TOP DRAFT PICK JACK WATTS' AFL DEBUT DISTANT PROSPECT

No surprise to me.

I could never believe that he was so short for the rising star, and that people have been putting him in their Supercoach teams.

Watts was never going to play much this, he's a 17 year KPP player who is still at school FFS.

So idiots like that Greg Denham from The Australian, who get on the radio and tell people that Watts will play alot for us this year because we have no one else down forward to kick it too, clearly have no idea. We may indeed have nobody to kick it too, but that doesn't mean we just throw a lamb to the wolves.

Good to see. No knee jerk, chuck the kid in the deep end to sell 50 memberships strategy. The kids only going to get bigger, better and fitter this year. Bails seems to have a good head on his shoulders.

We knew from the start that a lot of patience was required. Time will take care of things and when Watts and Blease are ready they will get their opportunities and be well prepared for long and productive careers.

I see this as good player development, however pencil Watts in for the 2010 rising star

Im fine with that !

only if he trains hard when he can and is in the weight room as we speak.

I cant wait to see some debuts this year though.... Strauss is one i am really really looking forward too, i wanted us to draft him so bad and now we did so im stoked

BUT he better be good and Blease too cause the other kid i wanted Beams who was selected at 29 was pretty dam impressive last night!

the other kid i wanted Beams who was selected at 29 was pretty dam impressive last night!

Looked like he had slept on a wet newspaper though. Fair arm of ink.

LOL@montasaurus GOLD!

TOP DRAFT PICK JACK WATTS' AFL DEBUT DISTANT PROSPECT

Really glad that they are managing these kids conservatively and for the future. It would have been tempting to rush them, but good sense has prevailed. Imagine the buzz it will create if Jack (in particular) makes his senior debut on Queen's B'day weekend.

Really glad that they are managing these kids conservatively and for the future. It would have been tempting to rush them, but good sense has prevailed. Imagine the buzz it will create if Jack (in particular) makes his senior debut on Queen's B'day weekend.

It seems to me to be a policy that all these young kids aren't thrown in the deep end. I would actually rather seem them play, perhaps not in the regular season but at least in the NAB cup. I understand the argument, I just think they would be better served by playing a game here and there.

OOOHHHH, Jack's first game on Queens Birthday...NICE!

Process is everything and this is yet another example of how our footy department is looking at the big picture and not taking short-cuts. Also if we do the right thing by Watts and other youngsters they are more likely to do the right thing by the club in the future. I think it is great how professional the club is becoming at multiple levels. From an excitement point of view I can't wait to see JW out there but we have so many other 1st year and 2nd year players to watch grow that I will certainly be pre-occupied anyway.

Exciting times Dees supporters!

PS does anyone have an update on how Maric is going, the last I heard is that he was being held back from proper training - that was about two weeks ago.

Watts was never going to play much this, he's a 17 year KPP player who is still at school FFS.

Do FFS play BGS in the APS or are they part of the GPS?

I'm all for managing these kids well, but let's not completely wrap these guys up in cotton wool!

There's only a few months between Watts, and they age both Franklin and Roughhead were when thy started at the Hawks.

The Hawks managed them well, playing them two weeks on, two weeks off, and throwing them in early never hindered their development.

Gte him in there, and get some experience, so we have something to cheer about and get excited about for the future!

How is anyone surprised by this? I certainly didn't expect much from Watts this year. He's only 17, he might play a few games in the second half of the season. He's not doing enough training at the moment to either gel with the rest of the forward line or build up his body.

Expect his debut Queens Birthday!

He will be ready to play by then and Melbourne will want a big turn out on the day to stick it up the AFL.

Dont be surprised if Watts and Blease debut together!

I'm all for managing these kids well, but let's not completely wrap these guys up in cotton wool!

There's only a few months between Watts, and they age both Franklin and Roughhead were when thy started at the Hawks.

The Hawks managed them well, playing them two weeks on, two weeks off, and throwing them in early never hindered their development.

Gte him in there, and get some experience, so we have something to cheer about and get excited about for the future!

Yes but obviously they didn't have school so they could train full time. If Watts didn't have school this year i'd be confident of him playing 15+ games, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Yes but obviously they didn't have school so they could train full time. If Watts didn't have school this year i'd be confident of him playing 15+ games, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Jack was at school today and dropped in to show support for 6 grade boys cricket team. Was looking good and relaxed but had studt priorities! Deans approach is very sound with the 2 youngsters as baked up by HUN article today. Lot of no 1 picks debuted the following year!

Long time reader...first time poster

Another fantastic thing to read was the progress of Brad Miller.

95%, I have always loved Brads worth ethic and commitment. He really works hard.

I like the boy!!!

I thought the article was kind of treading old ground, Dee fans already knew that Watts was not going to be playing very much senior footy this year, and that he had other commitments (school, etc) that Melbourne were very accommodating towards. Got into work today and a mate waved the HS at me and said "read this!", he thought it was breaking news!

Well, considering it was the first thing to read after removing the Ben Cousins pages.

Article made me chuckle

Oh and happy Birthday Ronald Dale

Does anyone else now believe what I said about Blease not playing much at AFL or VFL this year lol?

Anyway, in response to Real Demon - if you read the article you'd understand him and Blease are doing completely different training from the rest of the squad in order to add muscle so they don't get snapped in half, so are in no condition to be playing any AFL games including NAB cup

Does anyone else now believe what I said about Blease not playing much at AFL or VFL this year lol?

Anyway, in response to Real Demon - if you read the article you'd understand him and Blease are doing completely different training from the rest of the squad in order to add muscle so they don't get snapped in half, so are in no condition to be playing any AFL games including NAB cup

No, you said he would play with the Casey 2nds for most of the year, this article actually goes against your claims

Reckon he will play the bulk of the year with Casey...2010,,,then you'll see the value of the #1 draft pick

Old news this.