Geelong rookie Jack Henry should be in the Rising Star conversation according to his coach Chris Scott.

Henry was nominated for the award in round seven against GWS when he registered 18 disposals, 11 marks and three tackles. 

Whilst he has spent a majority of his debut season in defence, Henry was moved to the forward line and second-ruck role against Melbourne and remained there against Brisbane on the weekend.

Speaking on AFL360, Scott said Henry’s form warranted being included in the conversation around potential winners of Rising Star award in 2018.

 “He has had a great year. I think he should be in the (Rising Star) conversation,” Scott said on Monday night.

“If I weren’t in my position, I would have been watching the Richmond Collingwood game, so unless you go back and watch Jack’s game, it would be easy to overlook the significance of his roles.”

Scott isn’t the only premiership coach who has recognised Henry’s form in 2018 with former Swans and Melbourne coach Paul Roos telling On the Couch he appreciated the defender’s flexibility.

“I love him. He has got a real good nose for when to jump, when to mark, when to put his arms up. I really love him,” Roos said on Fox Footy’s On the Couch on Monday night.

“I love him as a defender; he reads the play really well; he can come off his man.

“He was impressive again and I think they do need a foil because when finals get really tight, it’s harder for key forwards if you haven’t got someone else helping you out as well.”

And whilst Henry didn’t have a traditional path to the AFL, Scott says even he was surprised by Henry’s rise to prominence.

“The footy smarts is the one that has surprised me a little bit because he hasn’t had a traditional background as a footballer,” Scott added.

“He was a high jumper, an athlete and a very good runner. But I think his temperament is part of it as well; he doesn’t get overawed at all.

“I hope his dad won’t mind me saying, but before his first game he said to me, ‘In his history as an athlete he just won’t get flustered’.

“And that’s what we’ve seen, whether he is playing on some of the best forwards in the comp or when he’s played against a big ruckman. I mean, I don’t think he had ever played in the ruck in his life and we threw him into the ruck on Max Gawn and he jumped over the top of him at a centre bounce.”

Jack Henry’s 2018 season