TAC Cup | Promising Jet is chasing continuity

Daniel Venables might have played only four matches last season as a bottom-ager in Western Jets colours, but he certainly made his presence felt.

The inside midfielder’s speedy bursts stood out as he went on to be named among his side’s best in all four contests.

However, the Jets failed to see the best of him after he broke a leg while representing the Vic Metro under-16 side against South Australia at Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium in July.

“I broke my leg with about one minute to go, which was pretty shattering,” Venables said.

Venables had trouble with his hips the previous season so he was able to have surgery on them after he got his leg cast removed.

The lengthy stint on the sidelines made him all the more passionate about the game.

“Even though I was only out for just over six months it was enough time to make me realise that I wanted to play footy,” he said.

“I was able to return to full training on January 18, so it could’ve been a lot worse.”

His first game for competition points since the broken leg saw him produce an outstanding performance for the Western Jets.

His team down by 11 points at three-quarter time against last year’s premier, the Oakleigh Chargers, the Keilor junior was switched from the midfield to the forward line and went on to kick three goals in the last term to help his side to a memorable 26-point victory.

Venables said the win gave the Jets a lot of confidence after a disappointing 2015 campaign, that saw them manage just two wins.

“We worked hard over the pre-season to hopefully show the competition that we can actually play good football and not be a walkover side, so it was great to get a win over a good side in our first hit-out,” he said.

Jets coach Torin Baker, who is delighted to have Venables back in the line-up, admires his versatility.

“Daniel’s an explosive midfielder, but then he can also go down forward and impact the scoreboard,” he said.

“He’s a dual-position player that doesn’t have too many weaknesses.”

Venables, a Year 12 student at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, was an obvious choice to be included in the Jets’ leadership group this season, according to Baker.

“Not only is Daniel very driven, but he’s also a well-grounded person,” he said.

The 186cm talent comes from a gifted football family.

His great-grandfather Johnny Lewis was a ruckman who played 196 VFL matches for North Melbourne and Melbourne from 1925 to 1938, while his grandfather Fred Robinson registered 15 games for North Melbourne in the early 1960s.

Venables hopes to emulate his great-grandfather and grandfather by making it on to an AFL list at season’s end.

“I’ve grown up always wanting to play footy at a high level, just like they were able to do all those years ago,” he said.

And Baker believes the 17-year-old has the attributes to achieve his AFL dream.

“I believe he’ll be a genuine midfielder at AFL level as he can win his own ball and plays at a really high intensity,” he said.

“Clubs are looking for versatile footballers and now that there are 90 rotations per game midfielders have to go forward, which suits his game really well.”