The Watts DEBACLE

[praha 11,240]

Am I the only one to think that the Melbourne Football Club's handling of Watts over the past 4 weeks has been anything but professional and in the best interests of the boy? I am really disappointed when I think (and strongly believe) that the only reason Watts debuted against Collingwood on Queens Birthday was to add another 5-10k fans on the gate. Furthermore, the lead-up and hype to that match, mainly by MFC personnel, was bordering embarrassing.

Was the hype really warranted? No. Was it justified? No. Why? Because it was an 18 year-old kid, yet to debut and yet to prove his worth on the big stage. Why advertise him as the next best thing when he is yet to play a game? You only dig yourself a grave when you do that, leading yourself to embarrassment and criticism if the plan doesn't pan out like you expect it to.

I'm not saying the kid doesn't have potential because he clearly does, but what would have been wrong with simply announcing his name like every other person when the teams were officially announced? No media briefing, no press conference. Just a normal call-up that happens week in, week out. Was it necessary to allow him access to the media for interviews? Was it necessary to feature him on the official website and [censored] the young kid to the media like as if he was Jesus?

The answer to those questions is "NO!"

Had he been announced normally without much hype, the media would have talked it up anyway. With the club talking it up as well though, there was major overkill.

I know how some of you think. You believe that because he is the No. 1 pick and because he had pulling power, why not take advantage of it, right? But we're forgetting an important thing. He might be a professional athlete now, but he is just a kid. How is putting the weight of a 150 year-old club on the shoulders of a kid yet to prove himself a good thing? Granted, doing so is a great way of judging his character and true potential, but to say the whole fiasco leading up to the Collingwood match was overdone is a massive understatement.

It made me cringe when the pre-match announcer actually used Watts as a way to hype up the 60,000+ crowd...while Watts was actually on the field warming up. When has that ever happened? Does it happen in Geelong with Ablett takes the field? Did it ever? Has it ever with any other club?

I think this whole instance is clear of how absolutely desperate the club is at the moment. We, as supporters, really know so little. We might look at him as a messiah for the team that will lead it to success, but from a business stand-point, the club used the kid as a marketing ploy to bring some much-needed attention to the club - and it worked.

I genuinely feel sorry the kid. This is a kid studying VCE (which, unlike some of you may think, IS important to some people) and is obviously dealing with things most 18 year-old kid deals with - puberty, girls and popularity. Throw the expectations of the worlds oldest sporting club, which is currently struggling terribly on and off the field, and you have a kid with way too much responsibility, only three matches into his career.

Is that right? No it's not. You can put expectations on him, sure. But the weight of a club? Let's not be so naive to think that the club doesn't hold him to be the key to the future. That's fine if they do, but to advertise it as blatantly as they did over the past few weeks is just asking to be disappointed.

[Hannabal 4]

Why dredge this up now ? There's been countless chances for you to express this opinion.

Fwiw, I think the club erred with texting his selection and created more pressure than they ought. Having said that, the games he gets this year will benefit him and the club in the future. Jack Grimes admitted that he wasn't ready in round 22 last year, but the game was of enormous benefit to him over preseason.

Was Morton ready in round 1 last year ? Was Bennell ready ? Some supporters didn't feel that Jurrah was ready. Many players aren't 'ready', but you have to taste AFL footy and learn what's required some time. I'll back the club to manage his progress.

This will be a non-issue in 4 years time when he's flying.

I can't quite understand the timing of this thread.

[rpfc 28,779]

I think the hype we made has been hyped.

We did a few press conferences...

And all this nonsense about, 'where making him out to be the great, white hope and its unfair,' is tiresome.

He IS a great, white hope, and life is hardly fair. The best kids are given to the worst sides and hopes will be placed on their shoulders.

BTW, Morton is also a GWH, and Scully will be a GWH, and Morabito/Trengove/Rohan will be a GWH...

[Guest melbman]

I've read a couple of articles that focused in some degree on Jack's father and what came across to me was his fathers outlook and way of thinking

I have no doubt that Jack has a mentor and an imbued outlook and that guides him through all sorts of issues with more ease and clarity than most

He is in very good hands IMO

[praha 11,240]

Why dredge this up now ? There's been countless chances for you to express this opinion.

Fwiw, I think the club erred with texting his selection and created more pressure than they ought. Having said that, the games he gets this year will benefit him and the club in the future. Jack Grimes admitted that he wasn't ready in round 22 last year, but the game was of enormous benefit to him over preseason.

Was Morton ready in round 1 last year ? Was Bennell ready ? Some supporters didn't feel that Jurrah was ready. Many players aren't 'ready', but you have to taste AFL footy and learn what's required some time. I'll back the club to manage his progress.

This will be a non-issue in 4 years time when he's flying.

I can't quite understand the timing of this thread.

My post was more about us overhyping the kid rather than whether or not he was ready. Actually, the latter wasn't even mentioned in my post. I just think they let him debut against Collingwood with a hidden agenda is all.

[e25 5]

WORST. POST. EVER.

And there is some real rubbish out there, but this one takes the cake.

Its an obnoxious waste of energy.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

WORST. POST. EVER.

And there is some real rubbish out there, but this one takes the cake.

Its an obnoxious waste of energy.

I completely disagree.

There are some very valid points. Why lump the extra pressure of press conferences and the whole media circus in the whole week leading up on an 18 year old kid still at school. And it would seem it was to get an extra 5-10k through the gate. Luckily, Jack looks to be the sort of kid who wont be affected by it too much.

[Adam The God 30,420]

Football is a business. Jimmy and his board realise this. Promoting Watts is what any club in our position or in any position, would do. You have to promote yourself at every opportunity and this was just another of these occassions.

[Guest Watts=Saviour]

I think he was always going to get hyped up, and thats just a compliment to his potential. What I don't like is the way the media slams him after 3 games.