A once talented track and field athlete, Geelong Falcons utility Jack Henry, is now satisfied about choosing football over athletics.
The 18-year-old has enjoyed a lot of team success over the past two seasons, winning back-to-back Associated Catholic Colleges premierships with Geelong’s St Joseph’s College and this year’s Herald Sun Shield, as well as a colts flag at St Mary’s last season.
He has a chance to add another premiership medallion to his collection this season with the Falcons, who will meet the Sandringham Dragons in a preliminary final at IKON Park on Saturday.
But it was only at the beginning of last year when Henry reached great heights in the decathlon, finishing third in the under-18 men’s event at the Australian Combined Event Championships in Brisbane.
This was around the same team his footy was becoming serious and he inevitably had to choose between the two sports.
Being a part of a team environment combined with his love of the game saw him choose football.
“I just love playing with all my mates and even the sport itself; I just love footy a lot more,” he said.
“Obviously there are more pathways and I think I can take my footy further than I could with athletics.
“It was a bit easier in the end to convert to footy.”
Geelong Falcons coach Andrew Allthorpe expects Henry to stand up like he’s done all year in his side’s big clash against the Dragons.
“He’s definitely someone who plays well in that sort of moment for those big games,” he said.
“I just think he doesn’t get too lost in the emotion of it; he just plays the game in front of him and if something goes wrong he can just easily move on from it and try to impact the next contest.”
It’s no surprise that the former decathlete’s strongest feature is his athleticism, closely followed by his natural football smarts.
Despite missing a handful of mid-year matches after injuring his fibula, Henry has been a mainstay in Geelong’s line-up playing on a wing, up forward and pinch-hitting in the ruck.
With 21 goals from 12 matches, his consistency has impressed Allthorpe.
“I don’t actually remember him playing a bad game—he’s always contributed,” he said.
“There hasn’t been a massive fluctuation in form with him; it’s just consistent effort and performance.”
Henry played for Vic Country in its first game of the division one national championships against Western Australia at Domain Stadium.
He was serviceable in the 61-point loss, but benefited playing with and against some of the country’s best prospects.
“It was a great privilege to represent my state and a great experience travelling with the team,” he said.
“It was the closest thing to playing AFL in a sense. I got to meet a lot of good people and learnt heaps of new stuff, so I’ll definitely never forget the whole experience.”
The 191cm AFL hopeful idolises former steeplechaser—now Geelong star—Mark Blicavs.
“I’ve really liked the Mark Blicavs story,” he said. “I look up to him… he’s really inspired me in a way how he came from athletics to footy and made such a successful transition.”
The fact that Henry can play in the forward half, midfield and ruck will certainly appeal to a number of AFL clubs, according to Allthorpe.
“He’s such a versatile and flexible player who can play multiple roles,” the coach said.
“I think once he gets into that elite environment they could probably develop him more and even maybe teach him to play half back.
“If he learnt that then he could become a really versatile player for whichever club chooses to pick him up.”
Henry believes his side can deliver the Falcons their third premiership and first since 2000.
“I just think we were underrated as a side coming into this whole year and even into the finals,” he said.
“We definitely think we’re good enough to beat anyone… hopefully we take it all the way.”