Jack Watts

[Jaded No More 68,855]

I'll tell you what sort of player he is...

A gifted bloody one.

Quoted for truth and accuracy.

These Watts discussions are becoming more and more ridiculous.

He'll be a star, so let's move on and give him the time that he needs and deserves to develop.

[Akum 2,660]

I admit I know very little of Jack Watts' junior career and it would be great to hear from those who have seen a bit of Jack Watts before MFC. I have seen some clips and read his reviews. After watching him a couple of times in the flesh and a few times on the box. I now have myself attempting to evaluate exactly what type of player he is.

What style of player will he become? I have changed my view. I expected him to end up a hard running athetic forward capable of a high flying pack mark in the mould of Riewoldt. I now see him in the James Hird mould. He has a great knack of snaffling the footy with one grab either in the air or on the ground. He also seems to be able to attract the footy to his hands even when out of position with great agility and co-ordination. He can then get himself clear with poise and class. So far he has shown a tendency to stay on the ground and avoid the packs. This leads me into my second question.

It appears that Jack Watts is not placing himself in contested situations. Is this by his design or on the advice of our coaching staff? I have a feeling that it may be the latter.

The third question is: Should a player who actively avoids contests be consistently playing AFL football regardless of the reasons? If a player or the club hasn't got confidence in the players body to withstand a contest, should that disclude them from playing senior footy until the player's body is ready. I can understand that a player may be given a taste of what is required in the big league for a couple of games. Should they be playing on a weekly basis. I am not necessarily looking at Jack when I ask this question.

I'm readng things that aren't there?? At no stage have you bagged Jack Watts??

You need to take a look at your OP, dandeeman. I've bolded the bits where you've bagged Jack DIRECTLY for "a tendency to ... avoid the packs" and "not placing himself in contested situations".

Then you talk about "a player who actively avoids contests" and "a player (who) hasn't got confidence in the players body to withstand a contest", but this is in a thread you started that you called "Jack Watts", where you don't mention any other player. OK, you've spent the rest of the thread backpedalling from these ridiculous and extremely offensive statements.

You then come on all injured and hard done by when somebody calls you "idiot". What other word is there?

And you have no idea what I'm talking about? Let me try again - slowly. The club and Jack want him to put himself in pressure situations, to see if his game holds up, to see whether his vision and decision-making and disposal, attributes that stamp him as elite and for which they recruited him, stand up under pressure. So far, despite him being underdone and underdeveloped, it looks good. Just because he's not crashing packs and taking pack marks doesn't mean that he's avoiding contests.

Let me repeat - the most offensive thing you can say about any player is that he actively avoids contests. You've said this directly about Jack twice, and indirectly another twice. Then when challenged to back it up you repeat it and emphasise it by calling it "indisputable" in a later post. Then other clowns are encouraged by this garbage to come out of the woodwork and say it's true.

How can this be construed as anything other than a post that is very offensive towards Jack? If Jack happened to read this, what other possible conclusion could he draw from it? Other than that you have no idea what you're talking about. You expect to cop this trash from outside the club, but not from those who call themselves "supporters".

You've been backpedalling from the offensive parts of your OP the whole thread since. Perhaps you were trying to have a go at the club for what you consider to be their instructions. So if you didn't mean it to come across as offensively as it actually reads, have the guts to take responsibility for the words you posted, say you didn't mean it that way and TAKE IT BACK. Don't think you can counter the offensiveness by inane statements such as "Jack Watts seems like a great kid with a good head on his shoulders and immense ability" (who you happen to think avoids contests).

[The Time is Now 4]

I'm readng things that aren't there?? At no stage have you bagged Jack Watts??

You need to take a look at your OP, dandeeman. I've bolded the bits where you've bagged Jack DIRECTLY for "a tendency to ... avoid the packs" and "not placing himself in contested situations".

Then you talk about "a player who actively avoids contests" and "a player (who) hasn't got confidence in the players body to withstand a contest", but this is in a thread you started that you called "Jack Watts", where you don't mention any other player. OK, you've spent the rest of the thread backpedalling from these ridiculous and extremely offensive statements.

You then come on all injured and hard done by when somebody calls you "idiot". What other word is there?

And you have no idea what I'm talking about? Let me try again - slowly. The club and Jack want him to put himself in pressure situations, to see if his game holds up, to see whether his vision and decision-making and disposal, attributes that stamp him as elite and for which they recruited him, stand up under pressure. So far, despite him being underdone and underdeveloped, it looks good. Just because he's not crashing packs and taking pack marks doesn't mean that he's avoiding contests.

Let me repeat - the most offensive thing you can say about any player is that he actively avoids contests. You've said this directly about Jack twice, and indirectly another twice. Then when challenged to back it up you repeat it and emphasise it by calling it "indisputable" in a later post. Then other clowns are encouraged by this garbage to come out of the woodwork and say it's true.

How can this be construed as anything other than a post that is very offensive towards Jack? If Jack happened to read this, what other possible conclusion could he draw from it? Other than that you have no idea what you're talking about. You expect to cop this trash from outside the club, but not from those who call themselves "supporters".

You've been backpedalling from the offensive parts of your OP the whole thread since. Perhaps you were trying to have a go at the club for what you consider to be their instructions. So if you didn't mean it to come across as offensively as it actually reads, have the guts to take responsibility for the words you posted, say you didn't mean it that way and TAKE IT BACK. Don't think you can counter the offensiveness by inane statements such as "Jack Watts seems like a great kid with a good head on his shoulders and immense ability" (who you happen to think avoids contests).

Mate theirs no need to cry it just a post, and to answer your questions dandeeman:

1. I think jack will became a nick riewoldt type, but better when the ball hits the deck, Jack looks great below his knee's.

2. I think the club is asking jack to play the way he is playing so he can see out the year injury free, also if he was to get hurt the media would bag the club and say "look how meblourne has thrown jack watts to the wolves" and so on.

3. I think you should play him at afl level on a wing or off half forward simply to pick up the pace of the game and to learn from it, as he hasnt played alot of footy at any level it would be much better for him to learn from afl footy, then from the vfl.

........just my opinion.

p.s. I love the Kid.

[Akum 2,660]

Mate theirs no need to cry it just a post

Not crying. Mate.

Just defending a top quality young footballer against what must be the lowest accusation that can be made against a professional athlete in any contact sport. Especially when it's totally wrong. You think it means nothing? Perhaps you missed the fuss earlier in the year when Josh Fraser was accused of "dogging" a contest. That was just as idiotic.

Of course Jack's not immune from criticism! You can say you don't think he's hard enough at the ball if that's your opinion. You can say you're concerned that the club has told him to keep himself out of trouble if that's what you think. But that's light years away from repeated wild accusations about "deliberately avoiding contests".

None of his opponents accuse him of that. You don't expect it from so-called "supporters". Wouldn't be a problem at all except that dandeeman's posts are usually good on the whole IMO - if he was a nuffer I wouldn't bother. I just think he should know better and should accept responsibility for what he posted.

[Craig Drinker 179]

How about judging Jack Watts , Cale Morton and others of the same ilk when they have fully developed footballers bodies.

Jack Watts is a beautiful mover ,extremely capable on both sides of his body and has excellent decision making skills that belie his young age.

All of the above plus a full pre season next year and a more rigorous weights program = Jack Watts "Superstar of the future"

Be patient people.

[rpfc 28,239]

I'll tell you what sort of player he is...

A gifted bloody one.

Well said, 45H.

He's a baby folks.

So stop posting like trolls.

[Rogue 585]

If he doesn't play as tough as Johno Brown, there'll be a lot of chagrin.

I doubt it.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

I doubt it.

Why?

I didn't say he SHOULD get compared to Browny, just that he will. Assuming he's a key forward, the comparisons will come thick and fast... As well they should.

[Jaded No More 68,855]

Why?

I didn't say he SHOULD get compared to Browny, just that he will. Assuming he's a key forward, the comparisons will come thick and fast... As well they should.

How ridiculous!

Does anyone compare Reiwoldt to Brown? Fevola to Brown? Franklin to Brown?

Anyone who compares Jack Watts to Jonathan Brown is a moron, and deserves a punch to the head by Jonathan Brown

[Rogue 585]

Why?

Watts is destined to play a different role IMO.

Why would he be compared to Brown over one of many forwards?

I think a comparison with someone like Reiwoldt is far more likely.

[Vipercrunch 2,820]

Jack Watts hasn't played like someone who is at all concerned he won't make it in AFL. Players picked later in the draft need to prove to themselves and thier club from the very start that they are capable. Jack would have been told that he has nothing to prove, and is playing to gain experience. Nothing is being demanded of him. There will come a time when his coach and team will demand something from him, and that is when he will need to deliver.

[beelzebub 23,312]

Watts is destined to play a different role IMO.

Why would he be compared to Brown over one of many forwards?

I think a comparison with someone like Reiwoldt is far more likely.

very much so.

[Yze_Magic 3]

Mix between Nick Riewoldt/James Hird/Gary Lyon.

[beelzebub 23,312]

Mix between Nick Riewoldt/James Hird/Gary Lyon.

that might just be the most astute observation of your's here ever YM !!

[H_T 3,043]

Mix between Nick Riewoldt/James Hird/Gary Lyon.

Fair assessment IMO.

[Yze_Magic 3]

I forgot to mention that he will be better than those three plonkers combined.

[beelzebub 23,312]

I forgot to mention that he will be better than those three plonkers combined.

i'll be quite happy if as good as any

But I dont think we've even begun to see his star shine. When he can focus on footy and with a few more kilos ( more than the 7 he has apparently put on to date ) with more strength ,,he'll be just fine thankyou

[H_T 3,043]

I forgot to mention that he will be better than those three plonkers combined.

Probably will not start to see the best of him until your year of domination Y_M......2011.

Edited July 13, 2009 by High Tower

[Guest Digga]

Dud

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Akum/Enforcer I have read and reread my posts and the OP and still can't see the part where I have bagged Jack Watts, yes even the bits in bold. Again I say I think the kid will be great and I don't think he will be soft. I have not backpedalled or changed my opinion at all, I stand by all of it. This is my last post on this issue as I still reckon you 2 blokes have misconstrued what I am saying and may continue to do so.

There is a difference between staying away from packs / getting in contests with big backmen and squibbing a contest. If you don't put yourself around the contests how can you squib one? This is where the "avoiding contested situations" bit comes in. To me it's pretty clear that he is staying away from the packs which is where the "indisputable" bit comes in. I agree that I don't want to see him in those situations yet, not until his body is ready. I also believe that his time is now best served playing against men in the VFL.

The other part to the question which Akum highlighted was more directed at Cale which I intimated also in the OP. Should a player who is physically not mature enough to handle the physicality of AFL footy be getting a regular senior game? I don't think they should. If you think I am an idiot for it then so be it. I don't mind a player getting a couple of games to see where they are at physically and to give them a taste but I don't think they should be a fixture. I think having a player who consistently is unable to contest the footy hard can breed problems within a team no matter how many other strengths the particular player may have. Spots must be earned and intensity maintained.

I agree with Melbourneno.1's post and Hannabal raises some really good issues FWIW which I agree with in principle.

Edited July 13, 2009 by dandeeman

[e25 5]

I simply don't agree with you that Watts is actively avoiding contests. He may not get to them, or may be in the wrong area at the time or working towards making an option further ahead, but I take exception with your conclusion that he is avoiding contests by his own design or that of the foorball dept.

That's it.

[Beamer 1]

Watts: The great white fear.

Is he tough enough?

This will be the most argued point on demonland for the next 5 years.

Jack certainly doesn't have the mongrel of Jonathan Brown or Wayne Carey but then again neither does Nick Riewoldt.

Edited July 13, 2009 by Beamer

[two sheds jackson 3]

Anyone who compares Jack Watts to Jonathan Brown is a moron, and deserves a punch to the head by Jonathan Brown

Which, of course, would hurt much more than a punch to the head by Jack Watts.

Sorry, just had to.

[Guest Watts=Saviour]

Jack Watts has enough idiots on his back without his own club turning on him.

I think the kid's going to be star, a lot of people may dissagree.

The main thing is, he needs time, he's only a kid!

Let's look at this realistically. He's played 3 games and he weighs about 10kg. It'd be a bloody mirracle if he was consistantly kicking goals at this point. Jonothan Brown looked bloody hopeless in the first games of his career.

Have some faith and patience in the boy, I've got a lot of confidence he's gunna do us proud.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

QUOTE (JACKATTACK @ Jul 12 2009, 09:27 AM)

Watts: The great white fear.

Is he tough enough?

This will be the most argued point on demonland for the next 5 years.

Jack certainly doesn't have the mongrel of Jonathan Brown or Wayne Carey but then again neither does Nick Riewoldt.

2 years to go...