Jack Henry named the Round 7 Rising Star after impressing in Geelong’s backline
LIFELONG Geelong fan Jack Henry couldn’t have asked for a better start to his AFL career, playing six of the first seven games, mentored by club great Matthew Scarlett and now a Rising Star nominee.
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GEELONG legend Matthew Scarlett’s defensive teachings have helped transform the Cats’ season with the club’s unheralded backline ranked No.2 in the AFL over the past month.
Round 7 Rising Star Jack Henry told the Herald Sun Scarlett’s wisdom had filled the Cats’ unheralded backline with confidence.
“Playing as a team would be the main (Scarlett advice) and supporting your teammates down back,” Henry said.
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“With me specifically it’s trying to help my mates if they’re caught in a one-on-one and trying to come across to help intercept or spoil.
“And then when we don’t have a ball it’s setting up behind it, so working as a team and moving proactively as a team.”
Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield dubbed the young backline ‘Scarlo’s disciples’ after they restricted GWS to just four goals on Friday night.
Harry Taylor (foot) is likely to slot into a defensive post against Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday and that could push Jake Kolodjashnij into the midfield or change Mark Blicavs’ role.
Henry’s average of 2.2 intercept marks per game is ranked No.1 at the Cats and he also averages 6.2 intercept possessions.
Henry, 19, was awarded two coach’s votes for his performance against the Giants.
“We did get criticised a little bit when we lost those couple of early games and we got scored pretty heavily against,” Henry said.
“But being able to fix our game defensively, I think that comes with getting to play more games with each other and just being on the same page as a group.
“Confidence is really high. We’re using communication within that as well, so constantly talking and staying really united.”
Geelong leaked 102.3 points from Rounds 1-3 (ranked 16th) but since then it has conceded just 56 points (ranked second).
Scarlett phoned lifelong Cats fan Henry, who lives 1km from Kardinia Park, to tell him he’d earned the Rising Star nomination.
Henry - nicknamed Jumping Jack for his decathlon exploits - told interstate clubs to pass on him before the 2016 rookie draft after learning from recruiter Stephen Wells the Cats would take him.
Triple-premiership full-back Scarlett returned to Geelong in 2015 after stints at the Western Bulldogs and South Barwon.
Senior coach Chris Scott has given his baby backline the licence to play with flair.
“We have a few guys back there that are really strong in the air and we like them to back themselves,” Scott said.
“Go for it until you get outmarked a few times and then you’ve probably got to go back to the basics a bit more.
“We’ve got one of the best defenders of all time, Matthew Scarlett, on our coaching staff (and) Scarlo in particularly was a really attacking defender.”
Henry made his debut in Round 2 as Taylor’s replacement and would be desperately unlucky to make way for his return.
“I’m not sure how team selection is going to look — hopefully I’ll be able to stay in the side,” Henry said.
“Harry’s a great player so who knows.”
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Originally published as Jack Henry named the Round 7 Rising Star after impressing in Geelong’s backline