Adelaide Crows tall Sam Jacobs welcomes competition from Reilly O’Brien but says his time as No.1 ruckman not up yet
Sam Jacobs has welcomed the challenge for the chief ruck spot at Adelaide from his understudy Reilly O’Brien but the big man has had a pre-season that suggests he is not going anywhere.
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Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs has welcomed the challenge for his spot from understudy Reilly O’Brien but has warned he is not ready to step away from the No. 1 ruck spot just yet.
Jacobs, 30, has been chuffed with his pre-season and is confident he will again be able to do the bulk of the Crows’ ruck duties.
He also warned that the new rules — which means players have to start in set positions at ball-ups after goals — would mean teams would be less likely to carry two ruckmen into games because of the extra running that will be required.
But Jacobs had been impressed with O’Brien’s progress and liked that he had made it public that he coveted the chief ruck spot.
“It’s great; it’s fantastic,” Jacobs said.
“I think Reilly is in his fifth or six season; I’ve been around for a while so I’d expect nothing less.
“He’s in fantastic nick as well, Reilly, and what does is create really good competition.
“I really enjoy working with him and Paul Hunter and Kieran Strauchan.
“They keep me young and they keep challenging me which is good.
“I’m really excited about Reilly’s future.
“When my time comes I’d love nothing more than to see him take the mantle.
“I’ve spent a lot of time working with him so hopefully when the time comes — not just yet — hopefully he can take over.
“But I think the way it’s going it’s going, with the game opening up to more space, I think it becomes even more of a running game.
“It’s definitely going to become harder to play two ruckmen.”
What will make it even more difficult for O’Brien is that Jacobs said he felt revived after what had been a frustrated season last year, with the Crows missing the finals and Jacobs struggling with a niggling back injury.
This was the best he had felt in years.
“This is the best I’ve run in probably two or three years and I’m very excited about it,” Jacobs said.
“Fitness-wise I’m in a really good spot.
“Obviously last year was a challenge on a few different levels but for me I feel like I’m back to my old self a bit.
“My running times have been really good and I’ve modified a few things and spent a lot of time in the gym — when you’re healthy you’re able to do that.”
Jacobs was in his hometown of Ardrossan on the Yorke Peninsula on Tuesday with teammates Brad Crouch and Riley Knight and conducted clinics at his old school.
He could not have enjoyed it any more and spoke about how he was confident he would one day return to play with the Kangaroos in the local league.
“It’s nice to do this sort of stuff; obviously you don’t get much opportunity so it’s nice to come up here.
“There’s nothing than that I’ll come back and play for Ardrossan. I really look forward to it.
“This town and the footy club and the cricket club mean a lot to me.
“I still spend a lot of time here now and it’s really important to come back here.
“You never forget where you come from so it’s a special place.”
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