Jack back on track

THERE were two ways Kieren Jack could have chosen to take his demotion from the Sydney captaincy.

At 29 and seemingly in his prime, Jack had every right to feel disillusioned after being informed by the Swans hierarchy that they saw him “transitioning” into the twilight of his career and that it was time for Josh Kennedy, a man just 12 months his junior, to take the reins.

After all, Jack had only just guided his side into a grand final and agonisingly short of a premiership.

Option B was to recognise the decision wasn’t about him, but about the future of the club.

The latter is the road Jack took and, after an injury and a form slump threatened to end his career as promptly as he’d been stripped of the captaincy, he is back on top.

Chief executive Andrew Ireland doesn’t sugar-coat the fact Jack was disappointed to be told to step aside.

However, his readiness to get behind Kennedy has reinvigorated the club’s famous Bloods culture when they needed it the most, having started the season 0-6.

“He’s been a great player for the club for a long time and as long as he stays injury-free and can get a bit of a run at it, he has shown since coming back that he’s still a very important player for us,” Ireland said.

Jack played through the early rounds carrying a debilitating hip injury, but Ireland said the former skipper’s influence on the Swans’ play had not diminished.

“He’s that hybrid mix. He’s strong enough despite not having a big frame to mix it up,” Ireland said.

“He’s a strong tackler but he’s also got the speed both ways, which helps us a lot.”