Champion Data reveals Geelong defender Jack Henry is in career-best form

In career-best form according to Champion Data, a Geelong defender feels like he’s becoming the general of the Cats’ back six.

Jack Henry at the club’s open training session earlier this month. Picture: Brad Fleet

Geelong defender Jack Henry feels like he’s become a leader in the back six with premiership teammates battling injury this year.

With Tom Stewart’s PCL issue earlier in the season, Sam De Koning sidelined with an AC for four games and Jake Kolodjashnij yet to play due to ongoing groin issues, Henry has become the mainstay since returning in Round 10 after an injury of his own, a five-week hamstring strain.

The 26-year-old, alongside Zach Guthrie, have helped usher in the next generation of backs with Lawson Humphries and Connor O’Sullivan arriving via the 2023 national draft.

Champion Data numbers show Henry having a career-best season across marks, intercept marks and intercept possessions and second best for disposals.

When asked if he felt like he had become bigger leader down back, Henry said that was the ultimate goal.

Jack Henry has captured his career-best form following a five-week hamstring injury. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images.

“Naturally, as the deeper defender especially, you kind of have that responsibility whether you like it or not, so it’s definitely something I’ve worked on and wanting to be a bigger part of my game,’ Henry said.

“I think naturally a small bit. I feel like I’m playing consistent enough footy, just doing my bit for the team at the moment.

“I feel pretty confident rolling in every week.”

Henry said the back six had looked “very different at times” this season, praising the recent form of Oisin Mullin.

“It gives guys a chance to stand up I think, we’ve seen ‘Sully’ having a good, breakout year, he’s been very important,” he said.

“He has to play that role (to play deep) as well, one of his strengths is actually how vocal he is and how he sees the game, and he can help direct and help those guys up the field.

“(Mark O’Connor has) had a good clean run at it.

“It was nice having (Oisin Mullin) back there on the weekend, he did an awesome job, he’s playing with a lot of confidence.

“I would hate to have him playing on me as a forward or a mid. A nice guy but just a brutal competitor on the field.”

Henry appeared reasonably confident Stewart would be right to face North Melbourne on Saturday after being subbed out with a knee issue against St Kilda.

Post-match, coach Chris Scott thought his veteran defender may have jarred the knee, saying he “should be fine”.

Henry gets a hand on Maurice Rioli in Round 17. Picture: James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

The five-time All Australian had battled a PCL issue since the Round 2 match against St Kilda and was noticeably hobbling against Carlton a few weeks later before being sidelined for the next three games.

“I haven’t spoken to him heaps ... he seemed pretty good ... up and moving,” Henry said.

“I don’t know the little details but from what I’ve gathered it seems like he might play (against North Melbourne).

“He always wants to get up every week, so he’s definitely going to give himself a good shot.”

Meanwhile, Henry says his good mate, Carlton’s Francis Evans, is in good spirits despite breaking his nose and losing a tooth in a collision with Melbourne backman Steve May on Saturday night.

May’s hit at the MCG in the third quarter, as both players went for the ball, was “probably one that lives a bit in the grey”, Henry believes, with some players avoiding suspension earlier this season despite being involved in collisions which caused concussion.

The Demons premiership player will face the tribunal on Wednesday night.

On Tuesday, Henry said he had checked in with Evans but was reluctant to have a firm opinion on whether May should be suspended or not.

Francis Evans leaves the field after his collision with Steven May. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images.

“I’m good mates with Francis, so I’ve obviously checked in with him and how he’s going,” Henry said.

“I don’t have a firm opinion to be honest, it’s a tough one ... it’s probably the one that lives a bit in the grey.

“I’m not sure what the right answer is to be honest.

“(Evans) just messaged and said he’s feeling OK, that’s extent of it probably.”

Meanwhile, skipper Patrick Dangerfield will play his 200th match for the Cats on Saturday, with Henry saying, like Mullin, the captain was a different beast on the ground compared to his off-field persona.

“You’d think he’s the most aggressive man on the planet,” he said.

“So nice and bubbly and caring (off the ground), I think that’s a pretty cool trait that he can switch from his competitiveness to when he needs to be compared to how he is as a person.

“He’s just a good guy you can lean on with anything you need with anything, I think that says a lot about him.”

Originally published as Champion Data reveals Geelong defender Jack Henry is in career-best form