By ADEM SARICAOGLU
THE “roller coaster ride” that has so far been Mark Orr’s TAC Cup experience was never quite going to be a smooth one.
After all, very few are.
At 195cm and weighing in at 97kg, Orr is easily the biggest and most physically imposing figure on the Western Jets’ list.
It’s that kind of frame that makes Orr a valuable commodity, which is why the Jets have been so keen to develop the long-time ruckman into a versatile centre-half forward.
To make such an adjustment will obviously not happen overnight, but Orr is prepared for a long haul which if successful, could well land him on an AFL list by year’s end.
“It is very different to the ruck,” Orr said.
“The way I play ruck is very defensive. I sit a kick back behind play and try to pick off where the other team is going, but when you’re the forward you’re the go-to man.
“It’s tough. For me it’s tough trying to find the right time to lead and whether your player’s ready to kick the ball to you.
“That’s something I’m still getting used to, but it’s starting to get better, I think.”
Last year, Orr donned the Blue and Gold 12 times as a 17-year-old, but admittedly struggled with the step up from junior footy back in his home town, Melton.
His commitments with Essendon Grammar’s football program restricted Orr to those 12 appearances and will again do so later this year.
He played in the Jets’ first five games of 2012 but didn’t appear in the side again until late June.
It was those two months of school footy that proved the turning point.
“My first five games that I played before school I really struggled in because it’s a really fast-moving game and I just wasn’t playing good football,” Orr said.
“But I went away and played a few games at school and got my confidence up, and when I came back I think I played a lot better and had more confidence with how I was playing.
“I went into the pre-season (just gone) pretty confident with how I was going to play this year.”
Much in the mould of Hawthorn star Jarryd Roughead, Orr is slowly getting used to his new gig up forward while still pinch-hitting in the ruck when necessary.
Jets coach Torin Baker has been impressed with the 18-year-old’s output to date this season.
“He hasn’t taken a game by the scruff of the neck just at this point, but he’s certainly produced three consistent games of footy,” Baker said.
“He’s a very smart footballer.”
