Jack Watts

[old dee 24,028]

I personally think if Jack Watts kicks anything less that 116 goals this season then MFC should trade him to GWS for a round three pick.....

Poor Jack Viney, he will be destroyed by this forum if he does not meet the expectations of Demonland.

if he kicks 16 I will be happy!

[Felix 92]

if he kicks 16 I will be happy!

With the forward line potential, I honestly will not be surprised if he kicks 16-24 goals. If the midfield can get half decent delivery into the 50, I would expect a VERY wide spread of goal kickers. LOTS of potential in the MFC F50.

[Roost It 1,434]

Face the facts Demonlanders, he's a Rolled Gold Dud. He'll become the biggest waste of Pick 1 since Nick Launder and NikNat will become the star so many of us knew him to be. Personally if you look closely at Tim Harrington we've got Watts - Dud, Blease - Injured Dud, Tapscott - Big injured Dud, Strauss - Plain Dud, Maric - Average at best, Jetta - Average at best, Bail - can't kick, MacDonald - Brisbane Dud, Martin - Please!, Spencer - Oh my!, Petterd - Injured, Warnock - Dud, Scully - off to GWS and why wouldn't he be, Trengove - Too slow(Martin to Richmond, I was calling his name in vain!), Gysberts - built for chess, Bennell - soft dud, Sylvia - great for 10 mins a match. You lot seriously over rate this rabble and the coach, Please, time to get a real one!

Posted by Collingwood friend of Roost It!!

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Then I suggest you get your eyes tested or lay off the grog, your bagging of Watts has become boring and predicable!!

did anyone see Hurley last night? Why can't Watts do that, excuses, excuses

should have taken Hurley at 1

[stranga 328]

did anyone see Hurley last night? Why can't Watts do that, excuses, excuses

should have taken Hurley at 1

Watts & NiccNat are just further examples of clubs wrongly rating pure athletic ability ahead of football ability/instinct. Draft history is littered with it.

[demon3165 2,846]

did anyone see Hurley last night? Why can't Watts do that, excuses, excuses

should have taken Hurley at 1

If you don't know yet then you will never know, let's put it politely you will never change your mind no matter how it is explained to you!!

[Clanger King 9]

Stepthen Hill will be the best to come out of that draft. As for tall key position players Hurley will be the pick if he can stay on the park.

What type of player do we think Jack Watts will turn into? I think we are kidding ourselves if we think he's going to be a Nick Rewoldt or a Buddy Franklin. I know he has the athletic tools to but I just don't think he will get there? I had a bet with a collingwood supporter at the start of last year that he would end up with more goals then Jack Anthony by the end of there careers but I'm starting to second guess that bet. I love the kid and i will be the first to fall back on my sword if he proves me wrong. I don't expect much from him this year other then him showing the ability to kick 4goals in ONE single game (Not from free kicks either) to show that maybe he will become a 50-60 season goal kicker.. Am I asking too much?

[stuie 7,374]

did anyone see Hurley last night? Why can't Watts do that, excuses, excuses

should have taken Hurley at 1

He probably doesn't like you either...

Get. Over. It. Man.

Watts has at least 10 years footy in him, and I'm willing to bet that the year we actually challenge for a flag he will be a massive part of it, so feel free to not buy a membership that year and to not celebrate with the rest of us.

It's not excuses, excuses, it's reality, reality. He won't hit his straps for another few years, so PLEASE just find something else to post about, preferably something to actually SUPPORT the club you apparently follow.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

I think Morton is another who has fallen victim to fans short memories, and I would love to see a forward line on paper with an extra on the bench that leaves Watts out.

Bate or Dunn or Petterd will be asked to play a high forward role and I think many of us would have issue with that for various reasons.

Morton has some great strengths, his height, he was certainly marking the footy well this pre-season before he got hurt, his running ability.

He also had some glaring deficiencies which he needed to work on including his disposal and decision making under perssure. One of those deficiencies was the inability to put his head over the ball at crucial times probably due to a lack of confidence in his body.

I can tolerate deficiencies but one I believe is not negotiable is keeping eyes on the footy when it is your turn to go. A player should get one warning and if he does it again he goes back to Casey until he learns or develops the body to do so.

Old fashioned...maybe.

Please don't lecture me and tell me that I am calling the players "soft" or "writing them off" etc. Like a lot of people here I have played the game, have been involved in coaching etc. The key to a successful playing career is developing a strong foundation. A strong foundation that is based on courage and hard work and utilising every one of your God given gifts for the bettterment of the team. Granting games to kids who won't or can't play courageous footy helps no-one in the long term. This is not an attack on the players, more a negative observation regarding our development.

Those who know me know that I will sing the praises of this great club at every opportunity, but like a marriage if you agree with the Mrs all of the time for the sake of peace you are living a falsity.

NB If Watts and or Morton become a tower of G and D and start putting thier head over the ball I still won't be proven wrong, and no-one would be more delighted than I. I also acknowledge that both players have made significant development in this area. I have always maintained that Jack Watts has the ability to take his game up a rather large notch by changing just one thing ie: the position of his head and his eyes just before he looks to attack the footy, I have watched him very carefully. As the confidence in his body improves then so should his attack on the football.....and I expect that it will.

[Clanger King 9]

Morton has some great strengths, his height, he was certainly marking the footy well this pre-season before he got hurt, his running ability.

He also had some glaring deficiencies which he needed to work on including his disposal and decision making under perssure. One of those deficiencies was the inability to put his head over the ball at crucial times probably due to a lack of confidence in his body.

I can tolerate deficiencies but one I believe is not negotiable is keeping eyes on the footy when it is your turn to go. A player should get one warning and if he does it again he goes back to Casey until he learns or develops the body to do so.

Old fashioned...maybe.

Please don't lecture me and tell me that I am calling the players "soft" or "writing them off" etc. Like a lot of people here I have played the game, have been involved in coaching etc. The key to a successful playing career is developing a strong foundation. A strong foundation that is based on courage and hard work and utilising every one of your God given gifts for the bettterment of the team. Granting games to kids who won't or can't play courageous footy helps no-one in the long term. This is not an attack on the players, more a negative observation regarding our development.

Those who know me know that I will sing the praises of this great club at every opportunity, but like a marriage if you agree with the Mrs all of the time for the sake of peace you are living a falsity.

NB If Watts and or Morton become a tower of G and D and start putting thier head over the ball I still won't be proven wrong, and no-one would be more delighted than I. I also acknowledge that both players have made significant development in this area. I have always maintained that Jack Watts has the ability to take his game up a rather large notch by changing just one thing ie: the position of his head and his eyes just before he looks to attack the footy, I have watched him very carefully. As the confidence in his body improves then so should his attack on the football.....and I expect that it will.

Great post and well said.

[Pipefitter 2,217]

I gotta admit, watching Hurley last night makes you question watts. Hurley seems such a natural footy player. But I'm def not jumping off watts at this stage. Watts has a few more tricks up his sleeve. I'd love to see watts attack the ball like Hurley though. Eyes only for the ball.

[Keyser Söze 0]

Hurley?

Funny, cos the Essendon supporter I watched the match with said that Hurley had promised a lot when he kicked a goal from 50 on his left about 18 months ago, yet since then he has done little but live off the reputation and he was excited to see Hurley showing something again.

The last few weeks he'd actually bemoaned the fact Watts was showing something and Hurley had stalled.

One swallow does not a summer make, and 19 year old KPFs don't have their careers defined by a couple of practice matches.

Wake up people.

[45HG 1,559]

Hurley had stalled? Doesn't look like your mate follows the Bombers too closely...

[Geddy Lee 582]

Hurley is clearly ahead of the pack of the 08 draft.

But if you're getting antsy about Jack Watts' development just take a look at all the other first rounders of that draft who haven't yet fired a shot: Hartlett, Yarran, Vickery, Johnston, Lynch, Cordy - four of them are big guys, and excluding Johnston, Jack is much younger than those players.

Or you could always take a look at Goddard's development.

[Keyser Söze 0]

Hurley had stalled? Doesn't look like your mate follows the Bombers too closely...

He does.

And I agree with him.

Since that one game, what has he really done that is so impressive?

A lot has been expected of him, but he hasn't been breaking games open.

As a result of my mate being an Essendon supporter, I watch a lot of their games with him and I agree it was his best performance since that early "breakout" game.

[jacey 333]

He does.

And I agree with him.

Since that one game, what has he really done that is so impressive?

A lot has been expected of him, but he hasn't been breaking games open.

As a result of my mate being an Essendon supporter, I watch a lot of their games with him and I agree it was his best performance since that early "breakout" game.

You've set an extremely high standard for Hurley which of course he won't hit as he is still a young kid.

He has got presence. He draws the footy and he wins contests. He is tracking beautifully to becoming a great player. Astounding how anyone could not be impressed.

As for Jack Watts. I'm confident at the end of the year, this thread will be trash. He's a stud.

[H_T 3,049]

Hurley hadn't stalled at the Melb v Ess game. He looked impressive to me.

[sylvinator 96]

Hurley hadn't stalled at the Melb v Ess game. He looked impressive to me.

Hurley had been generally inconsistent. He's shown some flashes of brilliance, but has overall been unable to regularly influence games on any kind of level. And that's exactly what's expected of a 3rd year KPP.

People who are putting Hurley on some kind of pedastle, like he's been able to regularly dominate or influence games, do not watch enough footy. What he has shown, is that he is a very classy player, capable of awesome individual efforts, and will be a 10-year great player for the bombers.

Considering Watts is 12 months younger and did VCE in his first season, it's not really a fair comparison... but for what it's worth, I still believe the same thing about Hurley than I do of Watts... he'll be a 10-year great player for the demons.

[DeeSpencer 26,480]

Hurley had been generally inconsistent. He's shown some flashes of brilliance, but has overall been unable to regularly influence games on any kind of level. And that's exactly what's expected of a 3rd year KPP.

People who are putting Hurley on some kind of pedastle, like he's been able to regularly dominate or influence games, do not watch enough footy. What he has shown, is that he is a very classy player, capable of awesome individual efforts, and will be a 10-year great player for the bombers.

Considering Watts is 12 months younger and did VCE in his first season, it's not really a fair comparison... but for what it's worth, I still believe the same thing about Hurley than I do of Watts... he'll be a 10-year great player for the demons.

If Jack had shown the same appetite for the contest I would agree. But at the moment Hurley is demanding the footy and crashing packs even if he doesn't take the marks. He also tackles with intent. That's what I haven't seen from Watts. I don't care if Watts doesn't take a pack mark all year if he actually gets his body right in there and commits 100% to win the ball. I'm actually happier every time I see him go hard and get crashed and up again than to see him kicking goals from frees or using the ball beautifully.

[H_T 3,049]

Hurley had been generally inconsistent. He's shown some flashes of brilliance, but has overall been unable to regularly influence games on any kind of level. And that's exactly what's expected of a 3rd year KPP.

People who are putting Hurley on some kind of pedastle, like he's been able to regularly dominate or influence games, do not watch enough footy. What he has shown, is that he is a very classy player, capable of awesome individual efforts, and will be a 10-year great player for the bombers.

Considering Watts is 12 months younger and did VCE in his first season, it's not really a fair comparison... but for what it's worth, I still believe the same thing about Hurley than I do of Watts... he'll be a 10-year great player for the demons.

Firstly, I never made a comparison between the two.

Secondly, anyone who "watched" the Melb v Ess game would have identified that Hurley was in NO "stalled" mode. This is what was insinuated in another post.

Anyone who disputes this, I can't really help. But I'd question whether they actually watched that game. And if they did and still hold that opinion, they don't understand.

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

in the modern game young tall forwards will not play consistently good football, and will take 5 odd years on a list to develop into a good player and may not even break into the team until then, everyone that is saying that watts is a lost cause, or we should have picked someone else, just wait 2-3 seasons, i guarantee this season watts will play some poor matches, some average matches, and a few amazing matches where we see who he is going to be in future seasons.

his disposal ios top notch and this will be perfect to pierce zones and hit leads from outside 50, so heres hoping it is him kicking it into our 50 more so than moloney and jones.

[rpfc 28,966]

Frack it. Let's leave it.

If we want to measure Jack's progress in 2011, let's let a bit more of 2011 happen...

[Guest 36DD]

Frack it. Let's leave it.

If we want to measure Jack's progress in 2011, let's let a bit more of 2011 happen...

The modern game makes it extremely tough on forwards, look at what limited effectiveness Riewolt had in both Grand Finals. The amount of pressure on the ball carrier makes lace out delivery difficult whilst zone defence sees the forward often having to content with two or three opponents.

Cut the kid some slack, he really needs to add another 5-8kgs whilst building his core stability or else he will continue to be pushed off the ball. In the game today there is only one great power forward, Johnathan Brown, daylight for the rest.

I remember as a kid playing juniors I would often have to play up an age group or two and you were playing against bigger boys and you just didn't have the same confidence as when playing against the same age level. Jack Watts will slowly gain confidence that he can play with the big boys.

[sylvinator 96]

If Jack had shown the same appetite for the contest I would agree. But at the moment Hurley is demanding the footy and crashing packs even if he doesn't take the marks. He also tackles with intent.

This is where I am not so quick to judge Watts harshly as you are.

Hurley was over 90kg when he debuted in his first season. He is now nudging 100kg.

Watts (4cm taller), was less than 80kg when he debuted and he recently said that he's hoping to play around 88kg this season. a 196cm key forward should be playing at least at 95+kg.

And not just playing weight. Hurley was much further physically developed when he debuted. He had muscle definition, was thick through the core. Watts looked like a little school kid when he debuted.

It is plainly obvious that Hurley came into the afl pretty much ready made.

Watts was ALWAYS going to need at least 2-3 seasons to catch up in development.

In my humble opinion, in 3-4 years time Watts will be a much more damaging and a better player than Hurley (who i rate highly)

[RalphiusMaximus 6,110]

Interesting thing with people talking about Watts' attack on the ball and commitment to the contest. One of the people at Fridays game, and also many of the coaches after various games, have mentioned his off the ball work. They all talk up his chasing, tackling pressure, blocking etc. I agree that he needs to be more confident in his body and harder to shift off the ball, but he is by no means a shrinking violet out there. If anything, he is working too hard to do the team things and 1% acts when we all want him to be a little more selfish and get the ball/kick the goals. On Friday night he went and won himself several clearances, in one case then handballing to Maric for a goal. It's great team play, but not at all the role we expect him to play and as such goes unnoticed.