To the footy God's what?

Love for a Fairytale?

I certainly am praying to the footy God's!

Agreed.

Watching Gumbleton tongiht gives me hope for young Jack.

With Petterd going down Bailey and Co need to decide whether to look to the future or the past. Watts might not be dominating the VFL but he is now match fit and should be included to play the dogs next week. He has had his 4-5 weeks at Casey it is time for him to start learning at AFL level. 2010 as we have heard so many times is about getting games into our young players and more importantly get them playing games together. We don't want to see Miller and Newton anymore they are the past, show us this kid, this is the kid that we need to fire.

Tonight is the first time I have posted about Jack Watts. I have believed he needs time to grow, and the club knows how to manage him. But two years ago he dominated 17/18 year old kids, who have now gone on to play AFL. Today he played against 17/18 year olds kids as a 19 year old and from the reports got well and truely beaten. If he was pick number 50 I would see a dozen posts saying what has gone wrong or what he needs to do to improve, but because it is Jack Watts everyone is walking around on egg shells.

Today he was beaten by blokes two years younger than him. I want some honest opinions as to if he is going to be a player. Forget where he was drafted, forget the stats from draft camp, why is he struggleing against 17 year olds??

Time for Watts

Tonight is the first time I have posted about Jack Watts. I have believed he needs time to grow, and the club knows how to manage him. But two years ago he dominated 17/18 year old kids, who have now gone on to play AFL. Today he played against 17/18 year olds kids as a 19 year old and from the reports got well and truely beaten. If he was pick number 50 I would see a dozen posts saying what has gone wrong or what he needs to do to improve, but because it is Jack Watts everyone is walking around on egg shells.

Today he was beaten by blokes two years younger than him. I want some honest opinions as to if he is going to be a player. Forget where he was drafted, forget the stats from draft camp, why is he struggleing against 17 year olds??

Legend, good post.

Today he was beaten by blokes two years younger than him.

Maybe ... not sure what you're basing that on. "beaten" is difficult to agree with without knowing the context. From the few brief mentions on the GC game, he also showed some flashes of class.

From Whispering Jack:

" he came back well when he showed some great composure kicking a vital goal and also having a hand in another. Late in the quarter when pressed up against the boundary line on the wing he didn't panic but took his time and gave off a nice goal."

I just don't get what people were actually expecting with Jack at this early stage of his career.

Maybe ... not sure what you're basing that on. "beaten" is difficult to agree with without knowing the context. From the few brief mentions on the GC game, he also showed some flashes of class.

From Whispering Jack:

" he came back well when he showed some great composure kicking a vital goal and also having a hand in another. Late in the quarter when pressed up against the boundary line on the wing he didn't panic but took his time and gave off a nice goal."

I just don't get what people were actually expecting with Jack at this early stage of his career.

Well said....

The thing is, people might expect him to perform but he still is in his first season of fulltime footy.

Before that he was a 17 year old schoolkid.

It's a fact that seems to be instantly forgotten.

I went to the Melb vs Nth Melb game yesterday, and a few Melbourne fans sitting near me were speculating that a possible reason for Watts not getting an AFL game so far this year, is that he has been poached by the Gold Coast. These guys were not in-the-know or had any evidence to back it up, just hearsay and rumour.

Personally I think that's false, Petterd would be the most likely candidate to head to GC in my mind. Even though Watts has had no impact at AFL, it would be a real disappointment to see him go after all the time and effort MFC has put into developing him.

I went to the Melb vs Nth Melb game yesterday, and a few Melbourne fans sitting near me were speculating that a possible reason for Watts not getting an AFL game so far this year, is that he has been poached by the Gold Coast. These guys were not in-the-know or had any evidence to back it up, just hearsay and rumour.

Personally I think that's false, Petterd would be the most likely candidate to head to GC in my mind. Even though Watts has had no impact at AFL, it would be a real disappointment to see him go after all the time and effort MFC has put into developing him.

That is, quite simply, laughable!

I went to the Melb vs Nth Melb game yesterday, and a few Melbourne fans sitting near me were speculating that a possible reason for Watts not getting an AFL game so far this year, is that he has been poached by the Gold Coast. These guys were not in-the-know or had any evidence to back it up, just hearsay and rumour.

Personally I think that's false, Petterd would be the most likely candidate to head to GC in my mind. Even though Watts has had no impact at AFL, it would be a real disappointment to see him go after all the time and effort MFC has put into developing him.

Right...

Anyway, great avatar.

Love it.

That is, quite simply, laughable!

Considering the fact he was thinking of not nominating for the draft if it looked as if he would go interstate.

Personally I would pick him in the ones soon, he needs to learn at that level and if he takes a bit of time and it stops us winning a couple of games this year, which I don't think it will, then so be it. Look at some of the kids we have upgraded that were not exactly dominating at Casey, Strauss, Bail and Jordie were ok but not bog or even close most weeks.

Look at Morton, Jack surely couldn't be much skinnier than him and he seems to be able to cope with the pace and physicality of the game.

Considering the fact he was thinking of not nominating for the draft if it looked as if he would go interstate.

Personally I would pick him in the ones soon, he needs to learn at that level and if he takes a bit of time and it stops us winning a couple of games this year, which I don't think it will, then so be it. Look at some of the kids we have upgraded that were not exactly dominating at Casey, Strauss, Bail and Jordie were ok but not bog or even close most weeks.

Look at Morton, Jack surely couldn't be much skinnier than him and he seems to be able to cope with the pace and physicality of the game.

It all depends on whether Jack has stopped growing. Growing bones are soft, which means he is not ready to play CHF.

If he has stopped growing then he gets closer to being ready.

CHF is the high impact position-to play it Jack has to be tough, otherwise he will be crunched early and shorten his career.

Be Patient MFC until Jack has stopped growing.

It all depends on whether Jack has stopped growing. Growing bones are soft, which means he is not ready to play CHF.

If he has stopped growing then he gets closer to being ready.

CHF is the high impact position-to play it Jack has to be tough, otherwise he will be crunched early and shorten his career.

Be Patient MFC until Jack has stopped growing.

Poor excuse ..Carl Morton has also been growing during his time at he club...and guess what he's played close to 50 games and he's only 20!

Time to play Watts...not as a key forward obviously..but let him roam around the wings and forward line....He will NEVER get better playing at Casey....

Those critics that are now celebrating how the team is playing and coming along (despite yesterday) need to understand that the same group of coaches and management team are delighted with the way Jack is coming along with the odd injury slowing him down.

CHF take 5 years of AFL to develop into good players and become champions at 28 years+. The odd exception J.Brown are basically born men.

Think of the top CHF today and trace back their trajectory from their draft age (not years in AFL) and you will see Jack is on the same path.

In this day and age when every drafty is analysed to death - everyone said Jack should be number 1 and none of the experts are disagreeing today.

PS. Wona kicked 3 goals today and is in the best.

It all depends on whether Jack has stopped growing. Growing bones are soft, which means he is not ready to play CHF.

If he has stopped growing then he gets closer to being ready.

CHF is the high impact position-to play it Jack has to be tough, otherwise he will be crunched early and shorten his career.

Be Patient MFC until Jack has stopped growing.

As Kojak said he should be played up the ground much like Buddy was in his early games and Cale has been. I don't want him at CHF just yet but at least he should be out there learning what it's all about.

Hello all,

I watched Casey Scorpions the other day on the Gold Coast and one person stood out to me.....Jack Watts. Now i have been a massive fan until i saw him play the other day.

1st. He didn't look like he wanted to be playing for Casey.

2nd. For all those people saying "he's so good with the football" "so good with his decision making" the reality is he was terrible, both miller and newton were a mile ahead of this kid. And before everyone jumps down my throat i agree that miller and newton have failed at the elite level, however it is extremely worrying when our #1 draft pick is no where near these two.

3rd. Apart from the fact his first shot at goal went into the man on the mark or his second almost went out on the full it was his efforts around the ground when he pulled out of contests as if he didnt want to get hurt was the most distressing. There were plenty of melbourne fans shaking their heads.

4th. And before everyone jumps on the "he's young" crap the reality is he is a #1 draft pick playing in the 2nd tear competion struggling to get a kick, we are too soft on him. He needs to start showing us results. I hope i am proven wrong.

I must add that a few close friends of mine play for Gold Coat football club and they were all having a good laugh about Jack Watts and his attitude towards the game.

Does this need a new thread? Couldn't you have posted on one of the other 432,123,765,936,001 JW threads?

Hello all,

I watched Casey Scorpions the other day on the Gold Coast and one person stood out to me.....Jack Watts. Now i have been a massive fan until i saw him play the other day.

1st. He didn't look like he wanted to be playing for Casey.

2nd. For all those people saying "he's so good with the football" "so good with his decision making" the reality is he was terrible, both miller and newton were a mile ahead of this kid. And before everyone jumps down my throat i agree that miller and newton have failed at the elite level, however it is extremely worrying when our #1 draft pick is no where near these two.

3rd. Apart from the fact his first shot at goal went into the man on the mark or his second almost went out on the full it was his efforts around the ground when he pulled out of contests as if he didnt want to get hurt was the most distressing. There were plenty of melbourne fans shaking their heads.

4th. And before everyone jumps on the "he's young" crap the reality is he is a #1 draft pick playing in the 2nd tear competion struggling to get a kick, we are too soft on him. He needs to start showing us results. I hope i am proven wrong.

Thanks Davey36, interesting insights into the game. You should not feel like you will get shouted down for your observations as attitude has nothing to with age.

Those critics that are now celebrating how the team is playing and coming along (despite yesterday) need to understand that the same group of coaches and management team are delighted with the way Jack is coming along with the odd injury slowing him down.

CHF take 5 years of AFL to develop into good players and become champions at 28 years+. The odd exception J.Brown are basically born men.

Think of the top CHF today and trace back their trajectory from their draft age (not years in AFL) and you will see Jack is on the same path.

In this day and age when every drafty is analysed to death - everyone said Jack should be number 1 and none of the experts are disagreeing today.

PS. Wona kicked 3 goals today and is in the best.

Great post..............the club has the right people making the right decisions.........supporters need to learn to back the judgement of those dealing with him on a daily basis.

And we need look no further than Scott Gumbleton to know that key position forwards can take a little longer. He's been with the Bombers 4 years, and is only starting to get a regular game and contribute now.

should not compare Watts to any other players.

Great post..............the club has the right people making the right decisions.........supporters need to learn to back the judgement of those dealing with him on a daily basis.

And we need look no further than Scott Gumbleton to know that key position forwards can take a little longer. He's been with the Bombers 4 years, and is only starting to get a regular game and contribute now.

That's because Gumbleton was perpetually injured... he was given games years ago and it has taken that long to get his body right again.

No reflection on Watts.

I can see Watts getting a hammering on this forum after his first game this season...