At 198 centimetres and with the leap of a lion, Jason Laycock is a raw AFL ruckman in the making. But it could have been all so different for the Tasmanian teenager who now calls Windy Hill home. He could have been lost from football forever to his other sporting passion basketball. It could be worse, he could be a car salesman. More on the sales pitch later.

The 19 year-old was Essendon’s first draft pick in the 2002 National Draft after show casing his prowess in the ruck for the Tassie Mariners in the TAC Cup competition. Basketball has now taken a backseat to a career in football.

""I have played basketball all my life and have got a funny technique for football,"" Laycock admitted. ""When I don’t take a mark early on in the game I lose a bit of confidence. ""Because of my technique I don’t grab them, so I have got to work on getting my hands together instead of trying to catch it like a basketball.""

The ruck coaching panel at Essendon have recognised this and are working successfully with the youngster. Training with ruck legends of the calibre of Simon Madden and John Barnes will help speed up the development process for Laycock. ""They (Madden and Barnes) tell me what I am doing wrong in the video and then help me practise to get my technique better,"" Laycock said.

Injury has threatened this process, with Laycock spending as much time in the medical rooms as he has on the ground in the past two seasons with the club.

""I had shin splints last year that stayed with me for the whole year and stuffed me around a bit through pre-season,"" he said.

""I had my tonsils taken out then got stress fractures back in my shins again. When I was coming back I tore the cartilage in my knee the week before I was meant to resume playing, setting me back another five weeks.

""Then I got over my knee injury and in my first game back in the VFL I kicked seven goals against Geelong,"" said Laycock.

It was these goals that got chins wagging. Could this youngster become another famous ruckman with the ability to kick goals like Madden and Paul Salmon before him?

""Obviously I would love to see myself doing that sort of thing, playing in the ruck and then being able to go forward. If I kick the goals, then I am doing my job as a forward. Then I can go into the ruck as well. I really want to have that versatility,"" he said

Laycock has not been a noted goal kicker in junior football however. His previous personal best in front of the sticks was five goals for the Tassie Mariners back in 2002. Before that, he was a modest contributor who from time to time would kick two or three goals in a game.

For the time being, Laycock is happy to develop his craft with the Bendigo Bombers before he gets an opportunity with the likes of Matthew Allan and David Hille.

""I have to really start dominating the VFL first. I have to start taking the game by the scruff of the neck and just ripping it to pieces a couple of times in the VFL, then maybe they’ll have a look at me,"" he said.

For now it’s development for the kid from the apple aisle. But what about the car salesman you say?

Laycock says its time for a new car. Before he can do that he must sell his 1994 ED Fairmont. ""It has 165 000 kilometres on the clock with a CD player and a TV in it. It has plenty of other extras too. A good buy for about eight to nine thousand dollars,"" he said. Contact the club on (03) 92300390 if you are interested.

A career outside of football beckons. For the time being, Essendon fans will be looking forward to seeing this talented youngster taking big steps towards his AFL debut in 2004.