WELCOME TO DEMONLAND - JACK WATTS

[Yencks 8]

http://bigpondvideo.com/AFLTV/91377

[Wolfmother 182]

Heard he ask MFC last night, if they would like him to mention the club are looking for a major sponser in his press interviews.... I'm in love already

[Jaded No More 59,833]

Heard he ask MFC last night, if they would like him to mention the club are looking for a major sponser in his press interviews.... I'm in love already

Captain Jack...

But only after McLean wins us a premiership and two Brownlows and decides to hand the title over to his three-time Coleman medal winning teammate

[dees189227 11,263]

I have never heard a 17 year old speak with so much maturity. He was on fox sports on the draft show and said they asked him if it was true that when he was young he got beaten by a girl in a match and he came off the field and cried. He admitted it was true. He talked about melbourne's history and how they have some good young players in Cale Morton and Nathan Jones and he couldn't wait to get to the club. Can't wait to see him play

[w00dy 146]

I think Jack is going to have his work cut out for him, keeping his teammates away from his two sisters won't be easy...

[jacey 333]

Can't wait to see him play

x2.

Cale's 194cm now. Interesting.

[Bates Mate 4,050]

I think Jack is going to have his work cut out for him, keeping his teammates away from his two sisters won't be easy...

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NEWSARTICLE/tab...px?newsId=70396

brunette sister on the left in the pic quite tidy indeed

[Swampfox 190]

Jack Watts has made an immeadiate impact with the way he has conducted himself during the last 2 weeks

The last time i saw as much media coverage over a new demon recruit was Diamond Jim Tilbrook

Tilbrook was built like a tank and epitomised the infamous words " looks like tarzan plays like jane "

I am confident Watts will be the Star Tilbrook wasnt

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,150]

Jack Watts has made an immeadiate impact with the way he has conducted himself during the last 2 weeks

The last time i saw as much media coverage over a new demon recruit was Diamond Jim Tilbrook

Tilbrook was built like a tank and epitomised the infamous words " looks like tarzan plays like jane "

I am confident Watts will be the Star Tilbrook wasnt

I could not be more impressed with the way this kid handles himself in the media already. He just looks and sounds so confident around guys like Jimma ad Barass who would make me sweat a nervous wreck just being in their presence! I am as excited about this kid as Bruce McEvaney used to be over Andrew Mcleod!

[joeboy 2,965]

I could not be more impressed with the way this kid handles himself in the media already. He just looks and sounds so confident around guys like Jimma ad Barass who would make me sweat a nervous wreck just being in their presence! I am as excited about this kid as Bruce McEvaney used to be over Andrew Mcleod!

I agree , and though I'm loathe to compare him with a player from the opposition , there are remarkable similarities with Nick Riewoldt in demeanor , attitude ,and eloquence . If he can also emulate the StKilda captain's ability on the field then he could well be the superstar we have craved for decades .

[Blistering 493]

I agree , and though I'm loathe to compare him with a player from the opposition , there are remarkable similarities with Nick Riewoldt in demeanor , attitude ,and eloquence . If he can also emulate the StKilda captain's ability on the field then he could well be the superstar we have craved for decades .

There's an article on the Wide World of Sports site that compares Watts with Riewoldt - Watts and Riewoldt - a bit of history repeating?

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the AFL’s number one draft choice, Jack Watts, over the weekend. Talk about déjà vu. What made the feeling even more compelling was that the figure he reminded me of so much, Nick Riewoldt, was in the same place.

I return home from delivering my youngest to a party, and when I look outside there are two number one draft choices hovering – both seemingly separated by respect. Jack in the pool with his mate, and Nick doing what Nick does best – king of the kids.

I am not certain you could meet two more well-adjusted, focussed, considerate and wonderful human beings. Is this the path to greatness?

It is something I will never get tired of doing – watching and observing how young people interact and associate. Nick the confident, blond, good-looking athlete with a body resembling a world class swimmer. Jack the tall, innocent colt with arms and legs flailing everywhere, seemingly out of control. That is until he picks up a kids’ footy or starts bouncing a basketball as though it is an extension of his limbs. Svelte, harmonious movements – he has a glide about him – even though he’s somewhat bow-legged at initial impressions.

They both stalk each other; one knowing he is currently out of his depth, the other remembering his time as a skinny, shy, focussed young man walking into the Saints in 2001. Eight seasons and four club Best and Fairest awards later, he is a giant of the game and has the expectation of his starved club on his broad shoulders.

Jack asks discreetly about Nick when he first started. He has admiration and dreams in his eyes. I reply that he didn’t look too different to himself. I immediately cast my mind back to a training session at Monash University, which is probably my first real memory of Nick. Time has eaten away at the detail, but I can still remember a skinny, white-haired young man with focus written all over his face, competing as hard as he could in the 1km time trials under the watchful eye of Malcolm Blight. I’m sure Dean Bailey will have the same excited smirk on his face as Blighty did when he sees his charge going through his paces. Some people have just got what it takes and you get sucked along in their slipstream.

Jack smacks me out of my nostalgic dream with the words, “He wasn’t this skinny was he?” pointing to his own abdomen. I reply that he was, as I note the fixated stare Jack has directed at Riewoldt with a look of ‘I want to be better than him’, written all over his face. I get the distinct impression he doesn’t understand the concept of the ceiling that handicaps most mere mortals. Funny thing is, Riewoldt doesn’t understand ceilings either!

I walk inside keeping both men in my sight and witness Jack’s sheepish disposition every time Nick looks at him. Jack slowly puts on his runners, purposely ties the laces, strolls over and effortlessly flicks up a basketball off the back of his leg and into his expectant hands whilst looking straight ahead. Nick looks away - not allowing Jack to know he saw it - as if to say, ‘Let’s see how you go with the oval ball’.

Jack glances across to see if his trick was observed. My mind immediately rewinds to a young Riewoldt performing similar tricks with a footy at training. These guys are two peas in a pod. Time increases confidence as they start to interact. Respectfully everyone else moves away – they’re talking business. No laughing, no gags, no facades trying to impress - just straight talking footy fundamentals.

I turn to my wife and say, “Is there a little similarity here?”, John Candy like. She laughs but having seen Nick grow for the last eight years she knows what I mean.

Nick comes inside and gives Jack the thumbs up, evidenced by giving his mobile number and offering advice during the year if he wants it. I have a sneaking suspicion Jack will follow the offer up. He is a very hard marker Riewoldt - doesn’t tolerate fools and definitely doesn’t want to associate himself with losers or anyone who does not give 100% of himself. He detests under-achievers. Clearly Watts fits the right criteria.

Jack picks up the kids’ footy and starts pumping left foot precision passes to his mate Will. I contemplate how many young guys would have the confidence to start with non-preferred kicks in front of a current superstar and former coach. Good sign - I like that.

Now its Jack’s turn to handle the weight of expectation of a success starved club that has little respect. I have a feeling he will take up the challenge. If my judgement is correct I wouldn’t want to be a lazy, selfish or unprofessional player at the Demons down the track. Once Watts stamps his imprimatur on the place over the next four or five years there won’t be anywhere to hide.

by Grant Thomas.

[Freak 100]

probably the best article ive read in quite some time. one thing tho, riewoldt is not an 'attractive' guy as Thomas describes. he is up there with peverill and ling in my books. anyway, who am i to judge. thanks for the article

[Bang Bang Bang 5,597]

I don't understand the context of the article - why was Jack Watts at Grant Thomas' house? and what was Riewoldt doing there at the same time. Maybe I have just read it wrong!

interesting read none the less.

[e25 5]

this is the link - the above link is wrong

http://wwos.ninemsn.com.au/Blog.aspx?bloge...owcomments=true

[H_T 2,941]

probably the best article ive read in quite some time. one thing tho, riewoldt is not an 'attractive' guy as Thomas describes. he is up there with peverill and ling in my books. anyway, who am i to judge. thanks for the article

"up there with Peverill and Ling"