The more and more I consider all of this the more I come to the conclusion the biggest problem with Watts is his manage. He's infected Watts with a false sense of value and import . Essentially hes created Watts in the image of a cart before horse..

Watts really needs to understand he is nothing other than that which he portrays himself to be on the field during a game. Thats where he needs to improve.

Gyms etc all help but its his attitude, how he deals with watts between the ears that will matter most. All else would follow as course.

He has to play to his potential. He literally has to stop thinking and start doing.

Connors does him no favours for mine

I agree Redleg, I actually think that its a positive thing that Jack has tested the market (as such) and has chosen to stay loyal to us. It says a fair bit about the direction PJ and Roos have put the club upon, and hopefully if we get Sylvia signing too. Bit different than this time last year when we lost/let go several players and most seemed pretty disillusioned.

Compare this to what is going on with Brisbane and their players all apparently wanting to leave, do any of us feel remorse/regret for their players given they have no coach, a board in crisis etc.

... if any of you are like me, you are hoping that there is a way we might be able to snag one of their players.

You're a child, so I accept you'll be silly from time to time.

Some are children, some never grow up , I guess.

I reckon Watts and his management will want 3 years which will see him a restricted free agent by then. While the mfc would probably prefer 2 years.

This might hold up the negotiations.

I reckon Watts and his management will want 3 years which will see him a restricted free agent by then. While the mfc would probably prefer 2 years.

This might hold up the negotiations.

Well if we want to back ourselves in to improve, it's no biggie.

Also a 3 year deal will send a message to other players, that now JW and his management see a future in the Dees. That is positive when we are chasing other players.

Jack Watts won't really have come of age as a footballer until he is on the Demonland Banner. I hope Roos can take the promise and potential he has and get him up there on the Banner

Jack Watts won't really have come of age as a footballer until he is on the Demonland Banner. I hope Roos can take the promise and potential he has and get him up there on the Banner

Jordie McKenzie's appearance is dubious

The one thing Jack needs to realise is what Loyalty can bring, and that by putting ones self on the line for his club and friends will earn him respect and much more than what other options can bring

"Loyalty"

He may be six kinds of a liar
He may be ten kinds of a fool.
He may be a wicked high flier
Beyond any reason or rule.
There may be a shadow above him
Of ruin and woes to impend
And I may not respect, but I love him,
Because -- well, because he's one of my team.

I know he has faults by the billion,
But his faults are a portion of him,
I know that his record's vermillion
And he's far from the sweet Seraphim;
But he's always been square with yours truly,
Ready to give or to lend,
And if he's wild and unruly
I like him -- because he's one of my team

I criticize him but I do it
In just a frank comradely key
And back biting gossips will rue it
If they ever knock him to me!
I never make diagrams of him
No maps of his soul have I penned,
I don't analyse -- I just love him,
Because -- well, because he's one of my team.

Author Unknown

Note the arguments with a couple of well known posters who really got their noses out of joint.

Jack Watts won't really have come of age as a footballer until he is on the Demonland Banner. I hope Roos can take the promise and potential he has and get him up there on the Banner

Happy now?

With the way Watts' every move is scrutinised and analysed he must at times feel like Truman Burbank.

Watts' played very well yesterday. I didn't expect him to get much of it. He played as a 197+cm wingman in slippery conditions and a howling gale; and ended up with 26 possessions plus a goal in less than 3 and half quarters. He's been recruited as a key position forward, but the club are protecting him while he develops into his body as well as giving him miles in his legs up on a wing because his training has been so restricted. With Miller and Newton as the focal points in attack and Watts playing on a wing it wasn't his role to fly for marks against his teammates.

Watts is a very smart footballer. Some players look for body contact all the time and others will avoid it if it's advantageous to do so. Watts will go if it's his turn and I've not seen him avoid one contest that he really had to endure, but I have seen him avoid contests that other players wouldn't have because it was the sensible option. Whether that has involved running around a player giving a shepherd or deliberately keeping his feet so as to not rule himself out of the next contest. He's not the type to knock blokes over just to make a statement - yet.

How many guys at his height have such agility, pace, and skills on either side of their body. Plus a real footy brain. He's something special is young Jack, but the nuffies on here have to be a little more patient while Truman develops into what is going to be an imposing physique.

Some of these threads will be fun to bump in a few years.

Edited April 30, 201411 yr by jabberwocky

Wow. WOW.

Having a few arguments with myself on this thread, if some are to be believed.

There are some good early insights in there.

And some bloody terrible misguided and offensive ones.

I'd say you nailed it though, Jabber.

I'd say you nailed it though, Jabber.

Not quite mate, I said I thought he would end up like James Hird.

I also suspected that the club was instructing him to stay away from packs, clearly got that wrong too.

It does highlight that Jack was not ready to play senior footy. He should not have been rewarded with selection for playing that style of game. We may still be paying the price.

Edited April 30, 201411 yr by jabberwocky

He did and continues to skirt packs and avoid contact though.

I don't want to do this..

Ah who am I kidding. I totally want to do it.

with Roos on board (well lets assume hes signed) you are now going to see why Watts went at pick 1 in the draft

Only reason he hasnt exploded yet is cos the MFC have been a joke the last 6 years and player development has been pathetic

Watts has still has a solid year, but he will be a star in 2014 under Roos and his assistants

By Round 6:

he is bloody terrible

he should retire and go play basketball

[censored] Watts

But this is even better I think..

Say what you want about Watts, but we cant have any more of our brightest payers walking out.

It is a culture killer.

trade Watts to the highest bidder, even if its pick 70

He is a culture killer and his teammates must hate him

So having him leave would have been a culture killer. Having him stay is a culture killer. Literally [censored] either way.

Deadset, my 5 year old nephew is less up and down.

Edited April 30, 201411 yr by P-man

I love these old threads. A bit scary. Maldon Boys' post on page 27 has proved to be pretty accurate

I don't want to do this..

Ah who am I kidding. I totally want to do it.

By Round 6:

But this is even better I think..

So having him leave would have been a culture killer. Having him stay is a culture killer. Literally [censored] either way.

Deadset, my 5 year old nephew is less up and down.

P-man, you've got way too much time on your hands. And I'm so glad that you have. Thankyou.

I think this is my first post on a JW thread. I don't know why I am doing it ...

I was watching Casey on Sunday getting flogged and watching Nicho try his guts out - hard running, desperation, second and third efforts without the skill to capitalise on them. I couldn't help but to think of the difference between him and JW, one a sublime talent and the other a sublime trier. Of the two of them, who would you draft; Watts in a heartbeat, all clubs would. I remember hearing a quote from Paul Sheehan a few years back when he said that being so good as a junior did not prepare him to be a Test cricketer; he never knew how to graft runs as he'd never needed to. The parallels with JW are very similar, he was blessed with incredible talent that allowed him to cruise though junior football without having to exert himself.

Bingo.

We would be lucky to get a pick inside the top 25 for him

We would be lucky to get a pick inside the top 25 for him

I think we should stick with him... but having said that, if things keep going the way they are on both sides of the country, we might be able to do a straight swap for Nik Nat ;-)

Edited April 30, 201411 yr by hardtack

I don't want to do this..

Ah who am I kidding. I totally want to do it.

By Round 6:

But this is even better I think..

So having him leave would have been a culture killer. Having him stay is a culture killer. Literally [censored] either way.

Deadset, my 5 year old nephew is less up and down.

lol thanks for the laugh

Brilliant

Lets not attack him over his contract, as if he stays, that is all that matters on that issue.

He just said publicly what everyone was thinking.

The next step is to hit the gym and and become more aggressive on the field.

Waiting waiting waiting

How can you say he's developing nicely if he hasn't laid a tackle, put his body on the line or chased hard since he's come to the club. Dean Kent developed nicely as a flanker this year. Watts wasted another year shuffling between positions because he either can't or refuses to play physical football.

I would really love to see Kent take the next step Master. I think he'll be a solid contributor if given the right assistance, opportunity and allowed to settle into a specific role/position in the short term.

reserve opinion til I see him tear it up. He could, he might, but will he.

watch this channel

Hmmmm.... words from the wise. BZ i can hear you saying... "Waiting waiting waiting" lol

His second efforts are appalling at times.

He needs to stop ball watching and thinking and just start reacting in contested/close footy situations.

still have my doubts on him, just watching r22 now, early in the third Howe kicked it to him on the lead, kick was shanked meaning a constested ball contest. He got first hands on it in heavey traffic, but as soon as he did his head shot up to see the would-be tackler, promptly flinched and the ball slipped out of hands, losing possession. He is not fumbly at all, it was purely the pressure and anticipation of getting hit. Somebody like Hurley would not have looked at anyone, just made sure he took possession cleanly and smashed/baulked his way through the tacklers to dish it off. It was one of those situations where the tacklers were sort of flat-footed and a big man should be able to get enough freedom to at least get his hands free to dispose. Such a tiny difference in conduct but such a massive difference in the result. There are bigger more obvious things like this that he does, but there are also many smaller ones like this that go unnoticed/unmentioned.

And it would appear, until now, that unfortunately nothing has changed.

I'm sure Roos and team will be focussing their efforts here but in the end IMO this is all between Mr Watt's ears. Will Watts go "all in" on his defensive side and effort/attack on the ball and carrier when he/we don't have the ball... or is he just happy to plod along and rely on his talent with the ball and use his occasional evasive skills to hit targets/scoreboard?

The ball is in his court. Let's hope he can turn this around.

I am interested in the fact that Crossy was giving him a spray on the field. He needs a real leader to show him the way and ride him out there. While it didnt help agains the Swans and Watts was terrible It will hopefully be the rocket he needs.