Jayden Hunt has come back into the Melbourne side at a time of need, with the team seeking a solution to a mid-season form slump that may continue tonight against the rampaging Magpies. Hunt has looked at times like he not best 22 for the Demons due to his defensive skills not quite being up to snuff, but they desperately need some line-breaking pace on rebound and that is Hunt's one wood. Like Ed Langdon, if Hunt is to cement himself in the senior side he won't be of fantasy use but he will enable others to do what they do best - feeding off his hard running.
Jayden Hunt has come back into the Melbourne side at a time of need, with the team seeking a solution to a mid-season form slump that may continue tonight against the rampaging Magpies. Hunt has looked at times like he not best 22 for the Demons due to his defensive skills not quite being up to snuff, but they desperately need some line-breaking pace on rebound and that is Hunt's one wood. Like Ed Langdon, if Hunt is to cement himself in the senior side he won't be of fantasy use but he will enable others to do what they do best - feeding off his hard running.
On the Hunt for majors
Following an injury-plagued 2018 season, speedster Jayden Hunt transitioned from half back to forward last year. The Dee excelled with goal output, averaging a goal per outing which included a career-high three against the Bombers in round 3. Hunt brings speed to a one-paced side and will be heavily relied upon to perform once more. Exhilarating at his best, this has never translated to fantasy production. Cross him off the list.
Jayden Hunt lost his way a little bit last season, with his one-wood of dashes from defence being a good trick but not enough of the rest of his game following. He has been reinvented as a half forward, and in that role has found a nice vein of form making him a viable pick up in draft leagues, if not quite relevant in salary camp competitions. Melbourne's midfield still produces a lot of inside 50s and they are always looking for conduits to goal, which is Hunt's new aim. His fortunes will rise with the rest of his team as his confidence grows.
Search for Jayden's mojo
Ankle injuries ruined Jayden Hunt's 2018 in the end, but even without that he had been struggling to complete his game. He is known for flashy runs down the wing streaming out of half back; his defensive efforts during other parts of the game leave something to be desired. At VFL level he reproduced his 2017 average of 18 disposals, but could only manage 12 in the seniors. He went in for shoulder surgery in the off season. There is a place in the AFL for line-breaking small defenders, with Adam Saad and Zac Williams making a success out that gamestyle. If Hunt wants to get back into the Demon defence, he will have to avoid the knocks and then knuckle down for the less glamorous work in between excursions upfield. He will probably catch the eye in the JLT, and someone will burn a flier pick on him.
Hunting for consistency
We know what the best of Jayden Hunt looks like, breaking the lines with dash and flair. He reached 20 possessions six times in a full season in 2017, up from two in his debut year, though he had a very quiet May and June following a head bump in a clash with Sam Jacobs, plus a few other knocks along the way. Hunt's average has been going up so 2018 would not quite be a bounceback season, but he's got some slack to take up in his numbers given that period of lesser production. If he can avoid the bruises, he should be able to add ten points on his trailing average even before considering natural progression. This puts his draft value in middle rounds.
