Sad exit looming for Jack as stats reveal alarming form slump

THE Sydney Swans are in deep trouble and so is Kieren Jack with the former co-captain’s fortunes in many ways mirroring the team’s fall from grace.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA — APRIL 22: Kieren Jack of the Swans is challenged during the round five AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at Sydney Cricket Ground on April 22, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Media/Getty Images)

KIEREN Jack faces a fight to retain his position in Sydney’s team after his form hit a new low in Saturday night’s loss to Greater Western Sydney.

The former co-captain is not the sole source of the winless Swans’ troubles, but his form mirrors the team’s, and he gathered a season-low 12 possessions against the Giants.

It was the worst output in any match since 2013 for the triple Brett Kirk medallist (Sydney derby best on ground).

In 2012 and 2013 Jack was averaging 25 disposals a game.

This season he is down to 15.8, and his defensive pressure has also dropped alarmingly.

Four years ago he was making six tackles per game, but he has managed 2.6 per game in the first five rounds.

The worry for the 215-game veteran is at 0-5 the Swans’ ­finals hopes have almost gone, and coach John Longmire will be tempted to use the rest of the season to put more games into his exciting youngsters.

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No Swans fan wants to see Jack finish his career in the NEAFL.

But if his productivity doesn’t improve dramatically the club will face a similar situation to dual premiership player and Norm Smith Medallist Ryan O’Keefe.

O’Keefe played the opening four rounds of the 2014 season and then spent the remainder of the year playing the Swans reserves in the NEAFL, finishing his career on 286 games.

Jack’s situation is different to O’Keefe’s because the Swans were in the hunt for a premiership in 2014 and won through to the grand final.

This might afford Jack some grace.

Like his recent form, Sydney's Kieren Jack finds himself at the bottom of the pack against the Giants. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Many Swans fans were surprise that Jack and his fellow co-captain Jarrad McVeigh were replaced by Josh Kennedy as sole skipper at the end of last season, but the move now looks well timed.

A clearly frustrated Jack admitted his team was totally outclassed by the Giants.

“They just smacked us around the ground,’’ Jack told Swans TV.

“I thought we showed a bit of fight in the third quarter but it was too little really.

“We’re in a rut at the moment and we’ve got to fight our way out.’’

The Swans face Carlton at the MCG on Saturday.

“We just need to train hard, not go into our shells,’’ Jack said.

“That’s probably the main thing. There’s going to be criticism coming left, right and centre and that’s probably fair enough but we need to focus on these four walls and what we can do to get better and come out all guns blazing.’’

Kieren Jack is challenged during Saturday night’s Battle Of The Bridge clash in Sydney. Picture: Getty Images

Originally published as Sad exit looming for Jack as stats reveal alarming form slump