After playing for Poowong in a 1st semi-final loss in 2019 and six matches in the VFL with Box Hill this season Jai Newcombe was selected by Hawthorn in the 2021 AFL mid-season draft and made his AFL debut against Sydney on the 11th June this year. He has since gone on the play against Essendon, GWS and last week Port Adelaide. All in the space of six matches the young Poowong star rocketed from the Ellinbank & District Football League to the AFL. It sounds like every boy’s fantasy but that is the truth behind his meteoric rise into bigtime footy. To add to Jai’s fairy tale story he was also a Hawthorn supporter.
Jai started his football career in the WDJFL at U10 level with Hallora where he played over 100 matches between 2009 and 2015. In 2016 he joined Poowong in the EDFL where he played another 60 games at U16 &18 level. In 2018 he made his senior debut with the Magpies and went on to play 38 matches in the ones before joining Box Hill.
He made it to the AFL in an unconventional way having not come through the TAC now NAB Cup competition after getting cut by Gippsland Power in successive years. “Getting overlooked by Gippsland is a big deal so I was disappointed,” said Jai. One thinks it fuelled his strong willed character to prove the Power wrong. Jai did make it on the Gippsland Power list as an overage player in 2020 but with no football due to Covid never got to show his talent.
In 2019 he starred in the U18 Gippsland Football championship winning the player of the carnival award. Jai said it was around this time he felt he was a “reasonable footballer and his performances at both senior level and the junior carnival reassured his beliefs.”
Many may be bemused how a player in a district football league could adapt to the fitness required at AFL level but Jai was adamant “the Pre-season in 2020 with Gippsland Power was really intense and it opened my eyes how you needed to prepare to get more professional.”
Mentors are important and Jai agreed. He praised a number of former AFL stars in his VFL coach Sam Mitchell, midfield coach Clinton Young along with triple AFL premiership player Andy Collins for their advice. Jai said he was also indebted to his new house mate Jaeger O’Meara along with current Hawk stars Liam Shiels and Tommy Mitchell along with ex Carlton coach Brendan Bolton and now Hawthorn coaching director for their wise words and encouragement.
Queried on those to have the biggest influence on his career he did not have to hesitate, “my father who coached me when I started playing footy and Ted Attenborough who taught me a lot about work and life balance”. His father Clint is an EDFL life member and current Poowong Secretary and Ted is also an EDFL life member and the current club President.
Asked about his goals in the future Jai did not want to make any commitments, “I’ll take it as is goes. I don’t want to get to ahead of myself but hope to develop a more offensive side to my game in the upcoming weeks. So far I have been very defensively focussed.”
Quizzed about his composure before his AFL debut Jai said “thought I would be more nervous than I was. The crowd was overwhelming but as game proceeded my focus shifted to my role.”
In his third AFL match and against GWS and when the game was on the line Jai kicked his first goal – a set shot from 55 metres out. About it Jai offered “felt I had a connection on the ball and it was great the boys got around me.”
Sounds like Jai is fulfilling his childhood dreams.
Last Modified on 08/07/2021 18:13