AFL 2024: Geelong swingman Jack Henry opens up on foot setbacks, role and his brother’s rise
Jack Henry was forced to go under the knife for the third time in 18 months. The important swingman opens up on his wretched run, how he is tracking for 2024 and his brother’s rise.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Jack Henry was in disbelief.
After a spate of injury setbacks to his right foot since the start of 2022, Henry was subbed out of Geelong’s win over Port Adelaide in round 21 after his left foot was accidentally stood on.
Scans confirmed that Henry had torn his Lisfranc ligament, ending his season as the luckless swingman was forced to go under the knife for the third time in 18 months.
Henry had already undergone surgery on his right foot during the pre-season after landing awkwardly against Hawthorn in their practice match, sidelining him for the first nine rounds of the 2023 season.
That was after being restricted to 14 games in 2022 with the same injury, which also came against the Hawks on Easter Monday – just months after going under the knife to fix a bone stress issue in his foot during the 2022 pre-season.
“It was kind of hard to get my head around to be honest and sort of got stepped on awkwardly and tore the Lisfranc,” Henry told this publication.
“I thought I was starting to feel a bit more comfortable again in the games I was playing last year towards the back-end of my season anyway before I got injured.
“I was pretty disappointed and was in a little bit of shock because of the history with all my feet but sort of took a little bit of comfort in knowing that it wasn’t a stress related thing, it was purely just a footy injury and it wasn’t the same side as well.
“It was the first time I’ve had issues on but it was just an unlucky one, got stood on awkwardly and nothing you can do about that. Will be pretty strong by the end of all the rehab I think.
“Guys like Tom Stewart have had them, Brad Close have had them, and they’ve recovered back and you see the way how ‘Stewy’ plays, so it fills me with a lot of confidence that I’ll go back to fully firing.”
After that wretched run, Henry has well and truly found his feet this pre-season.
He has been in full training since returning after the summer break and is feeling as good as he has felt as he enters a contract year.
And he is confident he has overcome the persistent issues with his right foot.
“It’s been really good. I’ve had no interruptions this pre-season which is good and probably as fit as I’ve been at the moment which is nice so hopefully keep that going with some practice matches and ready for the season,” Henry said.
“I haven’t had any setbacks, I knew it was going to be a longer process than some of the stuff I had. I knew it was going to be a long process but everything’s been good and it is slow but I have sort of timed it well where I’ve had a nice chunk of the pre-season in so it’s all good.
“I was pretty confident (with my right foot), it just didn’t really heal properly. I haven’t had any issues since the last surgery to the left side and it’s been probably as strong as it’s been. I’m really confident with how that’s all going and I don’t see that affecting me at all, it’s all good now.”
BACK IN DEFENCE
Henry expects to play both of Geelong’s practice games against Carlton and Essendon and to feature in their bumper opening round clash against St Kilda, with tickets on sale today for the now 40,000 capacity GMHBA Stadium.
And while he spent some time in the attacking over the past two seasons, Henry is set to play as a key position or third tall defender this year with Geelong key forwards fit and firing and Esava Ratugolea heading to Port Adelaide.
The former Geelong Falcon hopes to return to the form that saw him blanket champion Lance Franklin in the 2022 grand final, keeping him to just five touches.
“You’ve kind of got to look back at what I’ve done and think (the grand final is) the sort of standard I want to try to get at least back to, and try and improve on that as well,” Henry said.
“You can’t really get a day like that on ‘Buddy’ without the team performing at an extremely high level. Our mids were dominant, it wasn’t really coming in that cleanly, it makes it easier for us defenders. There’s a lot of facets that go into it but yeah, a good day to remember.
“It is usually pretty last minute when I find out I go forward or usually just filling a bit of a hole if someone’s injured. I think if everyone’s fit I should be playing down back,” Henry said.
“I’ve been playing on bigger guys at training as that second-third tall role that I have been doing a bit more of anyway having lost Harry Taylor, ‘Hendo’ (Lachie Henderson) and those guys in recent years I’ve had to play a bit taller than I was in the first few years at the level.”
Joining him in defence might be No. 10 draft pick Connor O’Sullivan, a 198cm tall who has the endurance and athleticism to play in a halfback role or even on a wing.
But Henry is unsure whether O’Sullivan will be there in round one.
“It’s sort of hard because there is still a bit to go under the bridge but you can’t rule it out and he’s shown a fair bit, so it hopefully would be good if we’ve got a few guy putting their hand up and make it difficult for coaches to decide what the team will be. He’s going well, Connor,” Henry said.
HENRY DUO
As one Henry struggled for opportunity, another sparkled in his first season as a Cat.
Ollie Henry was recognised as Geelong’s best young player at their best-and-fairest night after kicking 41 goals in 22 games in 2023, including 11 majors in the last month of the year.
One of the highlights for Jack as he sat on the sidelines was his brother’s Cats debut against his former side Collingwood, where he kicked two goals and dominated the headlines for his cat themed gesture to the Magpies faithful.
“It was quite theatrical, wasn’t it. Big game, big build-up for it and everything so it was pretty entertaining to watch. It was an exciting game and a bit of feel in it which is always fun,” Jack said with a smile.
Jack was impressed by Ollie’s campaign and hopes to run out in more games with him this season.
“He did pretty well Ollie. We obviously didn’t have the greatest season as a collective but personally he went pretty well, he started to fit in and looked good at times so if he hopes to build off that and plays consistent footy it’s good. Excited to play with him,” Jack said.
“He’s good, he’s athletic, he times his run at the ball well. He can be a very tricky opponent, he knows where the goals are.”
Geelong supporters will be hoping the allure of staying with Ollie will see Jack sign a new deal at the Cats this season.
More Coverage
Originally published as AFL 2024: Geelong swingman Jack Henry opens up on foot setbacks, role and his brother’s rise
VFL Cat, GFNL gun returning to former club with brother
One of the best players in the competition and his brother are heading back to their former club.
Hawkins’ two-headed calf mishap, why Tuohy is ‘born’ for media
Zach Tuohy’s time as a Cat might be done, but coach Chris Scott believes a career in the footy media beckons. Plus, Tuohy reflects on his career and Tom Hawkins details a hilarious pre-game story.