Gee this term "haters" is over done. Many opposition supporters want to see him fail, but all Melbourne supporters hope he succeeds for obvious reasons.

He's a soft footballer still coming to grips with AFL footy. He doesn't lack courage, but he's most definately soft, which is why he flew for that mark one handed. When the ball is on the ground he can look like he's committing 100%, but it takes a lot more courage flying for a mark with two arms in the air. His natural instinct is to protect his body. Yze played 250 games flying for marks with one arm. Let's hope Watts has great coaching to ensure he puts his body on the line more than he currently does. And I'm sure he will. Soft players also get found out more in wet conditions.

He needs a big preseason. I'm sure we'll see a bigger and more confident player next year.

Edited August 16, 201015 yr by Hannabal

WAtts is not in the best 22 and should NOT be in the side... he is dead weight, who is only getting a game cause he was pick one.. back to the VFL and learn to play footy

Please! Are you attempting to fill every thread with a Jack Watts bashing post?

There is no best 22 at the moment. We are developing nicely and continue to do so and Jack is a part of this.

Do half a pre-season and run out on an AFL ground and see how you go champ. Jack is not quite ready, the Dees are not quite ready. But when it all comes together for the Dees, Jack Watts will be at the fore front of this charge.

Got James Hird like traits and will be a great player for this club.

keep playing watts and sign him up for three years...or watever keeps him out of the reach of GWS etc...

when watts gets bigger and our young mids get bigger.....we will dominate the comp.

watchin him intercept the ball in the third qtr from the members wing shows he can read the play.

The best clubs don't have a best 22. They seek depth. Don't trade a player simply because he's had one crap game and is not in our "best 22". Sign players to build a squad.

Of course watts need time to develop. Yesterday was probably the worst conditions that he could of played in. It was summed up pretty well yesterday regarding jacks career so far. He hasn't had much luck so far. The ball going an inch the other way or bounces slightly another. All of the brilliant things that Jack has done so far in his career is because of his natural skill and determination compared to a couple of other players that get talked up because they have got the rub of the green where they have found themselves in the right spot or the ball has bounced the right way for them.

Watts will grow in confidence over the preseason as he bulks up again and the focus starts to come onto him to become a mentor to the first year players. A role that I think will suit him very well.

keep playing watts and sign him up for three years...or watever keeps him out of the reach of GWS etc...

when watts gets bigger and our young mids get bigger.....we will dominate the comp.

watchin him intercept the ball in the third qtr from the members wing shows he can read the play.

Not the first time he has done that. Not long untill it will be known as "classic watts" when he does it or if someone else does the commentators will say that "it has a touch of watts"

The best clubs don't have a best 22. They seek depth. Don't trade a player simply because he's had one crap game and is not in our "best 22". Sign players to build a squad.

Summed up perfectly by malthouse in his post match interview when asked who was in the "best 22" for the pies. The "best 22" is the 22 players playing out on the field.

How's NikNat Naitanui going, peeps?? :D

Would be ironic if the eagles lost him to rugby league with a new WA team as discussed in the papers. Not going to happen but would be ironic

That's funny cos I could have sworn professional football people who work for our club think he is? If you honestly think players get games based on draft order you obviously don't understand that football clubs are a competitive professional environment where players get games based on performance and Jack Watts has earned a regular spot this year, not to say his spot is safe if he doesn't perform, but it's plain to see he is in our best 22.

Get behind this kid, he's trying hard, has a truckload of talent, and is an asset to our club. Who would you put in his place if he's such dead weight? Miller? Newton? Back to AFL and learn to understand footy.

What about Bate , Morton or even Warnock at least we would find out if he can play in the forward line.

At what point do you think Watts will not be safe in his spot?

I am not being smart! I would like to know how many more games without showing some improvment?

Is next week the limit? Do we play him for the last two games of this year?

3 games into next year?

May 30 2010?

It just seems to me he is getting a very good run because he is the No. 1 pick.

Meric or Cheney should be so lucky!

Not the first time he has done that. Not long untill it will be known as "classic watts" when he does it or if someone else does the commentators will say that "it has a touch of watts"

I am not being a smart arse but I hope I live that long and your prediction comes true.

can he play casey finals? does he need 2 or less games to qualify? if so drop him so he can play for casey in the finals would be a good expirence for him, see if he can stand up on the big stage.

Although Watts didnt have the greatest game yesterday they tried to play him as a KPF which he is just not ready for yet i still think each week we are certainly seeing improvement. When you think back to his first couple of games he was pushed off the ball without much resistance but even against the hawks yesterday there was a couple of passages of play where he really held his ground in the contest and in some cases bumped his opponent out the way. As he continues to get stronger and has faith in his own strength to control the play it is going to be exciting watch the progression next year with another preseason and 5-10kg on his frame.

can he play casey finals? does he need 2 or less games to qualify? if so drop him so he can play for casey in the finals would be a good expirence for him, see if he can stand up on the big stage.

Do not know but he can definately play there next week.

But you know What ( no pun intended ) My gut feel tells me it will not matter how well he play's or what my opinion is, between now and season's end he will be in the team barring an injury!

I am not being a smart arse ...

Correct. You're not being smart.

It just seems to me he is getting a very good run because he is the No. 1 pick.

Meric or Cheney should be so lucky!

Wrong... If he is getting a good run ( and for the most part he has been contributing to an effective forward line) , it is because he is a fast and agile tall capable of causing headaches to the opposition for the next decade in the most important position on the field.

Unfortunately Cheney and Maric are dime-a-dozen small to mid-size players without explosive pace. In fairness , Maric may have some special "football smarts" .. and I'd like to see him get a few more chances to show it

WAtts is not in the best 22 and should NOT be in the side... he is dead weight, who is only getting a game cause he was pick one.. back to the VFL and learn to play footy

Were you even at the game yesterday? Usually heavy rain means a nightmare day for big blokes, just in case you didn't know. Dunn, Green, even Roughead all had shockers yesterday.

Although Watts didnt have the greatest game yesterday they tried to play him as a KPF which he is just not ready for yet i still think each week we are certainly seeing improvement. When you think back to his first couple of games he was pushed off the ball without much resistance but even against the hawks yesterday there was a couple of passages of play where he really held his ground in the contest and in some cases bumped his opponent out the way. As he continues to get stronger and has faith in his own strength to control the play it is going to be exciting watch the progression next year with another preseason and 5-10kg on his frame.

Total agreement....his improvement has been obvious, and his confidence growing. A lot of new players with theoretical 'upside' give me pause, but I don't have a shade of a doubt about Jack Watts future....he will be a terrific player for us. It's not his draft position, or the fact that we need a KPF desperately. It's because of the signs he shows in his football.

Correct. You're not being smart.

And how lucky am I to have you to offer an opinion!

Wrong... If he is getting a good run ( and for the most part he has been contributing to an effective forward line) , it is because he is a fast and agile tall capable of causing headaches to the opposition for the next decade in the most important position on the field.

Unfortunately Cheney and Maric are dime-a-dozen small to mid-size players without explosive pace. In fairness , Maric may have some special "football smarts" .. and I'd like to see him get a few more chances to show it

Hoopla I am not big fans of Maric or Cheney. But I wonder if Watts was pick 20 would he be getting such a good ride!

In Maric's case how would we know if he is any good he has had one game this year, which was not as bad as Watts first three, he even stayed upright for most of the game.

But he is straight out after one game!

Hoopla I am not big fans of Maric or Cheney. But I wonder if Watts was pick 20 would he be getting such a good ride!

Well no. Of course not. That's the point. He was number one for a reason.

Regardless, his progress has been steady. He would have impressed more yesterday if he had been a little more selfish but his tendency to look to give off the ball in the first quarter cost him (and us) an early goal.

But he has already shown he knows:

#how to find the ball in a contest and give off with quick, accurate hands;

#how to take a contested mark;

#how to run ahead of the play to take an uncontested mark in the forward 5o;

#how to kick steadying goals when they count.

That's enough in 15 or so games, I reckon.

(As for Maric, I've yet to see anything.)

Edited August 16, 201015 yr by pitmaster

Well no. Of course not. That's the point. He was number one for a reason.

Regardless, his progress has been steady. He would have impressed more yesterday if he had been a little more selfish but his tendency to look to give off the ball in the first quarter cost him (and us) an early goal.

But he has already shown he knows:

#how to find the ball in a contest and give off with quick, accurate hands;

#how to take a contested mark;

#how to run ahead of the play to take an uncontested mark in the forward 5o;

#how to kick steadying goals when they count.

That's enough in 15 or so games, I reckon.

(As for Maric, I've yet to see anything.)

I agree with you however it is difficult to judge Maric when he almost never plays!

Why not play him the last two games? Is he going to cost us a spot in the finals?

He should be a replacement for Davey. If he is not picked this week after 3 goals for Casey

then why does he have a contract for next year and why are we keeping him?

Hoopla I am not big fans of Maric or Cheney. But I wonder if Watts was pick 20 would he be getting such a good ride!

In Maric's case how would we know if he is any good he has had one game this year, which was not as bad as Watts first three, he even stayed upright for most of the game.

But he is straight out after one game!

I thinks to some degree he's getting a good run in terms of selection based on potential rather than performance but then so have arguably plenty of other younger players the last two years so I don't see it as a huge deal. And there's not really anybody else on the list making a really strong case for selection (aside from Miller the last couple of weeks) who plays a similar role in the forward line is there? And at the end of the day, if the ulimate goal is a premiership and the FD sees Watts as a core part of it then hell give him as much time as he needs!

Edited August 16, 201015 yr by Ascobar

Well no. Of course not. That's the point. He was number one for a reason.

Regardless, his progress has been steady. He would have impressed more yesterday if he had been a little more selfish but his tendency to look to give off the ball in the first quarter cost him (and us) an early goal.

But he has already shown he knows:

#how to find the ball in a contest and give off with quick, accurate hands;

#how to take a contested mark;

#how to run ahead of the play to take an uncontested mark in the forward 5o;

#how to kick steadying goals when they count.

That's enough in 15 or so games, I reckon.

(As for Maric, I've yet to see anything.)

Kicks steadying goals when they count????? When has this happened?

He missed an easy shot against Freo to put us in front. Put one out on the full on the 3qtr time siren in the same game. Missed a shot on the run against essendon at a crucial stage, only to be given a second chance when he took a soft dive!

If Watts wasn't a number one pick he would have played most games at Casey like Maric. But there is a reason he went number 1.... He has a hell of a lot of talent!

off topic a little.

If Watts is getting 300k, what is going to happen to the salary cap in 3 years when the Scully, Trengove & co are killing it and ask for the big $$$, acn MFC fit all these players into the $9 odd million salary cap?

Oh, and as much as I have been cranky at Watts this season, he has shown what potential he has, smart footballer. Happy to see him sign on.

Watts would be a star already playing the Jarrad Grant role at the dogs with a Barry Hall to handle all the rough stuff.

He'll justify the $300K before this new contract is out.

Re: fitting Scully, Trengove, et al into the cap too, they will get fairly rewarded also, but it is a struggle for any club with lots of talent, just look at Geelong.

Fortunately few of our players have reached the stage where they can earn Ablett-like $$$ whilst GC17 and GWS18 are allowed to poach.

I think we are in a position to increase our players' earning power outside of their wages from the club, by virtue of our predicted success and attractive playing style - our players and team are highly marketable.

And the salary cap will increase over time too, helping Tim Harrington to have a bit of extra wiggle room.