You know what rpfc. I don't care if we have a good midfield shoving the ball down his throat.

If the Mid field makes him look good then great.

As long as he uses it well when he gets it that is all I want. And I will be happy to call him a champ.

The very best forwards are dependant on the ball being delivered into the forward line.

How did I get to be the one having a go at Watts and you defending him?

What just happened...

Anyway, yeah he is going to be good, and yeah, he has work to do.

Moving on...

How did I get to be the one having a go at Watts and you defending him?

What just happened...

Anyway, yeah he is going to be good, and yeah, he has work to do.

Moving on...

I don't think I have ever said he was a bum!

I am just waiting to see him justify his No. 1 Tag.

Above I was just agreeing with you.

The vast majority of great forwards are dependant on players up the field.

Incredible...

If there's one thing he does already, it's use the ball well when he gets hold of it.

Are you saying he has grown to 198cm?

Source?

His mums kitchen wall .

His mums kitchen wall .

Biased source.

Hannabal has hit it one the head. At worst he'll be a very good footballer. The thing he's been given little credit for is his use of the ball, it's exceptional.

Many forget that last year was his first full year at the Club and he missed most of the preseason. That may have hurt his fitness and game performance

Well at worst he would be Travis Johnstone. A man who will drift thru 150 games on sheer talent but could've been so much more.

Agree when he gets the ball, he makes the right decisions and delivers it by foot. Combined with his physical attributes, He easily has more talent/potential then Scully, Trengove,Grimes, anyone else on the list.

I have no doubt Missing last preseason hurt his fitness which affected his ability to use his speed repeatedly. So had no tank to run all day to loses his opponent. Skinny so he couldn't play stay at home forward. He really didn't have much to work with last year.

And I'm getting a bit sick of his "willingness in the contest" being questioned.

I recall Paul Salmon breaking onto the scene and everyone was saying how good he was (and he was). Then some donkey started to say he didn't have a willingness for the contest and didn't use his size. He became the whipping boy at Essendon and was subsequently traded to Hawks where he played great footy before going back to Essendon. Some players run through packs and bust bodies (J Brown). Others excel but play a very outside game (A Davey). For those waiting for Watts to play like Brown you're wasting your time and will be forever disappointed.

Hannabal has hit it one the head. At worst he'll be a very good footballer. The thing he's been given little credit for is his use of the ball, it's exceptional.

Watts is suffering from a shocking case of supporters expectations being significantly in excess of reality. Many forget that last year was his first full year at the Club and he missed most of the preseason. That may have hurt his fitness and game performance but I think in the longer run it may have been a blessing in disguise and allowed him the time he needed to develop a body that could at least avoid being battered at AFL level.

So is Hannabal right or wrong?

Prospect being the operative word.

Proof of the pudding is in the eating.

This time 2011 we will know.

I've always preferred the expression - "the proof of the pudding ... is the pudding".

Edited December 13, 201014 yr by Range Rover

I've always preferred the expression - "the proof of the pudding ... is the pudding".

Or as Pagan would say - Show me the baby .

Being quick over 20m is good skill for a proposed CHF to have (there is an understatement...).

Watts will never be as good as the perception of him though; he'll have the benefit of this awesome midfield shoving the sherrin down his throat.

What i find funny is that we have been yearning for a decent CHF ever since the Ox retired. After his 3 knee-reco's , he was anything but quick. The one thing more important than 'quickness' is presence. Ox demanded the ball to be kicked to him, or he would go and get it himself. Until Watts can develop that part of his game (this will come as he grows more confident in his body and game, as well as putting on some more bulk) he will be better suited playing a more flank-type role, although the more experience playing FF/CHF will only help fast-track his game.

What i find funny is that we have been yearning for a decent CHF ever since the Ox retired. After his 3 knee-reco's , he was anything but quick. The one thing more important than 'quickness' is presence. Ox demanded the ball to be kicked to him, or he would go and get it himself. Until Watts can develop that part of his game (this will come as he grows more confident in his body and game, as well as putting on some more bulk) he will be better suited playing a more flank-type role, although the more experience playing FF/CHF will only help fast-track his game.

Interesting that everyone looks at what he hasn't got.

He is what he is. Tall, athletic, fast, and with terrific vision and skills by hand and foot.

We all want more than that! We want a J Brown/Ox type of player who dominates games. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. personally I see him as more a Pendlebury type player but one that may come to dominate in the fwd line.

With Bruce gone, I think it could be good for Watts to play at half back for some of next year. His speed and disposal would would be great running through the middle, and would help with his overall education and development, and take some pressure off him trying to hold down CHF with a young body.

So is Hannabal right or wrong?

Rarely the latter, China.

Watts has been on a learning curve and one-on-one physical contests haven't been his forte. He's still learning how to use his body.

I've never questioned his courage and was delighted to see him stand under packs against Port up in Darwin, but on occasions his "intensity" has been less than adequate. And this isn't surprising considering he came out of school footy.

Most will remember his third and fourth efforts on hands and knees at the MCG. He's aware of where he needs to improve and I believe he will. If he doesn't I'll be surprised and if he doesn't he'll never be a great player. It's the only query.

Incredible...

If there's one thing he does already, it's use the ball well when he gets hold of it.

Unless you are a few points down with a couple of minutes left at Subiaco

Rarely the latter, China.

Watts has been on a learning curve and one-on-one physical contests haven't been his forte. He's still learning how to use his body.

I've never questioned his courage and was delighted to see him stand under packs against Port up in Darwin, but on occasions his "intensity" has been less than adequate. And this isn't surprising considering he came out of school footy.

Most will remember his third and fourth efforts on hands and knees at the MCG. He's aware of where he needs to improve and I believe he will. If he doesn't I'll be surprised and if he doesn't he'll never be a great player. It's the only query.

What is the timeframe you envision?

I think of 2010 as his first year, so 2013 to begin to hold down a primary forward position (whatver position that may be)with consistently good performances?

Who thinks I am kicking that can down the road too far? Because I think Jack coming along to that extent at 22 is a big task.

Interesting to note with the draft camp results for 2009 that Fitzpatrick was = 10th in the 20m sprints and first in the repeat sprints. Very good results for a 2m tall player coming off CFS.

Rarely the latter, China.

Watts has been on a learning curve and one-on-one physical contests haven't been his forte. He's still learning how to use his body.

I've never questioned his courage and was delighted to see him stand under packs against Port up in Darwin, but on occasions his "intensity" has been less than adequate. And this isn't surprising considering he came out of school footy.

Most will remember his third and fourth efforts on hands and knees at the MCG. He's aware of where he needs to improve and I believe he will. If he doesn't I'll be surprised and if he doesn't he'll never be a great player. It's the only query.

Don't disagree one iota on this occasion H. I believe it's about two things.. his right and left eye.

Unless you are a few points down with a couple of minutes left at Subiaco

I think that pressure gets to even the best players, I would hardly fault his development.

In fact, I would say that for him to have such an impact on a game to the extent that he did on that day was a positive sign, not a negative one.

Unless you are a few points down with a couple of minutes left at Subiaco

I hope that's tongue in cheek.

So he missed a shot on goal. So Did Pavlich from 30m out and he's a bona fide Champion.

Jack Watts is close to our best decision maker with the footy in his hands already!

Jack Watts is close to our best decision maker with the footy in his hands already!

When he is not under immediate physical pressure. That is however a very good sign. With time and confidence his decision making and execution which is very good from behind the mark should translate into the other areas of his game.

With Bruce gone, I think it could be good for Watts to play at half back for some of next year. His speed and disposal would would be great running through the middle, and would help with his overall education and development, and take some pressure off him trying to hold down CHF with a young body.

I dont think there is room at HB and besides the place to be to learn to be a forward is on the forward line.

I think we should all take a cold shower. The guy is progressing very well. We talk of players needing 50 games to fully mature so excluding 2009 we have 3 years to go at which time he will be what 22!!

The great thing he is going to have is supply. If the midfield and defence continue to show the development shown in 2010 then he will have plenty of opportunity to use his pace, get seperation and kick a bag.

Less haste more speed.

Edited December 13, 201014 yr by poseidon burke

With Bruce gone, I think it could be good for Watts to play at half back for some of next year. His speed and disposal would would be great running through the middle, and would help with his overall education and development, and take some pressure off him trying to hold down CHF with a young body.

Not such a bad suggestion. Probably depends on how quickly Cook matures. If he is as good as alleged, them maybe he could fill CHF and Jack a run off half back flank with Jack Grimes on the other one. Pretty devastating backline with JF running out of FB.It would assume though that Pettard, Jurrah, Cook, Green, Bate and Dunn are all firing up forward.

Watts at HBF?

Not likely. Not when we now have a glut there.

Grimes, Morton, MacDonald, Garland, Strauss, Blease, McNamara, Davis, Nicholson, Lawrence are all vying for a HBF.

That's along with Frawley, Warnock, Rivers and Bartram in the back 6.

Edited December 13, 201014 yr by E25

Watts at HBF?

Not likely. Not when we now have a glut there.

Grimes, Morton, MacDonald, Garland, Strauss, Blease, McNamara, Davis, Nicholson, Lawrence are all vying for a HBF.

That's along with Frawley, Warnock, Rivers and Bartram in the back 6.

Davey