I know this is a very unpopular thing to say, but are we fooling ourselves about Jack Watts. From what we can gather about the game at the weekend young jack was beaten pointless by a less than top 50 draftee. Why was this so? Was he injured? Was he unfit? Or was he not good enough?

I dearly hope I am wrong on this, but I fear he may be another Molan.

Reassure me someone. Show me evidence to the contrary.......

I heard he gathered 22 odd classy possessions, Grimes said he played well and he's just getting some match fitness.

  On 19/04/2010 at 07:39, 2014-Flag said:

I know this is a very unpopular thing to say, but are we fooling ourselves about Jack Watts. From what we can gather about the game at the weekend young jack was beaten pointless by a less than top 50 draftee. Why was this so? Was he injured? Was he unfit? Or was he not good enough?

I dearly hope I am wrong on this, but I fear he may be another Molan.

Reassure me someone. Show me evidence to the contrary.......

Where did you read that?

  On 19/04/2010 at 07:39, 2014-Flag said:

I know this is a very unpopular thing to say, but are we fooling ourselves about Jack Watts. From what we can gather about the game at the weekend young jack was beaten pointless by a less than top 50 draftee. Why was this so? Was he injured? Was he unfit? Or was he not good enough?

I dearly hope I am wrong on this, but I fear he may be another Molan.

Reassure me someone. Show me evidence to the contrary.......

Hold on a sec there friend. Take a big deep breath. If Jack had a bad game - its not the end of the world. Just consider how the kid who played on him would have been so so keen to take on Jack & play well on him. Maybe Jack was outplayed & will learn. The club would have told him where he went wrong in their de-brief if there was any problems. Just because he didnt kick 5 goals & get 35 poss you want his head????????

You ask for evidence? Wait until he plays a few games in the seniors - wait even til he has played a full year before we go close to judging him.

As I said, just take a big deep breath.

Man am I sick of these posts.

Why don't you just wait and see what happens with him?

Is it really that hard? He hasn't even played 10 AFL games !!!

Anyone that is getting worried this early on about Jack Watts really needs to immerse themselves in

something other than football for a while.

  On 19/04/2010 at 07:54, stevethemanjordan said:

Man am I sick of these posts.

Why don't you just wait and see what happens with him?

Is it really that hard? He hasn't even played 10 AFL games !!!

Anyone that is getting worried this early on about Jack Watts really needs to immerse themselves in

something other than football for a while.

Should we not judge Luke Molan yet? He hasn't played 10 AFL games either. I'm being facetious, of course. To the OP, just remember that Nick Naitanui is a year older than Jack Watts, and he also played in the WAFL the year before that. So essentially, NicNat has had 2 more years experience over Jack Watts. Yes I'm fearful that Jack won't live up to expectations, but I'm also patient enough to know that "playing up the ground and getting a few classy possessions" (to quote Yze_Magic quoting every Casey post ever) is probably all we'll get from Jack Watts for a while.

Relax mate he looks the goods. He was starting at half forward and roaming through the wings and even across half back a few times... would have covered plenty of territory which will help his match fitness and got 20 touches in the process. His disposal is good by hand and foot gathers the ball very cleanly below his knees. I know he can kick goals from set shots based on his goals last year at VFL/AFL level that I saw & also from the warm up at Casey he was banging them through from 40-50 out post high. All I want to see from him is some contested marking and marks out in front on the lead to know for sure he is the whole package.

Also a poster in another thread mentioned that sometimes its harder to shine in the twos because its slower more conjested etc. At least wait until he plays a dozen games in the seniors back to back before writing him off.

Watts should be playing key forward at Casey.

He should be down there learning the ropes, not playing as a midfielder picking up cheap possies. He will never be a midfielder at AFL level.

And if anyone says he doesnt have the body to play KPP at freaking VFL level, I will laugh.

everyone who knows anything knows he is a magnificent talent and that players like him usually take a while to come on, especially since he is bottom-aged. Have a look at pick #2 Scott Gumbleton who played 5 games in his first 3 years. The extremely overrated NikNat doesn't have a single bloody thing to do with it either. Just be PATIENT FFS

I heard he played on Collingwoods Ben Reid. Who was a #8 pick in 2006. Who was taken 4 spots before our beloved Chip.

At this in Watts development stage would you be worried if he played on Chip and was beaten? I wouldn't.

I wonder if Jack would be playing AFL rather than VFL if he wasn't the number one pick?

Astbury from Richmond has a similar build to Watts and he went ok on Sunday. Watts could play a similar role.

Dermie was dead in his tracks at 27. Carey not much better at the same age. They were very good when they were young, but their best footy would have been when they were in their mid to late 20s ...... if their bodies had have held up.

I'd rather Jack be developed to be our key forward when we are premiership contenders. There is no benefit from having him getting crunched - be it at AFL or VFL level - each week as a key forward.

There's plenty of time to watch him play CHF when we need him to.

  On 19/04/2010 at 08:24, Deestroyer said:

I wonder if Jack would be playing AFL rather than VFL if he wasn't the number one pick?

Astbury from Richmond has a similar build to Watts and he went ok on Sunday. Watts could play a similar role.

Astbury got one goal from rubbish manning up, another from a turnover caused by Warnock that should have been a free to Grimes as he got crunched front on and kicked a beauty of a third which I believe came from an out on the full. Watts could certainly do likewise, except that Melbourne are no longer in the business of rolling over and getting done by 10 goals each week. We also don't have 4 guys out with club suspensions. You now have to earn the right to play for us and hopefully Jack will soon. He's gathering form and fitness, not rotting away. I'm sure once Watts does make it into the team Bailey will give him ample opportunity to stay there for a long period.

I do not care if Jack Watts plays the entire year at Casey-as long as he is ready when we seriously need him.

I have Faith in those at the Club. Jack is itching to play. Good, but make him earn it, so when he gets his chance he will make it stick.

Please stop the comparisons with Nik Nat. That kid is 2+ years ahead of JW.

I do look forward to seeing Daniel Rich up against our midfield next saturday though. Could be a beauty.

Isn't it enough to get the Molan/Nicnat garbage from opposition fans?

COmparing him to Luke is pretty much the height of paranoia.

Next!!!

  On 19/04/2010 at 07:39, 2014-Flag said:

I know this is a very unpopular thing to say, but are we fooling ourselves about Jack Watts.

Reassure me someone. Show me evidence to the contrary.......

Agree it is not popular...nor is it intelligent.

Colin Sylvia on the MFC site said he can see 2008 No.1 NAB AFL Draft pick Jack Watts, who played three matches last year, returning to the AFL in the next few weeks.

"Jack's starting to find some pretty good form. He's had a lot of trouble with his body and getting things right," he said.

"We've all got faith in Jack and he's a developing player and he needs a little bit of time, so hopefully he can come on and string a few games together this year and catch up to the Tom Scullys and Jack Trengoves."

  On 19/04/2010 at 07:39, 2014-Flag said:

I know this is a very unpopular thing to say, but are we fooling ourselves about Jack Watts. From what we can gather about the game at the weekend young jack was beaten pointless by a less than top 50 draftee. Why was this so? Was he injured? Was he unfit? Or was he not good enough?

I dearly hope I am wrong on this, but I fear he may be another Molan.

Reassure me someone. Show me evidence to the contrary.......

Who did he play on? And 24 disposals can hardly be considered being beaten pointless. Even if quite a few people said it was an average game from him (24 touches for a KPF and it's average? Awesome to see him when he's good),

OK, I was at the game down at Casey. One thing I can tell you about Jackie boy is that his foot speed is up there with the top few at the club, and he is now 3 inches taller than Brad Miller. For his height he would be one of the quickest in his height group in the entire AFL.

Played a nice game IMO, didnt lower his colours and did some nice things. He did not dominate, but I can tell you that he is a player on the rise.

NikNat is not a KPP, but is a fantastic prospect. Jackie Boy is a KPP and looks like to be one of the quickest and most agile young CHFs I have ever seen.

Watts is as unique as NikNat, just very different. He has good footy smarts, and has a stack of development to go. Its all about the Ceiling. Has NikNat hit his? You never know..........

If you are going to come out and hit a player hard, I suggest you look at some of the positives for that player. Watts is doing some good things, and will eventually start setting the VFL on fire.

  On 19/04/2010 at 08:24, Deestroyer said:

I wonder if Jack would be playing AFL rather than VFL if he wasn't the number one pick?

Astbury from Richmond has a similar build to Watts and he went ok on Sunday.

*Sigh* Astbury = A Demon playing in Tiger colours.

On the other side of the coin, Scully a Tiger in Demon colours.

Watts just needs more game time with Casey.

I'm happy to see him play there all year ,if need be.

He needs to be 100% fit first,then gain some confidence.

It wont hurt him to tune his game with Casey.

If he plays some good games on end, then he will get his chance.

  On 19/04/2010 at 09:03, Wrathchild said:

OK, I was at the game down at Casey. One thing I can tell you about Jackie boy is that his foot speed is up there with the top few at the club, and he is now 3 inches taller than Brad Miller. For his height he would be one of the quickest in his height group in the entire AFL.

Played a nice game IMO, didnt lower his colours and did some nice things. He did not dominate, but I can tell you that he is a player on the rise.

Jackie Boy is a KPP and looks like to be one of the quickest and most agile young CHFs I have ever seen.

Thanks for the update.

Jeff White was one of the quickest players at draft camp, yet looked slow on the ground. Watts looked slow in his AFL games last year. Hopefully this was just Jack adjusting to the faster tempo of AFL footy.

  On 19/04/2010 at 08:13, Trengove_is_God said:

Watts should be playing key forward at Casey.

He should be down there learning the ropes, not playing as a midfielder picking up cheap possies. He will never be a midfielder at AFL level.

And if anyone says he doesnt have the body to play KPP at freaking VFL level, I will laugh.

I was poo pooed last year for suggesting that Watts was avoiding contested situations. I suggested that this was either by his own design or on instruction from the club. I am definitely leaning to the latter.

My own opinion is that the club is dictating terms here. If the club has decided that his body isn't ready or not worth risking in the hard stuff then Casey is where he should remain until that changes. The possibility is that the club wants to get some run in his legs and get his hands on the footy before plonking him at centre half forward and asking him to be a marking target, which will obviously increase his chances of collision injury.

It's just my take on things. I am not passing judgement on the club or the player as they are in the best position to judge how to handle Jack Watts.

It is my belief however that a player selected for senior footy must be capable and willing to put his body on the line.

Bailey mentioned in an interview he wanted 3-4 good games out of Watts. I have a strange feeling that Watts will play his first game for the season under lights against the Doggies of Friday May 7. Watts would have played at least 4 full games of VFL by then.

I know the media will be on his case before and after the game about his performance, I just hope the senior players help him through all the crap that he will be receiving.

The boy, and thats what he still is, need time to mature and know his place in the side.

Patience is a Virtue

Oh for the love of all that is red and blue, can we just give this Jack Watts thing a rest?

If it helps you sleep at night, believe we made a mistake, beat yourself and the club up after every game that Naitanui plays, and go on thinking that we are forever doomed to pick dud KPF.

Or alternatively, calm down, and STFU about Jack Watts until he is 23 and has 50 games under his belt. Thank you.