Other clubs' supporters are going to think negatively because Watts doesn't play for their club. Who cares what they think.

For me, it took absolutely no gloss off the moment whatsoever.

It actually makes it better.

I love it when other clubs hate us/ envy us... which for once they actually do!

They all wish they had a potential superstar to help them grab headlines, but they don't.

Makes it all the more sweeter. We have Jack Watts, and you have a box of tissues.

The way i see it is, Who Gives A Toss about what other people think, the coaching staff are happy for him to play, his parents are happy for him to play..... we as a club shouldnt give a [censored] what people think of this Mighty club....

Go Dees.....

Who cares at the moment. It will only be a problem if he has a real shocker than all the knockers will be out there saying it was too soon to play him. I am absolutely sure that Dean Bailey would not have allowed him to play unless he thought that he was ready and wouldn't embarass himself because that would do more harm than good. Also I don't think that Jimmy would interfere in the selection process so if the decision has been made it is a football decision with a mind to the marketing as well. Not to mention what it is doing to those here. I mean there are people not studying for exams, missing essays, sleep and those trag's who are thinking about kissing men - again WT (on a another thread) I went on-line today and got my visitors tickets because this is going to be BIG and it looks like an early start on Monday 10.00am - a long and hopefully very happy day.

Baily even said during interview that it was great for marketing and then added but we have selected him for form. My first thought before even saying that was that it was a marketing ploy. I mean why else would you select him on tuesday night and have jim Stynes sending out texts to club memebers saying Watts will be playing so come down and watch. Obviously they are trying to drum up a big crown coz we need the gate takes desperately.

At first i was annoyed that they would play him just for that but then the more i thought i remembered what dire financial position we are in and we need to make as much money as possible from these big games because we get so few of them so from that point of view its a smart move by the club. We take the earnigns as its our home game and the hype from watts playing will surely boost the crowd significantly. Lets hope we pocket a nice amount from it.

I doubt he will do much though...

Thoughts?

What would they prefer? We debut him at Manuka?

Every club... and I mean all 16 clubs, in the same situation as ours, would want to debut an eagerly awaited player at their home ground in front of a crowd.

No matter WHEN we were going to debut him, we would have been given a hard time. If it was interstate or at the dome people would have said "why not at the G?" If it was round 1 they'd have said "Why so early?" If it was in 2010 they'd have said "Why so late?"

Can't keep everyone happy. And this way, you keep a larger percentage happy and a smaller percentage whinging like little girls.

The only thing that gets me is that it feeds the egos of Collingwood supporters. They get the joy of seeing Jack Watts debut. Unlike me, stuck up here in Canada. Life just aint fair.

A lot of the talk on 3AW was just that he is so "slight", look at the picture of him on the MFC website, he looks WAY bigger than Cale did when he debuted. All i can say is i hope he has a decent performance or some of the [censored] on this site will be calling for him to be dropped back to the VFL to find some form!

DD i understand your pain. i head over seas later this month and was hoping to see the debut before i went away. how long you gone for?

Trident, I don't particularly care what any other club thinks tbh. I didn't hear the 3AW stuff, my old man just told me about it and was wondering if it was a common occurrence at the moment.

Rouge, I agree that QB was probably a factor, but not ina sense of 'oh we've been having a bad week, how bout we just put him in next week for QB match?' I think his 10 week preseason, play the casey games, play the brighton games, do the certain training etc big picture plan they have been talking about, has been building towards a debut this week.

I think it is likely that when they sat down to plan it out, if he ticked all the boxes, about now was the time he would debut give or take two weeks, and as such today was probably picked as the ideal date for other reasons. I imagine that this date has been set for a while, conditional to everything else - form, fitness, schooling etc. I also don't think they would've been to concerned about form as I am sure they realise he is a classy user of the ball, who, as long as he is getting 20 touches, would have some impact on a vfl game. good players are good players, even if they are young. i doubt they expected him to dominate anywhere (even at vfl) this year, due to his body size, but the key would have been for him to get the football and be comfortable with the pace of the game.

For what (or watt..) its worth, i am rapt that Jack is playing. cant beleive the negative press out there. But i do think it's a bit odd that all year we have played the school card and his school is the most important thing this year, then we select him a day before a VCE exam. It is strange... But i dont really care about the people outside our club having a dig at us. it's character building.

I had a peep on a few opposition supporter forums earlier, and after the hysteria on here I was genuinely surprised at how negative the 'rest' of supporters have been.

For me, it took absolutely no gloss off the moment whatsoever. Screw what anyone else thinks.`

I have the same opinion. I actually like the idea of opposition supporters talking about us tbh. We're in the picture. The Queen's Birthday clash deserves a good build up from our perspective. Stuff what they think. Opposition clubs in the same position would probably do the same if they were in our position.

Ben Cousins anyone?

The bloody AFL built up his "debut." They moved the freakin' match for that, so if anyone has a go at us they can shove it

Good piont.

Trident, I don't particularly care what any other club thinks tbh. I didn't hear the 3AW stuff, my old man just told me about it and was wondering if it was a common occurrence at the moment.

I think it is likely that when they sat down to plan it out, if he ticked all the boxes, about now was the time he would debut give or take two weeks, and as such today was probably picked as the ideal date for other reasons. I imagine that this date has been set for a while, conditional to everything else - form, fitness, schooling etc. I also don't think they would've been to concerned about form as I am sure they realise he is a classy user of the ball, who, as long as he is getting 20 touches, would have some impact on a vfl game. good players are good players, even if they are young. i doubt they expected him to dominate anywhere (even at vfl) this year, due to his body size, but the key would have been for him to get the football and be comfortable with the pace of the game.

I heard about the 3AW talkback from a friend this morning. I couldn't give a 'continental' what they think. They mapped out a build up plan for him, the last couple of weeks in terms of form on a wing was very good. He's done everything asked of him. His schooling is said to be going quite well, with no concerns.

I'm not expecting too much from him on Monday. What ever he does I'm sure he will adapt well being the quality young talent that he is. Playing in front of such a big crowd in a 'blockbuster' against Collingwood, will be worth 5-10 games of experience.

He should receive good attention from the opposition initially, I'll be interested to see how Jack's teammates respond.

People say we've got no brand power, don't market the club properly etc. Then when we do create a bit of a stir they say we're putting marketing above football. In life, there are people who will never let you win. Seriously, who gives a f#ck what they think.

GO DEES!!!

Ben Cousins anyone?

The bloody AFL built up his "debut." They moved the freakin' match for that, so if anyone has a go at us they can shove it

what game did the afl shift for cousins ???

previous yr game was same day/night season opener

They moved it to the Thursday.

Carlton go the fixture in '08 because they got Judd, which only furthers my point.

I think its a GOOD thing. It has raised alot more interest in the game. I know quite a few neutral supporters that are going to possibly go to the game now just to see Jack Watts play his debut match at the MCG.

As the late,great Big Kev used to say...... I'M EXCITED!!! :D

They moved it to the Thursday.

Carlton go the fixture in '08 because they got Judd, which only furthers my point.

i think you will find that in 08 it was played on thursday as it was easter ???? and because it was a good result they added it again this year, doubt judd or cousins were the reasons for this, i think you will see this will be the normal fixture for yrs to come just like we have qb match

anyway the topic is about Jack Watts and what the public think, me i dont give a rats but if they are talking then they must envy us, from what i have seen of this guy he is the real deal but i did see him play last weekend and felt maybe in another 3 weeks when we have a home game but i do applaud the club and all concerned on how this new and exciting prospect has been handled so far and have no doubt this guy will not let us down, i cant wait for monday to come along good luck jack enjoy the first of many games in red and blue

I'm surprised nobody has brought up the pathetic, overreaction media-beat up of today's story re: Watts and McLean in the boxing ring.

Actually, the whole thing is so pathetic that it is probably not worth mentioning.

I'm surprised nobody has brought up the pathetic, overreaction media-beat up of today's story re: Watts and McLean in the boxing ring.

Actually, the whole thing is so pathetic that it is probably not worth mentioning.

A few of my mates told me about this and they loved it. The media love to put a negative spin on everything but i think the general feeling is that its just part of the football culture. At the end of the day all this media attention is good for the club.