Question. I havent seen any Casey games in the last 3 weeks, and perhaps KC from Casey can help out here too, but is Watts playing consistently in a forward role?

I have seen him in a couple of games where he has gone down the ground just to keep him in the game.

Are they giving him every opportunity to get his form back?

Sorry to bump the thread, but after reading the Casey report today, I am still concerned that he isnt playing the role in the 2s that we need him to play.

Why is he being played on the wing and not be put in the forward line?

He had 22 possessions I believe, but I would feel allot better if he was playing up forward.

It has been discussed in other threads, but I think you'll find he's being played up the ground, in order to improve his aerobic capacity and endurance. I, like other posters believe it's the right idea.

Sorry to bump the thread, but after reading the Casey report today, I am still concerned that he isnt playing the role in the 2s that we need him to play.

Why is he being played on the wing and not be put in the forward line?

He had 22 possessions I believe, but I would feel allot better if he was playing up forward.

No-one, not even the best full forwards, played out of the square when they were still teenagers. Except maybe Lloyd. The others were "groomed" for that position. Meaning they play as a lead-up half-forward... or on a wing to get their running capacity up (Newton did this). Sometimes they shift to defence to get into the mind of a defender (hopefully Garland has done this )... Rarely do they plonk a kid at FF and expect anything in their first year.

Ablett senior is a good example of this. He played as a wingman in his early years at, I believe, Hawthorn, before becoming one of the all-time greats.

I'm hoping they do a Grimes and have him play a game in round 20-22. If he goes ok, pick him the next week, if not, drop him. The reason being that he needs to see what the pace is all about, so that he can train to bring himself up to the standard for 2010. Grimes says in interviews that seeing how tough it was at the end of last year spurred him on in the pre-season this year.

Watts is being carefully developed through the Scorpions:

- not being played at full-forward against an opponent that will easily beat him for strength at this stage

- not being pigeon-holed as a stay at home full-forward for his entire career

- being taught the workrate needed to get up and around the ground at this level, as a gun CHF will do

- being taught what it is like to be further upfield and delivering into the forward line

- being used across the backline at times to get a perspective of what positions to put defenders in that will be difficult for them

- most importantly giving him exposure to the game at this level -- these are like training sessions for him as he can't train with MFC the rest of the time because of school.

He is nowhere near ready, nor should he be.

Mind you, sounds like he's making progress:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/rfnews/prism...3708357769.html

Leave him in the VFL, as much as i'd love to see him run out on Monday against the filth it's better for him and us to be patient and wait until his dominance that he showed for metro comes out into the VFL.

WATTS IMPRESSES - maybe soon

I don't subscribe to the theory that Watts should play out the year in the VFL and debut next year. I know there's a school of thought that the nuffies will be disappointed unless he dominates form the beginning, but that shouldn't impact when he debuts. Robert Shaw indicated on SEN yesterday morning that it was time for Melbourne to play Watts and unveil the future of the club. I agree. And not because we need to sell a message, as most Dees fans and supporters in general recognise that our future is bright with the kids they've already seen, but because I believe that Watts' future development will benefit from experiencing AFL footy.

Watts isn't going to kick the door down playing on a wing at Casey, so ultimately he'll be chosen to play when the club feels the timing is right. John Worsfold espoused the benefits of getting games into kids on AW on Saturday, as it will fast track their career and ultimately benefit the club in its rebuild for a tilt at another flag. Watts won't be being thrown to the wolves if he plays on Monday. He's already good enough to slot into a pocket and play decent footy. Morton is a stick figure with no more beef than Watts yet has missed 2 hames in the last year and a half. It's all about expectations. I have very basic expectations of Watts' first couple of years, but at some point he's got to be given a run. And I'm sure he wants to play. Those that say he's not ready are talking rot. He'd already account for himself very well. As I said, it's all about expectations.

There are the nuffies that will expect him to star from day one and there are those that want to wrap him up in cotton wool til next year. I belong to neither. I reckon he's ready, just manage your expectations.

If the coaching staff don't deem him ready, they shouldn't feel any pressure to play him. Patience is important. I know it's Queen's Birthday but it is no reason to just throw him in...

Melbourne Demons in no hurry to put Jack Watts on big stage

I'm going with the Herald Sun on this one.

Watts isn't going to kick the door down playing on a wing at Casey, so ultimately he'll be chosen to play when the club feels the timing is right.

I agree. I just don't think the timing is right now. But some time later this year I'm sure we'll see him.

It's not a matter of the HS getting it right or The Age getting it "right". And I'm certain that Bailey won't be making any decisions based on public "pressure" - as you put it. Hardly worth stating.

I too don't believe that he'll play on Monday. That said, I reckon he's ready whenever the club is. One or two more matches at Casey probably won't make a lot of difference, but if they reckon a couple more will benefit him so be it.

You know what I hope DB does?

Interviewer: "Are you thinking of playing Watts is the big one against Collingwood?"

DB: "against who?"

I'm sure it might get us a couple of thousand extra fans through the gate, but I'm hoping that he plays Watts when ready... and THAT'S IT. If he's ready before the Gabba, or before round 21, then so be it. Treat him like any other player on the list. Do what he has done so far with selection. He'll earn more respect from us, from his list, and IMO it won't make a difference to the fairweather supporters anyway. Especially if he comes in prematurely and fails to fire.

The Age article described his game as a "Rampant display"

What in the world is journalism in this country doing to itself? 22 touches might be good for a teenager, but by the reports from the game he hardly tore it up.

Nothing like a bit of sensationalism is there?

Like Hannabal, I'm in the middle on this:

Those that think he would be THE difference to our forward line are kidding themselves (he will play a high HFF/wing in 2009/10).

And those that say we should wait until next year to let him play are coddling him.

They should play him when they think his form is good enough, when a HFF/mid is injured/out of form, and his fitness will allow him to play for 60 to 70 minutes.

In an ideal world his first two games would be R14 (WCE) and R15 (PA), but that is only because his presence would be the difference between us writing a check and breaking even.

he's playing on a wing at Casey, and people are saying this is where he'll play when he dons the red and blue, but I think he will play more of a forward/centre half forward for Melbourne...

he doesn't have the strength to dominate these positions yet, but, he reads the ball so well in the air, and has the pace, that he can still be a dangerous target down forward...

Robert Shaw indicated on SEN yesterday morning that it was time for Melbourne to play Watts and unveil the future of the club. I agree. And not because we need to sell a message, as most Dees fans and supporters in general recognise that our future is bright with the kids they've already seen, but because I believe that Watts' future development will benefit from experiencing AFL footy.

So you're happy for him to play even though the Casey coach doesn't think he's ready?

I'd prefer to rely on the judgement of his coaches, the kid is too valuable to risk just for the sake of appeasing the impatient fans and armchair experts.

Let those who work with him daily make an assessment on when he is ready.

I agree that he should play soon, because a taste of AFL will do him a world of good.

Here is what I think the issue is.

If Watts was to play up forward, he will get little supply and essentially get wasted when he could have got a full running match under his belt with Casey.

If you play him on the wing, he will probably tire out very quickly, which I assume is why they are playing him on the wing at Casey, they want to fast track his fitness. He probably needs a couple more weeks of hard midfield type running with Casey, and then he'll be ready to run out a full AFL game.

Whether or not he is ready to dominate doesn't bother me, because I know he won't. What we need to be absolutely sure of is that he is right to play out an entire game on the wing/forward flank. We need to remember that he does not do full training during the week, and has only done 10 weeks of pre-season type program. Compare that to the countless hours our senior players spent on the track since Christmas, and you realise just how far behind he is in fitness. It's important that we don't overexert him physically and cause unnecessary injury, but it's equally as important that we reward him with game time for all the hard work he has put in.

The other issue of course is that in Round 13 we play Brisbane at the Gabba, and I doubt they'll debut him interstate (or even take him on interstate trips, given he has school commitments). So assuming he doesn't play this Monday, his next opportunity is Round 12 against Essendon at Etihad, or Round 14 against West Coast at the G, which is my bet.

I agree that he should play soon, because a taste of AFL will do him a world of good.

Here is what I think the issue is.

If Watts was to play up forward, he will get little supply and essentially get wasted when he could have got a full running match under his belt with Casey.

If you play him on the wing, he will probably tire out very quickly, which I assume is why they are playing him on the wing at Casey, they want to fast track his fitness. He probably needs a couple more weeks of hard midfield type running with Casey, and then he'll be ready to run out a full AFL game.

Whether or not he is ready to dominate doesn't bother me, because I know he won't. What we need to be absolutely sure of is that he is right to play out an entire game on the wing/forward flank. We need to remember that he does not do full training during the week, and has only done 10 weeks of pre-season type program. Compare that to the countless hours our senior players spent on the track since Christmas, and you realise just how far behind he is in fitness. It's important that we don't overexert him physically and cause unnecessary injury, but it's equally as important that we reward him with game time for all the hard work he has put in.

The other issue of course is that in Round 13 we play Brisbane at the Gabba, and I doubt they'll debut him interstate (or even take him on interstate trips, given he has school commitments). So assuming he doesn't play this Monday, his next opportunity is Round 12 against Essendon at Etihad, or Round 14 against West Coast at the G, which is my bet.

And mine.

So you're happy for him to play even though the Casey coach doesn't think he's ready?

I reckon German is just towing the cautious company line, which is completely understandable. But I've got no doubt that Watts is as ready as many players before their first game. Was Bennell ready in round 1 ? Was Morton ready last year in round 1 ? Morton was 18 years and 65 days when he made his debut - younger than Watts is now. Was skinny 18 year old Cyril Rioli ready in round 1 last year ? Btw, he's now up to 35 games and hasn't missed one game since his debut. Is he better for the games the Hawks have managed to get into him ?

At 18 you're probably never completely ready. It's a fine line and rightly you're placing your faith in those that are paid to know. And that makes sense. No problem.

But to answer your question; would I be happy for him to play this week despite his coach's comments ? Absolutely.

So you're happy for him to play even though the Casey coach doesn't think he's ready?

"He's been consistent so it will depend what role Melbourne have for him", Scorpions coach Peter German said.

TBH, I don't think the Casey coach thinks Watts isn't ready.

German went on....

"But from a Casey point of view, he's been very consistent so I would say he would be starting to come under serious consideration.

He was really impressive today. The last few weeks he has been very capable up the ground. He played across half forward.

We played him in a variety of roles but his form over the last couple of weeks has been very consistent", he said.

Sometimes posters make up their own minds.

Without seeing him train and play it's going to be very difficult to make a judgement, but what's holding him back from playing right now?

If it's his body size then that won't change much in a couple of weeks but a couple of extra games would definitely give him more 'match fitness'.

"He's been consistent so it will depend what role Melbourne have for him", Scorpions coach Peter German said.

TBH, I don't think the Casey coach thinks Watts isn't ready.

German went on....

"But from a Casey point of view, he's been very consistent so I would say he would be starting to come under serious consideration.

He was really impressive today. The last few weeks he has been very capable up the ground. He played across half forward.

We played him in a variety of roles but his form over the last couple of weeks has been very consistent", he said.

Sometimes posters make up their own minds.

Scorpions coach Peter German said yesterday Watts was not ready to step up to AFL level.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl...6-19742,00.html

It's amazing how two different papers can get two different poitns of view from the same interview

I still reckon round 14 is the perfect time to debut him. Will bring a few extra people to a home game against West Coast at the G which helps the club financially. He gets to debut against a side with a weak back line and the following week against Port also at the G also has a weak back line. He would get to play 9 games for the year and still be eligable to be nominated for a NAB rising star award next year.

Also waiting till round 14 he gets another 3 weeks with Casey to keep improving and would have played enough games to play finals with them at seasons end.

In an ideal world his first two games would be R14 (WCE) and R15 (PA), but that is only because his presence would be the difference between us writing a check and breaking even.

He may also be the difference between us keeping the Queen's Birthday clash or some other club taking it. The AFL said they want over 60,000 and we just fell short we don't want to fall short again who knows what the AFL will do.