the Pies and kicked two of the best goals you’ll ever see.

At about 1:02 and 2:12 in this video.

[B.M]

Wasn’t a bad player

Natural leading forward, good kick, very one dimensional

His professionalism was the problem

Loved a drink and a punt - more than standards required of an elite sportsman

[shanegrambeau]

So was Jason Heatley one of Tim Watson’s ‘Boarding House Puddings”?

[SaintPav]

Didn’t he go on to be a fairly successful suburban coach?

Had the talent to play 150-200 games. I hope he doesn’t have many regrets.

[SaintWiki]

Interview 2 years ago

Jason Heatley | St Kilda Football Club Sharpshooter - Unpluggered Podcast

[vid][/vid]

[Yorkeys]

I liked the day we beat the Eagles, Jason kicked a few and gave it to his old coach the Mickey Malteser and Mickey did not like it. Got a bit personal and unprofessional with his assessment of Jason. Love seeing the Malteser upset even though he knew the Ox is slow and the earth patient. He wasn't inscrutable that day. Poor loser.

[shanegrambeau]

Heatley played a season at his old suburban club, North Heidelberg, and a couple of years with the Tassie Devils in the Victorian Football League. He then moved into coaching, spending time at the helm of Warrnambool. In 2012 he took the senior coaching job with Northcote Park in the Northern Football League in suburban Melbourne, where he coached the Cougars to an immediate flag before stepping down after three seasons in the role.

https://eaglepedia.fandom.com/wiki/Jason_Heatley

and this forum in 2007
viewtopic.php?t=37006&sid=98eae6238164e ... c0fddd3a3a

[Saintmike65]

Heatley had one of the best kicking actions I’ve seen.
Having said that he’d struggle big time in today’s footy, as he was weak overhead, lacked second efforts and was reliant on leading into space…not much of that space available these days.

[cwrcyn]

Best set shot kick for goal I've seen in football

[saynta]

Best set shot kick for goal I've seen in football

Yep.

[B.M]

Tony Lockett?


Lloyd and Fevola also very good

In todays footy - the big Texan is the best pure kick at goal

[shanegrambeau]

Another cult player I often wondered about - who like Heatley, also happened to play 60 games for the Saints was Rod Keogh.
And guess who he lived with?
Jason Heatley!

At for a time according to that podcast interview! (Thanks btw)


Keogh was done at age 27

He looked aggressive and engaged.

AFL career
82 games in total (incl Melbourne)
And then add on
100 games in the Reserves

[B.M]

Both Keough and Heatley both went to Tassie

Keough coached the Northern Bombers (North Launceston)

Heatley had a year with the Tassie Devils in the VFL before I think finishing up in the Diamond Valley league kicking bags

Both handy AFL players, probably each had 1 good season at senior level (I think Keough won a Gardiner medal while at Melbourne)

[shanegrambeau]

Both Keough and Heatley both went to Tassie

Keough coached the Northern Bombers (North Launceston)

Heatley had a year with the Tassie Devils in the VFL before I think finishing up in the Diamond Valley league kicking bags

Both handy AFL players, probably each had 1 good season at senior level (I think Keough won a Gardiner medal while at Melbourne)

Sounds like they were mates.

Heaters also mentioned Martyn Pike as being in their orbit - also called him a 'loose unit'.

The three of 'em, if they did indeed kick about together, must have been a rowdy crew. Don't fancy a game of pool going badly down at the pub!

[CQ SAINT]

Footballers become professional athletes but they're mainly footballers too. The 1highly committed and disciplined guys stood out back then.

I was lucky to spend a bit of time at the club as teenager and got to go into the changerooms a lot.
My dad wouldn't go in, too much smoke and the snacks in the room he watched the game from were healthier.

This professional footballer tag is a very recent thing and still evolving, just look at the accusations flying around recently about the lengths club will go to to keep guys in check and away from outside influences. Adelaide and Hawthorn come to mind.

Inviting the new guy to a house party with Milne Baker Fisher Gram and Stevie Lawrence, (this is just an example, not a rumour) would probably be a great time but hardly an great example of professionalism.

You'd probably spend the next decade recruiting good boys from good families after the fallout.

Sound familiar. It's all risk and reward. This new Club approach is very different. I'd say it had a lot to do with Lyon's plan, when he was hired. No point at all in looking back now. But this is great forum conversation all the same.

[shanegrambeau]

Both Keough and Heatley both went to Tassie

Keough coached the Northern Bombers (North Launceston)

Heatley had a year with the Tassie Devils in the VFL before I think finishing up in the Diamond Valley league kicking bags

Both handy AFL players, probably each had 1 good season at senior level (I think Keough won a Gardiner medal while at Melbourne)

Sounds like they were mates.

Heaters also mentioned Martyn Pike as being in their orbit - also called him a 'loose unit'.

The three of 'em, if they did indeed kick about together, must have been a rowdy crew. Don't fancy a game of pool going badly down at the pub!
EDIT: this sounds like a cheap shot from me...and let me say, i would be hanging on their coat tails hoping they'd approve..so I 'aint dissin these guys

[samuraisaint]

He was left on the bench too long in the second half of the 1997 Grand Final. Should have had more ground time.

[shanegrambeau]

He was left on the bench too long in the second half of the 1997 Grand Final. Should have had more ground time.

Here's where my footy knowledge is exposed.

Keogh looked like a 'goer' to me.
Obviously, in relative terms, he must have been limited. He did play 100 games in the reserves, mostly at Melbourne, when Melbourne were having a purple patch before sliding again, just as they offloaded him. I didn't watch a lot of footy then, but I got the impression he was a 'hard nut'.