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Ben Jacobs: Making his mark

16th September, 2015
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Roar Guru
16th September, 2015
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As North Melbourne defeated Richmond in the elimination final by 17 points, many of the usual suspects stood up for the Kangaroos to ensure victory.

Players such as Brent Harvey, Andrew Swallow, Jack Ziebell and Jarrad Waite played significant roles. One name who was high among the best for his tagging role on Trent Cotchin was Ben Jacobs.

Jacobs may not be the flashiest player in the team, but he is finally starting to find his niche at North Melbourne. All of a sudden he looks an integral part of a Kangaroos side looking to advance deeper in September.

Jacobs has not had the easiest of starts to life in the AFL. The highly rated junior was picked up by Port Adelaide with pick 16 in the 2010 draft. Given the number 16 guernsey vacated by club great Warren Tredrea, Jacobs was seen as a long-term player for the club.

An All-Australian player at the NAB Under-18 Championships, he had the ability to run all day, take a contested mark and use the ball well by hand and involve his teammates in link up play. Jacobs was seen as someone who could add some much needed class to a struggling Port Adelaide side.

Yet Jacobs only played 26 games for Port Adelaide and at the end of 2012 requested a trade to North Melbourne. Jacobs never really seemed to settle at Port, a bout of glandular fever when he first joined the club and mixed form limited his output. It also did not help that Port Adelaide were playing some of the worst football in the AFL competition at the time.

Jacobs’ departure coincided with Ken Hinkley arriving at Alberton as the new senior coach. Hinkley was keen for Jacobs to remain at Alberton but the decision was already made.

Certainly life at North Melbourne has not been easy for Ben Jacobs either, as he found himself in and out of the side. This was evidenced when Jacobs only signed a one-year contract extension, though this has now triggered a second year after his performances this year.

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2015 has seen Jacobs play 21 games, the most in his career to date. Averaging 16 disposals a game the numbers are not particularly high, but his ability to play the shutdown role is vital.

Sydney awaits this weekend for North Melbourne and another big challenge awaits Jacobs, possibly Josh Kennedy. The tagging role requires a high level of concentration and discipline; it is a role that seems to be getting the best out of Ben Jacobs.

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