C & B- Last year he wasn't jumping anywhere near it. Already we see in this pre-season he is jumping into packs and last week i counted at least three times where he went up in the pack and got hands to it but didn't hold it. Don't put the blinkers on, he has developed from last year and will continue to do so.

Melbourne actually have one of the most efficient, even one of the most potent forward lines in the AFL when you look at how many inside 50's they have compared to goals scored. Melbourne has a great scoring efficiency but the forwards are all too often starved of opportunity.

35 inside 50's against Essendon was a perfect example. Given that of those 35, a good third of them were also delivered very poorly, that is a total of just 25 times or so our forwards have an opportunity inside 50 for the WHOLE game. That is the most damning stat. I would hate to be an MFC forward the last couple of years.

Buddy & Roughy see the ball at on average around 50-60 times a game. Dawes, Hall, Reiwoldt, Hawkins all see it in similar proportions.

Watts hasn't set the world on fire. But he doesn't see much of the ball delivered to him or his forward mates in anywhere near the proportions or quality of the opposition. Until Melbourne put it in there a hell of a lot more then many times our forward line will look second rate.

I agree with your post and it highlights our two biggest weaknesses. Getting the ball in our fwd 50 and for that the midfield is a PROBLEM. Have been saying it for a while - yes we have some kids to go in there but it is a problem.

ANd keeping the ball in our fwd 50 when it gets there - defensive pressure. Not good enough. For mine Jetta will make that his stand out attribute this year.

ANd keeping the ball in our fwd 50 when it gets there - defensive pressure. Not good enough.

Bingo! This what the coaching staff expect from our forwards,including JW. If they don't apply it they won't be in the team (and nor should they)

Enter Brendan Goddard into the discussion - drafted 2002 first pick - first season was 2003 whilst completing VCE. Huge question marks surrounded him until he had a breakout season in 2006 ! There were calls early on in the piece by less than patient fans to trade him. Has basically been a superstar in 2009/2010 only.

Was he worth perservering with until his 4th season before he started to produce ?

All the criticism that has been levelled at JW was levelled at Goddard as well. Not hard enough at the contest, not producing.

How shattered would you be if Watts turned out like Goddard ?

I fall squarely in the "he's 19 years old - I need to be patient" camp.

Best post regarding Watts I've read yet. My in-laws are all aints and they were vicious about Goddard.

Your right Battler, The same person that told me about QB told me if form doesn't improve he will more than likely miss the season opener. I'm not trying to be a news breaker here I'm passing on some information I received to fellow Demonlanders.

This makes sense.

I am an unashamed Watts fan ... and have quickly forgiven all of his ordinary performances so far. But after dropping a few marks early last week , he seemed to get completely lost.... and I would be disappointed if the club wasn't thinking about giving him a wake-up call

I'm not talking about courage.

You're talking about a desire for the contest?

Something I think a lean 196cm 19 year old can grow into when they get the bigger body and realise how to use it.

This is what Ball Movement coach Mark Williams wrote about Jack on the MFC website a couple of months ago: "Jack is now entering his third season, but he was pretty young in his first two years. He has gained a lot of knowledge over the journey so far, and we just need to make sure Jack continues to train well and sticks to his routine. He needs to continue to prepare himself well with everything, including diet and sleep, so we can see the best of him in 2011." I was intrigued by these comments when I first read them, and I can't help but wonder whether Jack's 'form' has anything to do with sticking to the 'routine' mentioned by Mark.

Something I think a lean 196cm 19 year old can grow into when they get the bigger body and realise how to use it.

And when he does select him in the seniors

This is what Ball Movement coach Mark Williams wrote about Jack on the MFC website a couple of months ago: "Jack is now entering his third season, but he was pretty young in his first two years. He has gained a lot of knowledge over the journey so far, and we just need to make sure Jack continues to train well and sticks to his routine. He needs to continue to prepare himself well with everything, including diet and sleep, so we can see the best of him in 2011." I was intrigued by these comments when I first read them, and I can't help but wonder whether Jack's 'form' has anything to do with sticking to the 'routine' mentioned by Mark.

He's straight out saying he is undisciplined. there's a number of little things about him that make me wonder how interested he really is. When you campare him to someone like Scully there is a fair difference in application/dedication/desire it would seem

I'm starting to think I should have kept that little bit of info to myself. Settle people. If he gets a few kicks tonight it might all change.

Nope, alls good. We appreciate your posts Steamin D :-)

Things can get apocryphal Nash. Someone at the club says Watts form is disappointing and unless he improves he may miss selection R1. Could have been an off hand comment. By the time it reaches Demonland it's a done deal.

Who knows, I don't believe it and would reckon Watts is a certain starter. And I don't know what Steamin' was getting at, I can only read the words that are there and was initially surprised at the response.

I agree, but I think it was absurd to make a thread about it in the first place.

And when he does select him in the seniors

from someone that knows nothing about developing a young side...

leave it in the hands of the professionals.

He's straight out saying he is undisciplined. there's a number of little things about him that make me wonder how interested he really is. When you campare him to someone like Scully there is a fair difference in application/dedication/desire it would seem

No doubt, but you get all types of characters in a team.Blokes like scully are few and far between. Giving up Drinking completley isnt a choice many people are willing to make. Watts is 19, so he'll be enjoying life. He'll come good in a year or two i'd say.

Everyone needs to chill out and stop posting about which players are "core players" and which ones could be traded, or which ones should be dropped etc - its a futile discussion. Every year somone steps up and we're supprised. Dunn has been at the club for 6 seasons or so, and in that time has played 1/2 a good year. Sylvia was also a under achiever until a couple of years ago. Frawley only really came good in the last couple of years. Jamar the same... how many of us would have written off Jamar & Dunn a few seasons ago, and theyre older blokes.

He's straight out saying he is undisciplined. there's a number of little things about him that make me wonder how interested he really is. When you campare him to someone like Scully there is a fair difference in application/dedication/desire it would seem

I think comparing anyone to Scully on application/dedication/desire is unfair...

He's straight out saying he is undisciplined. there's a number of little things about him that make me wonder how interested he really is. When you campare him to someone like Scully there is a fair difference in application/dedication/desire it would seem

Wow - you are taking a giant leap - "he is undisciplined" - he is not saying anything of the sort - he twice says Jack needs to CONTINUE. Continueing to do something means you are already doing it. Unless of course after the word continue he puts in brackets ( wink wink nudge nudge)

Jack is a young and developing KPF.

He will have bad days.

Lots of them.

He is far from the finished article.

Get over it.

Jack Watts is a 19 yo kid who has had one real season under his belt, with one real preseason. He needs to get as much game time into him before MFC are ready to contend for that elusive premiership. Leaving him out of a developing side would be a mistake. He has shown enough to earn his spot in the best 22, and will only get better with time and size as it has been noted by everyone that is in a position to know...

I think that the OP is a bit ridiculous but I am against the idea of granting games to kids on "potential".

I believe that it can be counter-productive to the team environment that we should be trying to create. I like the idea of kids having to work hard to get a game in the seniors. If there has been one thing I have been uncomfortable about during the last couple of years it has been our eagerness to play Morton and Watts before I believe they were ready.

I understand and have considered the counter arguments re development etc.

I think that the OP is a bit ridiculous but I am against the idea of granting games to kids on "potential".

I believe that it can be counter-productive to the team environment that we should be trying to create. I like the idea of kids having to work hard to get a game in the seniors. If there has been one thing I have been uncomfortable about during the last couple of years it has been our eagerness to play Morton and Watts before I believe they were ready.

I understand and have considered the counter arguments re development etc.

I completely understand your point, in that it would provide better competition within the team, which would them force the players to get more out of their playing abilities. I think this is the only way to manage your team whilst you are competing for the ultimate prize. But i still believe to get the players into a position where they will be best prepared for that time, they need to play consistently against the best opposition. Jack Watts as a junior, against bodies that were of similar size to his, was a dominant KPF, so he needs to time to adjust to the bigger and stronger afl hardened bodies, which he can only get through games experience

I think that the OP is a bit ridiculous but I am against the idea of granting games to kids on "potential".

I believe that it can be counter-productive to the team environment that we should be trying to create. I like the idea of kids having to work hard to get a game in the seniors. If there has been one thing I have been uncomfortable about during the last couple of years it has been our eagerness to play Morton and Watts before I believe they were ready.

I understand and have considered the counter arguments re development etc.

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.

Why bother posting it at all then? There's about 30 blokes who "might" miss selection.

And probably a dozen or more that were told the same thing if they didn't lift in performance or output prior to Round 1.

That's my main concern, I watched him like a hawk last week and that's what I saw too

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

How has this thread become four pages long?

Watts can't learn anything from playing with Brendan Fevola.

Killer Watts is up and about tonight, getting involved all over the ground. tackling pressure a focus by the looks of it.

5 minutes ago · reply

from matt burgan.. lets hope he seals a matchwinner and puts an end to this terrible thread

Makes this thread seem even more horrible than it already did...

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.