What Will He Bring: Lachie Jaques

Having sat idly by for over an hour of Night One of the draft, waiting for their first selection at Pick 20, the Western Bulldogs were on the clock within minutes in Night Two, have the second selection of the evening, and the 29th overall in the draft.

Despite having five minutes to make their selection, the Bulldogs wasted little more than 90 seconds before calling out Lachie Jaques, a rebounding defender from the Geelong Falcons.

THE PLAYER:

Name: Lachie Jaques

Height: 184cm

Position: Defender

Club: Geelong Falcons

WHAT THEY SAID:

“A medium defender who showed the great ability to read cues to intercept mark then use the ball with precision on the rebound. He averaged 16.2 disposals at 78.5 per cent efficiency and 4.8 marks for Victoria Country at the National Championships and won All Australian honours, with his composure a feature of his play. Was a dominant player as captain of the Geelong Falcons, averaging 23 disposals in 14 matches. Capped his year by earning selection in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year and claiming the Falcons’ best and fairest award.” – AFL Talen Ambassador Kevin Sheehan

2024 SEASON:

Named co-captain of the Geelong Falcons at the start of the year, Jaques began the season in fine form, recording 25 disposals or more in five of his first seven games of the season, impressing with both his ability to rebound out of defence and his intercepting skills. Jacques took out the club’s best and fairest award after averaging 22.6 disposals and six marks from his 14 games for the Falcons, and secured All-Australian honours as he led the Falcons to the Minor Premiership.

His form was rewarded with a call-up for Vic Country in the U18 Championships, and impressed there as well in the four games he played, with Champion Data rating him elite for intercept marks, and above average in disposals, kicking efficiency, marks and intercept possessions.

WHAT WILL HE BRING: 

Jaques is a well-balanced back-flanker who impressed throughout 2024 with both his rebounding and intercepting abilities. He has no trouble finding the football across half back, with his average of almost 23 disposals a testament to that, but an overall disposal efficiency of 78.5% throughout the Coates Talent League says that he is also a good distributor of the ball, which is particularly impressive given that he is an aggressive rebounder who looks to take the game on as opposed to playing it safe.

But when he isn’t embarking on marauding runs out of defence, Jaques is regularly seen reading the play well deep in defence, which allows him to display the full array of his intercepting skills. Jaques reads the play well enough to cut off the angles when the opposition try to move forward, but even when caught in a contested marking situation, he is still more than capable of winning the contest, despite being built at just 184cm.

Throughout 2024, the Bulldogs defenders that enjoyed successful seasons were those that have that intercepting capacity. Liam Jones enjoyed another fine season, while Rory Lobb and Buku Khamis were two who also enjoyed purple patches during the year. While it’s unlikely that we’ll see Jaques jump the queue ahead of Round 1, he has all the traits that defensive coach Daniel Pratt loves his players to have, so will be well-equipped to slot into the Bulldogs defence should he be called upon. His disposal efficiency will also mean that he can relied upon to bring the ball out of the backline, providing addition support to primary rebounders Bailey Dale and Lachie Bramble.