Gary Ablett does 8, Jimmy Bartel said he’d struggle to do 5, but young Cat Jarrad Jansen does 11.

11 weet-bix. Every morning.

So it’s no surprise that 19-year-old Jansen, who was selected with pick 36 in last year’s NAB AFL Draft, has been flatteringly labeled a prototype for the modern midfielder.

The youngster from Western Australia is renowned as a strong-bodied stoppage specialist with an innate ability to attract the ball and also push forward when necessary.

Upon arrival at the Cattery, senior players were impressed by the mature size of the then 18-year-old, Josh Caddy even describing his as a “monster”.

Jansen laughed at the thought and tried to provide some answers for his teammates.

“I really like breakfast, I have a pretty big one, I have 11 weet-bix every morning. I love them, I can’t remember the last time I didn’t have weet-bix for breakfast,” Jansen said.

“I’ve got two older brothers as well, so I was always going to the gym with them and stuff, but I’ve always been big bodied I guess,” Jansen said.

Listed as an emergency for the senior side in Round 9, and having had 15 disposals against Melbourne in the NAB Challenge, Jansen has been knocking on the door of senior selection for the entire season, admitting he’s keen to make his debut.

“I definitely think I’m ready to play AFL, I just try to play good footy and improve every week in the VFL and I think if I keep focusing on that then AFL selection will take care of itself,” Jansen said.

His week-by-week mindset and hard-working attitude seems to be paying off, as he’s enjoyed some stellar performances in his debut VFL season.

Jansen was named best on ground in a tight clash against Werribee, collecting 24 disposals and 10 clearances for the match.

“Yeah obviously there was a bit of a transition from the competition I’d been playing in to VFL, but I’m feeling pretty comfortable (in the VFL) now,” Jansen said.

Though according to Jansen, you could be forgiven for not knowing much about him.

“Yeah I kind of went under the radar a bit I guess, before the draft there wasn’t really anything written about me and even after the draft, I wasn’t really in the paper or anything, I don’t think anyone really knows who I am,” Jansen said laughing.

“I didn’t really have any expectations, so I just sat down and watched the draft with Mum and Dad and yeah, heard my name get called out.

“Then after that I obviously had a few mates over,” Jansen said smiling.

Despite being labeled a ‘monster’ and ‘machine’ for his work on the field, the draftee’s personality is anything but, full of laughter and larrikinism.

Last year the high school graduate began a science degree in Western Australia but honestly, doesn’t have much on his mind other than football at the moment, and rightly so.

“I’ve always wanted to play footy so I never thought too much about what I’d be doing if I wasn’t focused on footy,” Jansen said.

“Last year I started a science degree but ended up deferring because it wasn’t really for me.

“I never really liked science at school but I started the degree and thought that might change. Not surprisingly it didn’t,” Jansen said amid laughter.

“Over the next few years I might start a commerce degree or something,” Jansen said.

As a boy, Jansen followed the Crows with the initial decision stemming from a liking of their colours but growing through an admiration for Andrew McLeod.

Nowadays he likes to model himself on other big-bodied midfielders such as Brownlow Medalist Jobe Watson.

Given that he’s from the other side of the country, Jansen admitted the social change was the most daunting.

“Yeah I guess the hardest part was not knowing anyone, and being from a different state I had to kind of ‘spread my wings’ I guess and make new friends from scratch, which I’d never really had to do before.

“I’ve got a pretty good friendship base in Geelong now, I spend a lot of time with Shane Kersten as well as Darcy Lang and Nick Bourke,” Jansen said.

In fact, he has a pretty competitive FIFA video game rivalry with fellow teammate Shane Kersten that consumes their days off.

“Yeah I don’t really know how that started, early on I just kind of played against Shane Kersten and Joel Hamling and it’s just kind of grown from there I guess,” Jansen said.

He was quick to dob in Shane Kersten as the most animated loser of the three.

“He usually has a few tantrums, but I’m pretty good, I don’t get too worked up,” Jansen said.

Keep an eye out for Jansen in the Cats' midfield in the near future, I have a feeling he won't be going under the radar for too much longer.