Adelaide Crows ruckman Sam Jacobs earns greater admiration from his team-mates
ADELAIDE lead ruckman Sam Jacobs commands greater respect from his Crows team-mates for battling through personal tragedy.
TOM Lynch’s admiration of team-mate Sam Jacobs rose again after watching the Crows lead ruckman carry huge responsibility in an AFL final while dealing with personal tragedy last week.
“We already held Sam in high regard - and we have the utmost respect for him,” said Lynch of Jacobs who played in the qualifying final against Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval eight days after his older brother Aaron died.
Lynch’s tribute to Jacobs is reflective of a playing group that always has regarded their lead ruckman as more than a team-mate - a mate for life beyond football.
“Sam is a great man, a wonderful person,” Lynch told The Advertiser.
“I always knew he was courageous - and he has a heart of gold, as does everyone in his family.”
Jacobs, 29, dedicated his finals performance to his brother while carrying the task of thwarting giant GWS ruckman Shane Mumford. This was critical for the young Adelaide midfield as it had to work against the talented Giants on-ballers while dealing with the loss of Crows vice-captain Rory Sloane (appendix).
“Sam is a warrior,” Lynch said. “I am not even going to pretend to put myself in his shoes because you can’t. But once he got on the field it was pretty special.”
Notable at the end of the final was the admiration Jacobs commanded across the AFL. This was highlighted by the embrace between Jacobs and Mumford as the Giants ruckman acknowledged Jacobs’ stellar performance amid immense personal pain.
Adelaide’s players stood with Jacobs at his brother’s funeral funeral at Ardrossan on the Yorke Peninsula the day after the 36-point win against the Giants at Adelaide Oval.
“We had a huge number of the football club at Aaron’s funeral because we love Sam and his family,” Lynch said. “It was an incredibly difficult day for them - and we wanted to show support not only for Sam but for all the family.”