Stand-out … Williamstown’s Jack Frost has impressed as an athletic defender this season. 66237 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By Michael Esposito
WHEN Williamstown’s Jack Frost kept Port Melbourne power forward Callum Sinclair to just one goal in the VFL reserves clash last month, it was a sign the young defender was beginning to find some form.
When he then kept Sinclair, a former VFL team of the year member, goalless the week after, there was no doubt about it. Frost was starting to hit his straps.
But his momentum was interrupted when he was sidelined for three weeks with sinus issues. Last Saturday was his second game back and Frost is keen to make an impression.
Williamstown’s development coach Justin Plapp said the 19 year old had the attributes of an AFL footballer.
“If you’re talking about the modern AFL footballer, Jack’s got all the makings to be heading in that direction,” Plapp said.
“He’s a tall, very agile, key position player that can play at both ends of the ground. Jack’s development since he’s come to the club has been on a bit of an increase since round one.”
Frost is one of four players who have come out of the under-18s last year who have been identified as major talents at Williamstown. The other three are Dale Hoghton, Stephen Witkowski and Dylan Conway.
All four are in the Liam Picken Academy, which is designed to equip young players with AFL-ready skills but also to make its participants more well-rounded individuals.
“I’ve never heard of anything like it at a footy club,” Frost said of the academy. If nothing works out with footy I think it’s a good basis to have when you come out.”
But Frost certainly has an AFL career still in his sights, which is one reason why he decided to sign with Williamstown
“Because of Williamstown’s strong record in the last couple of years, I thought going to Williamstown was probably the best option for my development and under the guidance of Peter German and Justin Plapp, I thought it was a good move,” he said.
Frost said he struggled to meet performance targets set by the team early in the season, but has found his feet in the past few weeks.
The 195cm defender from the Sandringham Dragons has a deceptive burst of speed and has a touch of Dustin Fletcher about him with his wiry frame and athleticism.
He took part in the AFL state combine last year and was invited to train with the Western Bulldogs at the start of this year.
“He’s going to be a kid that we’re trying to develop as much as possible because I would have thought that AFL clubs would look at him and say he’s a good size, he’s a good shape, he’s got all the natural abilities that you probably want from an AFL footballer,” Plapp said.
“We’ve played him on players who have played a really high level and he’s done really well on them.
Plapp coached Box Hill’s reserves to a premiership last year, but said he wouldn’t be judged on team success, but on moulding individuals, particularly those in their second or third year that have struggled to crack into the senior team.
“You’re not really manufacturing a team to win you’re actually just developing individual players,” he said.
