THERE could not be a more ringing endorsement of a player than what North Launceston boss Tom Couch thinks about Jack Avent.
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“Jack’s the heart and soul of the club,” Couch said.
“Successful clubs are built on characters like Jack Avent. He’s someone I rely on 110 per cent and I love the way he goes about training 100 miles an hour.
“He is vice-captain for a reason with the way he trains and communicates with his teammates. He’s one of the best people I’ve met in footy, he’s so selfless and will always put the team before himself and that allows other players to flourish.”
Successful clubs are built on characters like Jack Avent. He’s one of the best people I’ve met in footy...
- North coach Tom Couch
The two-time senior and once under-18 Northern Bombers premiership player is in his eighth year with the Invermay-based club after switching from Lilydale’s under-16s.
Avent spent most of the pre-season training as a small pressure forward but with injuries to several key personnel he has been asked to play in the middle and is now playing down back on the most dangerous forward.
“I do like playing in the midfield as you’re around the ball a lot more and in contests and so on but I probably feel more comfortable down back,” the 24-year-old glazier said.
“It is a bit more simple as you just play on your man and spread off him at different times.”
Avent said former coach and now Brisbane Lions assistant Zane Littlejohn was instrumental in developing him into an obvious selection in North’s best 22 week in, week out. “Zane was my under-18s coach and he was basically my coach right up until last year and has had a big influence on me,” he said.
“Allan O’Sign is probably a player I’ve tried to model my game off, I just liked the way he went about it.”
Couch appointed Avent joint vice-captain along with Brad Cox-Goodyer for this season after a couple of years in the leadership group.
“I don’t like so much talking in front of groups and stuff like that, I’m not much of a vocal leader but I do lead with my actions more than anything and that’s probably the reason I got in the leadership group in the first place,” the former Lilydale District High School student said.
“I think Couchy’s got a soft spot for that kind of thing but it has definitely challenged me this year.”
Avent said ladder-leading North Launceston has a great chance to make its fourth-consecutive grand final but pointed out that Lauderdale and Clarence were serious threats.
“We’re just taking it one week at a time and hopefully we can get past that first week of finals,” he said.