Jarrod Witts opens up about becoming a dominant ruck at Gold Coast
In his own words Jarrod Witts’ AFL career looked grim in 2016 at Collingwood. Three years on and he is not only Gold Coast’s preferred ruckman, but their co-captain and newest club champion who has bridged the gap on the AFL’s premier and All-Australian ruckmen Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn.
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IN his own words Jarrod Witts’ AFL career looked grim in 2016 at Collingwood.
Three years on and he is not only Gold Coast’s preferred ruckman, but their co-captain and newest club champion who has bridged the gap on the AFL’s premier and All-Australian ruckmen Brodie Grundy and Max Gawn.
“I wouldn’t have thought I would have been in this position three years ago,” Witts said after winning the Suns club champion award by the biggest margin in the club’s history on Saturday.
“I always believed I could play, I just needed that opportunity and Gold Coast were the ones who were going to be able to give me that.
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“They weren’t just going to hand it to me. I still had to work for it when I came up, we have got some quality guys in the ruck.
“I’m just glad I was able to get some continuity early and that set me up and then from there I put layers on to my game and touch wood I have been able to stay out there.”
Witts played 40 games in five seasons for the Magpies but managed just two in 2016 as Grundy became their preferred ruck option.
The 208cm talent was unsure of his future but being traded to the Suns for picks 44 and 62 of the national draft breathed new life into his career.
Witts has missed just four games over the past three seasons, playing every game in 2018 and 2019 and going to a new level this year on the back of the added responsibility the captaincy title brings.
The 26-year-old set a new record (1007) for most hit-outs in the home and away season while leading from the front for the struggling club.
Witts said it has been a career-best year and polled an unprecedented 553 votes in the club champion count, 136 ahead of runner-up and fellow co-captain and midfielder David Swallow (417) while Darcy MacPherson (368) finished in third.
“Being able to put myself in a position to play every game allows for that continuity and confidence to grow,” Witts said.
“I’m really thankful to have been able to play every game and churn out some consistent footy.
“Being able to put myself in a position to get to more contests, I put a power of work into the pre-season and off-season and that set me up to be able to play more game time and to get to more contests essentially.
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The way we play as a club is a contested style of footy and that suits me in terms of the hit-outs.”
Witts said the drive to match the quality of Grundy and Gawn would keep ensure he sought further improvement in 2020.
“They are definitely the two right up there. I’d like to think I’m still chasing those guys, they are quality players and there are some elements to my game that I would like to build on to get to their level,” Witts said.
“That’s the goal and that’s what I’m chasing and that is what will keep driving me to get me up in the morning.”
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