Jed Bews is a bit of a whipping boy for Geelong fans, perhaps undeservedly so as there is nothing particular wrong with him as a player. Perhaps that's the problem: that he has no one-wood. He's not quick enough to be an effective rebounding back flanker. His lockdown work is middling, hardly earning a reputation for keeping small goalsneaks quiet. He is also the wrong age profile for the Cats' list, top-heavy as it is with older players who have better CVs than he ever will. He has been plying his trade in the VFL, and most would say that is where he belongs.
Jed Bews is a bit of a whipping boy for Geelong fans, perhaps undeservedly so as there is nothing particular wrong with him as a player. Perhaps that's the problem: that he has no one-wood. He's not quick enough to be an effective rebounding back flanker. His lockdown work is middling, hardly earning a reputation for keeping small goalsneaks quiet. He is also the wrong age profile for the Cats' list, top-heavy as it is with older players who have better CVs than he ever will. He has been plying his trade in the VFL, and most would say that is where he belongs.
Little praise for a Bews
Despite injury delaying his 2019 start, Geelong's coaches were impressed with Jed Bews' ability to play the team-first role in the back six, gifting him a two year contract extension until the end of 2021. Bews sees little involvement in rebounding and intercept work. With Jake Kolodjashnij's spot now all but cemented and Jack Henry proving useful, it might be tough for Bews to maintain a regular berth. Regardless, his scoring is poor. No thank you, Jed.
No queues for Bews
A shoulder injury sidelined Bews for part of late 2018 and he was cleared of any serious damage, though he did have postseason surgery and has focused more on running instead of contact drills in the preseason. Over his five seasons at Geelong, Bews’ best output was a meagre 52.5 in his role as a lockdown defender. After establishing himself as an almost-regular in 2018, Bews should be able to hold down his spot in the defensive line. Regardless, he’s not the type of player we’d want in our fantasy lineups due to his low scoring ability. Pass on Bews in the draft.
Story 'bout a man named Jed
A preseason experiment to convert Jed Bews into a pressure forward was swiftly discarded when he reappeared in the senior team in round 6 last season, and he was assigned the opposition's best small forward every week without troubling the statisticians much. The Cats don't have anyone else who can play that lockdown role as well as Bews on their list and, while they also don't have a defensive forward, robbing Peter to pay Paul wasn't deemed to be a good idea. Defence wins championships, so he'll continue in that position.
