Unheralded Eastern Ranges captain Jordan Knapp has been able to channel his focus onto his footy in a 2026 season where he has shown steady growth.
The North Ringwood local graduated last year which has enabled him to make decisions in the best interests of his footy, liberated from the stresses of schooling.
"It's been such an advantage not having year 12," Knapp told Zero Hanger.
"At the start of the year I spoke to (coach) LJ (Morecroft) and she was big on having balance because a lot of players get it wrong. I have uni and casual work and it has enabled me to have a balance and I have more time to get to training early or do a gym session because I've got time.
"I've been incredibly lucky to not have high school this year. When I'm at the club, I can give all my attention and focus rather than focusing on school and exams.
"It has given me so much more time to do everything else."
Knapp has somewhat polarised in 2026 and sits somewhere in the middle to later stages of the draft crop.
A natural ball-winner, the absence of a clear standout weapon has been raised but, equally, he does not have a glaring weakness, has shown skills employable across all three lines and is a natural ball-winner.
No player for the undefeated Vic Metro polled more Larke Medal votes - an honour Knapp humbly plays down - and he also set a high baseline for the Ranges, averaging 28 disposals, seven marks and four tackles.
"I was individually happy with my consistent year and happy with how I went and felt like I was productive each game," Knapp said.
"I've always been an accumulator but I've tried to show more of a turn of foot, class and composure. If I can get the ball a bit and have impact with it rather than have a lot of touches and not have impact.
"It's about trying to have that impact and putting myself in vulnerable positions where I might fail but backing myself to execute - so whether it's kicking a big goal or bursting from stoppage, I think it's trying to have the impact moments rather than just having a lot of the ball."
Asked specifically about what he wants to be known for, he said: "The first thing which comes to mind is that I'm hard-working. My work rate is strong and I pair that well with being clean and composed which allows me to get a bit of footy."
Knapp's high-running power and footy IQ lends itself to starting as a disciplined winger if he gets a chance at the next level - the role he has been most exposed to, behind his customary midfield position he will hope to develop into.
He ran his two kilometre time trial in 6:14, one second outside the top 10, and he was one of the seven to run the AFL agility test under the coveted eight-second mark, with a time of 7.999 seconds.
"He's really evolved in the last 12 months," coach Lauren Morecroft told Zero Hanger.
"We've seen the running power Jordan's got. Whether he plays on-ball or on the wing, you see that's a strong trait of his.
"He's composed with ball in hand, he spreads well, he defends well. Unheralded is a good word for him. He goes under the radar and he's a modest guy and rose to the level at Nationals."
A quiet start to the National Championships against Western Australia taught Knapp an important lesson which set him up for a reliable and predictable last three games for Vic Metro - which is Knapp at his best.
It allowed him to facilitate the star playmakers who shone in what was one of the most dominant National Championships teams of the decade.
"I think I got dictated by the game playing on some quality players in the first game," Knapp said.
"I wasn't focusing on my game; I was being reactive to what they were giving me.
"I had an honest review with coaches and they said I'm at Metro for a reason and you have to back yourself and your weapons so I think for the next three games it was just trusting myself and backing myself to be proactive so that was the main switch.
"I don't really mind being under the radar. We just have the goal to get drafted. If I have the goal to do that then that's all that matters.
"I probably don't have the highlight plays and recognition but it doesn't faze me, I just want to continue improving myself as a player and person to be ready for what's next.
