JASKA’S REASON TO HOPE
BIG FINISH TO YEAR A CAUSE FOR HOPE
KEY defender Josh Jaska has insured his football future by penning deals with Geelong VFL and St Mary’s in case his AFL dream is not realised.
But at least five AFL clubs have been in contact with the Aireys Inlet teenager before the November 24 draft, keeping alive his hopes of securing a spot on a list.
Selected as a 19-year-old for the Falcons’ 2017 campaign — after a starring season in Anglesea’s seniors — Jaska made his impression felt.
Only a month into his TAC Cup campaign, he was on the radar of Vic Country scouts, and while by his own reckoning his national carnival failed to produce any highlights, his back half of 2017 kept him in the eye line of AFL scouts.
“It’s been quite the experience, that’s for sure,” Jaska told the Geelong Advertiser.
“It’s probably been a pretty big 12 months and I didn’t think coming into it I’d have as much fun in the Falcons program, knowing how intense it can be at times.
“It’s been great for me and I think I’ve really flourished with the challenge of highlevel football, for sure.
“I had a pretty good first five games and everyone was making a big deal and was probably surprised in how I was playing from where I’ve come from.
“I had a real down patch through Vic Country — I didn’t play great football and was a bit down on confidence — that took me back a little bit.
“But I sort of set myself for the last six or seven games before finals to get my selfconfidence back and really go hard the last four games before finals.”
It is exactly what he did, showcasing his ability to intercept-mark and spoil his opponent in both of Falcons’ elimination and preliminary finals.
With the possibility of a late call in the national draft or next month’s rookie draft, Jaska holds hope of finding an AFL home.
“I’ve been speaking to my manager, and, if I go, it will probably be outside the top 50 or more probably rookie draft at this stage,” he said.
“I’ve had probably three clubs meet with me and my parents, and another two that have been in contact, so it’s one of those things — they don’t give away too much.
“(But) I don’t want to be left in a bad spot after it, so I’ve ended up signing for St Mary’s and I’ve obviously got the VFL to look forward to if everything doesn’t go my way.”
Jaska said he would not be making a big deal of the November 24 draft, deciding to watch at home with his immediate family.