Freakish AFL South Coast young gun Jack Woeckel-Hynes kicking seven goals a game
The Premier Division of AFL South Coast is being dominated by a young gun kicking more goals than some entire teams combined. So what’s his secret?
Illawarra Star
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It’s not often that after four rounds of footy a single player can boast an individual haul better than entire teams combined.
This is the unique case of Jack Woeckel-Hynes, a 21-year-old tearing up the Men’s Premier Division in the South Coast AFL.
The Wollongong Bulldogs forward has kicked 29 goals in four games - more than double his nearest competitor.
All the more impressive is how grounded and humble the young star is.
“My goal for the year is just to do anything I can for the team,” Woeckel-Hynes said.
“If that’s kicking goals it’s kicking goals, if it’s taking marks it’s taking marks. I’m here to do my part and grow as a player.”
Playing his junior footy in Albury, Woeckel-Hynes is in his third season with the Wollongong Bulldogs now.
Working his way back from a knee reconstruction, he played mostly second grade last season with a few stints in the first team, but wasn’t selected in the side for the grand final against Figtree.
Coach James Millman had nothing but praise for the way Woeckel-Hynes has elevated his game this season.
“He’s been exceptional,” Millman said.
“He came back after a tough year last year, I had him marked as someone who could potentially see some significant growth with consistent footy.
“He’s got a long way to go still in his football development, but he’s continually working and improving on things each week.
“The world is his oyster.”
The efforts of Woeckel-Hynes have contributed to the undefeated start to the season from the Wollongong Bulldogs, the highlight being their 106-48 triumph last week over defending champions the Figtree Kangaroos in a grand final rematch.
Millman recalls how he talked to Woeckel-Hynes during preparation for the big match about finding other ways for him to get involved on the field against tougher oppositions.
“I told him he wasn’t going to be scoring seven goals every week,” Millman said.
“Maybe against some of the smaller sides, but not against the big boys like Figtree.
“Then he went out and scored eight – really put an egg on my face.”
Both Millman and Woeckel-Hynes emphasised there are many more cogs turning in the Bulldogs system, highlighting the leadership group of Josh Thomas, Eddie Keogh and Ryan Allen as pivotal to the Bulldogs’ early season success.
“Those boys are real influences to me to keep going and better myself,” Woeckel-Hynes said.
“Making sure I’m putting in the extras in pre-season, helping me put on a bit of extra weight, that’s what those boys are there to help me do.”
Woeckel-Hynes is taking things one game at a time, but isn’t ruling out advancing his footy career to higher levels should opportunities arise in the future.
The Bulldogs will look to keep their winning run going this Saturday as they host Kiama Power at Croom Road Oval, 1:50pm.
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