Macdonald shooting for bigger role with new-look Jackies

Development player Sean Macdonald is shooting for a bigger role with the Jackies this year, and scrimmages with a star import will help, while a newly-retired player is settling into coaching life.

Sean Macdonald is confident he can expand his role in his second year with the JackJumpers. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Newly-appointed JackJumpers assistant coach Jarrad Weeks believes taking up the role straight after retirement will help him provide a ‘players perspective’.

And he said a number of new faces in the squad makes it vital to cash in on every minute of pre-season ahead of the franchise’s third season.

The foundation JackJumper announced he was hanging up the boots after playing more than 250 NBL games after last season.

He is one of a handful of players to depart after the club had the luxury of a largely similar squad for its first two years.

Reigning JackJumpers player of the year and All-NBL First team star Milton Doyle has been joined by two fresh imports in post player Marcus Lee and point guard Jordon Crawford as part of a new-look squad.

Weeks said he’s enjoyed the transition to coaching and the squad will lean on the imports’ leadership.

“The players have been responsive so far at least to my face, so I’ll take that,” he joked.

“I think I’ve got a good knowledge of the league after only retiring last year. I’ll help the guys with some video from more of a players’ perspective.

“During the travel days I’ll be back looking after the injured guys and the non-travelling players.

“They’ll be doing a lot of workouts, especially the development players, so that will be my focus.”

Jarrad Weeks is settling into life as a JackJumpers assistant coach after retiring from playing last season. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)

Weeks said jelling as a new group is vital before two pre-season games next week against Melbourne United, part of a pre-season camp in the state’s north and north-west.

“They (imports) have been great, they’re very talented and starting to find their voice a bit more in the group,” Weeks said.

“Milt’s taken another step from last year with his leadership, we’ll lean on those guys.”

Point guard Sean Macdonald is confident he can player a bigger role this season as he enters a second campaign as a development player.

The 23-year-old has shed a few kilos playing for new NBL1 club Darwin Salties in the off-season.

He said daily scrimmages with the 1.68m but fleet-footed Crawford is the ideal preparation.

“Scott (Roth, head coach) has already said some positive things to me this pre season. I can tell the guys trust me, want me to be aggressive and play my game, that helps a lot.

”He (Crawford) is really tough to guard, super shifty and having to guard him every day has been a challenge already.

“That’s what I look forward to and have to get better at, guarding someone with that quickness is tough.

“He plays a lot bigger than he is, gets two feet in the paint, creates a lot of separation, gets guys open and has great hands defensively. He’s going to be really exciting.”

The JackJumpers take on United at Ulverstone on Monday, August 28 and Launceston’s Elphin Sports Centre on Wednesday, August 30.

Ulverstone tickets can be purchased here, and Launceston tickets here.