Improving Tiger Jayden Short is set for a significant pay rise when he signs his next contract
JAYDEN Short was unlucky to miss Richmond’s 2017 premiership. But he has used that disappointment to drive him throughout a brilliant 2018. Has any player shown more improvement this year?
Richmond
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DAMIEN Hardwick’s opinion of Jayden Short as one of the AFL’s most improved players will strengthen his claims for a significant pay rise.
Short, 22, is another Richmond recruiting masterstroke, the No.11 pick in the 2015 rookie draft who on Saturday plays his 49th senior game.
After booting a goal with his first kick in Round 2, 2016, Short was repurposed as a small running defender after a month in the VFL.
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This year he has emerged as the AFL’s No.1 player for metres gained (average 526m), ahead of Adelaide’s Paul Seedsman (523m), Hawk James Sicily (516m) and Giants Josh Kelly (512m) and Heath Shaw (511m).
Richmond players consistently get the ball into Short’s hands because of his elite kicking skills.
Hardwick said on Thursday he was thrilled Short had continued to improve after losing his spot in Round 18 last year and missing the finals campaign.
“He’s been terrific, hasn’t he?” Hardwick said. “And he’s the reason we sit where we are. His season last year was pretty good. He unfortunately just lost a little bit of form at the wrong end of the season.
“But he is, as far as I’m concerned, one of the most improved players in the AFL.
“He’s always had that ability to play the game but he’s just taken it to a new level and the way he trains and how popular he is with his teammates is testament to the way he’s going on field.
“He’s an incredible player and we’re very fortunate he’s playing a great brand of footy for us.”
While Nathan Broad and Nick Vlastuin are handed the most dangerous opposition small forwards, Short is surprisingly adaptable.
This year he has conceded two goals to a direct opponent only once — against Giant Zac Langdon.
Far from a defensive liability despite his attacking game, he has shut down Hawthorn’s Luke Breust, Saint Jade Gresham and Sydney’s Ben Ronke.
Against Gresham in Round 10, Short had 10 possessions to two in 37 minutes. In Round 3, he kept Breust goalless in 35 minutes while amassing eight possessions to his rival’s five.
Football analyst David King has urged rivals to put more time into Short, identifying his dangerous weapons early this season.
Short has used missing the Grand Final as motivation, but his form can’t hurt his contract negotiations either.
His management rebuffed an early contract offer described as “bargain basement”, content to let him prove his worth.
He said recently he was content to let his manager work through any deal, but his exceptional form puts him in a strong bargaining position.
If he can roar home with continued strong form and sneak into the All-Australian squad of 40, he strengthens his case even further.
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