Watts back, Frawley forward

[Je Roos Salem 661]

Nup, sorry it wouldn't work. Watts is far too slim to be a key defender although playing Watts across half back may be an option since he has good running capability and is able to pick up possession. Frawley, however, he's built to be a key defender, strong, quick on his feet, excellent at spoiling and has already shown has capibility against Brown. And I see no link between Tarrant and Watts, and since when has Tarrant been an excellent defender? I'm not 100% sure but as far as I know, Frawley wouldn't be a very good set shot on goal. Nor would Garland, those two are much better kicks on the run. I think Garland, Frawley and Rivers should be kept in defence (and Warnock kept out of the team) and we will be fine

[Mallee Bull 97]

Seriously, what is it with the hate that people have with Watts? The kid is 19 ffs!? Think about that, really think about that? He's just a boy. Both Riewoldts took several years to get going. KPP's take time to develop - it's that simple. Throughout 2009 Jack Riewoldt was being dubbed as a sub par forward that really needed to lift. That was in his 3rd year. FF 2010, Coleman medalist. Watts has played 2 seasons and is almost a full year younger than Riewoldt was in his 3rd year. Give him time!

Similarly, Kosi was considered as possibly the better fwd early on out of himself and Nick Riewoldt. Look how that turned out.

If Jack can get another 15+ games into him this year to increase his confidence and to develop his game, then add another 3-4 Kilo's to his frame over next summer he will become a real weapon. We all just have to take a big breath and be patient. He will make you glad you did.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Seriously, what is it with the hate that people have with Watts? The kid is 19 ffs!? Think about that, really think about that? He's just a boy. Both Riewoldts took several years to get going. KPP's take time to develop - it's that simple. Throughout 2009 Jack Riewoldt was being dubbed as a sub par forward that really needed to lift. That was in his 3rd year. FF 2010, Coleman medalist. Watts has played 2 seasons and is almost a full year younger than Riewoldt was in his 3rd year. Give him time!

Similarly, Kosi was considered as possibly the better fwd early on out of himself and Nick Riewoldt. Look how that turned out.

If Jack can get another 15+ games into him this year to increase his confidence and to develop his game, then add another 3-4 Kilo's to his frame over next summer he will become a real weapon. We all just have to take a big breath and be patient. He will make you glad you did.

Jack Riewoldt

Age: 22yr 3mth Games: 68 Born: October 31, 1988

Height: 195cm Weight: 93kg Position: Forward

Jack Watts

Age: 19yr 11mth Games: 18 Born: March 26, 1991

Height: 196cm Weight: 88kg Position: Forward

Riewoldt has played 50 AFL games,,, more than Watts

[Mydee 288]

My concern with this suggestion is that at the moment we are trying to get games into a playing group. I think that a settled forward and back key group would be a priority. Nevertheless position mobility is also a factor in modern football so the suggestion hassome merit- not sure about Frwley forward though try Garland.

[jayceebee31 761]

I don't want A structure change. I want Frawley to be one of our Key defenders. But I do want him to learn, to be good at kicking goals, if/when he finds himself forward. And I would like him to be able to 'Pinch Hit' forward, if we're desperate.

But essentially, I want him as our No1 defender.

I agree ,maybe- Frawley and Watts in the backline- Garland to the forward line?

[Guest Thomo]

Seriously, what is it with the hate that people have with Watts? The kid is 19 ffs!? Think about that, really think about that? He's just a boy. Both Riewoldts took several years to get going. KPP's take time to develop - it's that simple. Throughout 2009 Jack Riewoldt was being dubbed as a sub par forward that really needed to lift. That was in his 3rd year. FF 2010, Coleman medalist. Watts has played 2 seasons and is almost a full year younger than Riewoldt was in his 3rd year. Give him time!

Similarly, Kosi was considered as possibly the better fwd early on out of himself and Nick Riewoldt. Look how that turned out.

If Jack can get another 15+ games into him this year to increase his confidence and to develop his game, then add another 3-4 Kilo's to his frame over next summer he will become a real weapon. We all just have to take a big breath and be patient. He will make you glad you did.

I agree with your post in general, but your example of Nick Riewolt is wrong. He spent his first year injurred, and won the St Kilda b&f and rs in his second. He was a gun from the time he got to the AFL, and I don't think anyone thought Kosi would be better.

[dee-luded 2,959]

I agree ,maybe- Frawley and Watts in the backline- Garland to the forward line?

Actually, that could work. While we eased Jack into the bigger role temporarily @ HB,,, Garland could do his apprenticeship at the other end, temporarily. Not fulltime,,, but a week or 2, here or there. Just to initiate them into other & bigger roles. Garland the more mature is further advance to learn the key half forward role, than Jack is just yet.

I'd be OK with that. If we dont give Garland his forward wings soon, he won't get them as Cook, Howe, Fitzpatrick et al, come thru the ranks.

[Tim 3,471]

On the wider issue of making "radical" moves, I wonder how many radical positional changes have been tried at the club since Dean Bailey became coach. I can't remember too many that have been tried and less that have worked to the point where you could say that a player has successfully made a groundbreaking transition. Ricky Petterd was a defender at the start under Daniher and was close to becoming a serious forward before injured last year. Who else?

Colin Garland came to the club as a forward, but Bailey has used him to great effect as a backman who can play against the fast and the tall, and who can create options driving the ball forward with good old run and carry.

[Je Roos Salem 661]

Wait till Frawley's 33 or 34 and then he can have some forward thrusts like SOS did.

[old55 23,687]

I'm not saying Watts can't play - he's among my key players to win a flag.

I'm not saying he won't develop the body size required to play KP - he's shown a great trend so far.

I'm not saying he can't win the contested ball - I think he can win it.

I'm not questioning his courage.

I am saying that he doesn't naturally attack the contest like Frawley does. In the backline Watts will be lead to the contest, where his great speed and skill will enable him to contest very well. Frawley will attack the contest in the forward line and provide us with a better target.

Watts is a better kick than Frawley, a better kick than pretty much any player his size, and that's more useful in the backline the way we play. When he has the ball in defence he can attack even better than Frawley does now which is saying something.

I'm not suggesting a temporary change. Although if Lucas Cook developed in 3-4 years the switch back would be on. That's a big if and a long time.

[Mydee 288]

So you think Frawley should never be tried anywhere else, ever, for any amount of time.

Not if you wanr to win football matches

[Sideshow Bob 2,406]

Brian Lake goes alright as a fullback - he also goes alright when Rocket Eade throws him up forward in the last quarter to give them a bigger body to shoot at. We all know that we lack a big muscled up strong bustling forward to just it long to, we don't have that long kick get out clause that Roughead gives the hawks, that king/kosi gives the saints, that mooney/ottens/king gave the cats a couple of years back. We could have it with Jamar bustling forward - however we need an alternative ruck option, something that Gawn will give us in a year or 2. Until then once in a while, in the right circumstances, a la Lake at the doggies, why not throw Frawley forwards for the last 20 minutes when the bodies are tired, or a Garland or a Rivers or even a Joel Mac - just to throw the opposition out of whack and see what happens