Jack Henry on his Round 1 snub and why it has ‘made me less complacent’

Jack Henry was overlooked by the Cats in Round 1 but has emerged as one of the competition’s best young defenders in 2021 as he prepares for the third preliminary final of his career.

Jack Henry is one of the AFL’s best young defenders. Picture: Getty

Improving Cats defender Jack Henry says his Round 1 snub has “made me less complacent” and helped him enjoy a breakout year.

Henry’s season started in a VFL practice match at Deakin Reserve when Geelong was upset by Adelaide in its season-opener at Adelaide Oval.

But the reliable backman has since played every game and will surely improve on his eighth-placed finish in last year’s Carji Greeves Medal when this season’s count is held for the club’s best-and-fairest.

Jack Henry takes an intercept grab. Picture: Michael Klein

The former rookie-listed player said he was disappointed to be overlooked for Round 1 but used the opportunity to work on his form.

“I really just tried to get to work on that in the VFL game I played and at training I just did a lot of extra work, in particular my ground balls and using my strength to try and get out of tackles and get better looks off winning the ball back,” Henry said.

“It probably, in a way, helped me and made me less complacent. It was never really too much more than that.”

The 23-year-old was one of the Cats’ brightest players in their qualifying final defeat against Port Adelaide and his improvement has helped cover for the loss of triple All-Australian Tom Stewart.

Henry has lost only 16 per cent of one-on-one contests (he was won 35 per cent and neutralised 49 per cent) this year, according to Champion Data.

He said he had improved on his contest work and follow-up efforts.

“I’ve played a bit more on bigger bodies this year and I feel like I’ve competed well and also just trying to be a bit more involved in the game — trying to win the ball rather than just halve it,” he said.

“A lot of the coaches, they want me to back myself and maybe it took a bit of realisation that I can be better in certain areas.

“I’ve really just tried to back myself in and be confident.”

There has also been a lift in his disposals, uncontested possessions, marks, intercept marks, intercept possessions and spoils since Stewart went out of the team.

Jack Henry warming up ahead of the semi-final. Picture: Getty

His importance to Geelong’s future was highlighted when he inked a three-year deal in April, extending his stay at GMHBA Stadium until the end of 2024.

Henry said the “tough love” treatment had helped his development into one of the competition’s best young defenders.

“I remember sitting down early days that pre-season with ‘Scarlo’ (assistant coach Matthew Scarlett) and he wanted to be a bit harder on me to take my game to another level,” he said.

“It was always, like it would be for everyone, the intention to get better and maybe that was just a way of that tough love.

“I definitely think, in terms of not being complacent with my game, it’s definitely helped me and just wanting to be better and wanting to do things that ultimately will help the team rather than just go through my career being at the one level.

“I still want to keep getting better and better.

“It definitely highlights that and I attribute a bit of it to that.”

WITH AND WITHOUT TOM STEWART

R1-21

Disposals: 14.1

Uncontested Possessions: 8.5

Marks: 6.2

Intercept marks: 2.1

Intercept possessions: 5.6

Spoils: 4.6

R22-semi-final

Disposals: 14.3

Uncontested possessions: 9.5

Marks: 7.3

Intercept marks: 3.8

Intercept possessions: 7.5

Spoils: 5.0

KEY DEFENDER PROFILING

Disposals: 14.1 (above average)

Uncontested possessions: 8.7 (above average)

Marks: 6.4 (above average)

Intercept marks: 2.3 (above average)

Intercept possessions: 6.0 (Above average)

Spoils: 4.7 (Average)

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Originally published as Jack Henry on his Round 1 snub and why it has ‘made me less complacent’