‘Prancing Pony’ v the calm Cat: Why Jack Henry wants another shot at Patrick Voss

Geelong’s Jack Henry and Fremantle’s Patrick Voss are polar opposites.

Calm versus fiery, consistent versus unpredictable: they are the archetypal key defender and key forward.

About the only time the cool Cat gets demonstrative on a football field is when his hair needs to be pushed back from his eye line. If Henry took a kick-in, he’d probably still kick from inside the goal square.

By contrast, Voss is a strutting stirrer who adopted the nickname the “Prancing Pony” after repeatedly celebrating goals like a stallion released into a paddock. The Turvey Park boy who boarded at Wesley College and then found his way to the Dockers via Essendon is a classic footballing provocateur.

When the two teams met in round 15, the pair played on each other and broke even in the Dockers’ nine-point win.

They may play on each other again in the semi-final unless Voss – who sadly played more like the prancing phony in the qualifying final against Hawthorn – becomes the agitator responsible for playing on Cats rebounder Tom Stewart.

Henry wasn’t sure on Monday which of the Dockers’ big three forwards – Voss, Jye Amiss or Josh Treacy – would be his opponent, but the prospect lining up on fire starter Voss didn’t worry him.

A wry smile appeared on the unflappable defender’s face as he imagined the prospect.

“He goes about it differently to the way I do, that’s for sure,” Henry said.

In the qualifying final, Voss’ opponent James Sicily destroyed him to be best on ground. Voss had just 11 touches, took one mark and kicked one behind, and admitted during the week the nerves got the better of him. He also copped a verbal blast post-siren from the tempestuous Sicily.

This Cat will watch the positioning Sicily used to quell Voss’ influence, but he won’t be poking the bear if matched up for a return bout.

“I like to go about my own business and I find if I don’t say much, then they generally don’t,” Henry said.

Henry trod the well-worn path from St Joseph’s to Geelong as a rookie forward in 2017. But in one-on-one duels with then veteran defender Tom Lonergan at training, it became clear forward craft wasn’t instinctive to the local lad who had excelled in athletics before concentrating on footy.

His personality fitted that of a no-frills defender who is competitive and can handle pressure. He was thrown back and excelled, finishing runner-up in the 2021 best and fairest, and his aerial skills are still underrated when the best key defenders are mentioned.

He has now performed well in 20 finals including the 2022 premiership, and is a popular figure around the club, having grown up just one block from Kardinia Park.

At times this season, however, his humility and willingness to do whatever the team needs has seen the Cats use him as Mr Fixit, positioning him inside the forward 50 to compete in the air.

But in that forward role, Mr Fixit displayed all the handyman skills of your average journalist.

“I am a backman to be honest,” Henry said.

“I feel like my best footy is back, and I see the game best there. I’ve had a few moments forward, and it is a bit of fun, but yeah …”

It’s not only his emotional control that makes Henry an excellent defender, able to withstand the stress that naturally falls on defenders. He emerged as a player within a supportive group who ensure that the impact that mistakes which lead to goals can have on individuals is reduced.

It’s an important part of the culture which has evolved at the Cats, as teammates keep each other accountable by sharing the burden. Such an outlook has helped other key defenders Connor O’Sullivan and Sam De Koning ply their trade deep in defence soon after leaving their teens.

“We think of the team. If a forward is kicking goals it is not necessarily on one person so if you take the mindset of ‘it’s all together’. We don’t pass judgment on others,” Henry said. “It is a hard task so we do the best [we can] to help each other. That is comforting, that makes it easier.”

Easier, but not easy.

That’s never the way finals are won. Henry knows that. He has played in 11 victories in September.

Voss is yet to experience a win in his first two cracks. But he said this week he is in a good headspace as he, Treacy and Amiss – a trio Henry described as the most dangerous in the game – vow to make amends.

It means the battle between the fire starter and the douser will be worth watching if it eventuates.

Without changing expression at all, Henry voiced his final thoughts ahead of the cut-throat semi-final. “I’m excited”.

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Peter Ryan is a sports reporter with The Age.Connect via X or email.AdvertisementAdvertisement