The Key forward.

[Al`s DEMONS 0]

I am a believer that Jack will be a star for the club. Perhaps even more than most. But it is a bit premature to be saying that he can take a strong pack mark. I have not seen much of that, yet.

as much as i didnt like the man, how many pack marks did lloydy take, great contested mark on the lead, not so many pack marks . watts has pace. skill and ability to take a grab. still a boy,what is he 20, playing in the hardest position on ground. needs two-three more full pre seasons . we all looked at photos pre season and thought hes put on muscle. compared to last year, yes he has, still has a lot of filling out to do. can have an influence on games this year but expectations of six-seven goal hauls are a little premature. he is a star in the making.

[jayceebee31 761]

Sure he showed some signs, but Jack Riewoldt didn't really announce himself until last year, similar to Frawley. That's in their 4th year of footy and both had bodies more ready for AFL footy. Watts was a year younger when drafted. Going by that logic, i wouldn't expect him to really come on until his 5th year of footy, aka 2013.

Sure most MFC supporters are getting tired and frustrated that Watts hasn't shown anything yet, i don't give a stuff what the outside world thinks (their viewpoint is mute, as far as i'm concerned). Similar to the dreaded 'p' word (potential), what is needed with young Jack is patience. He will reward us eventually, when his body is ready to consistently stand up to AFL footy. We all can't be Chip Frawley's, Hurley's and Tapscott's, the moment we walk into a footy club. They are genetic freaks, in terms of young body size. Watts, like Cook, first need to grow into their bodies, then learn how to use them. Have no fear, both will be ready when the MFC aim to have several serious cracks at our elusive 13th, maybe even 14th!!!

WELL SAID-

[Weedster 174]

its interesting how you say jack watts will never be a key forward, but you are happy for lucas cook to take at least 3-4 years to develop. dont you think we should be giving jack 3-4 years to develop? just as the club said when they drafted him.

jack has shown some good signs at times, he is yet to show us he can be a dominant key forward, but dont you think you should wait a couple of years until he is fully developed to write him off?

Agree - very hard for Jack (or anyone else) to develop as a key forward with the structure we are playing with B)

[Guest DeesPower]

Garland is the only one i know of who played a bit as a forward as a junior, but def robbing peter to play paul there.

Danny Frawley said his nephew Chip played a fair bit of his football as a junior at centre half forward, where he dominated as you would expect. He is however more in the Watts mode than say a Riewolt. Rivers given his marking ability could probably play there but i think we have to get serious about a permanent large player there. Personally, i've said in these posts a few times than i think in the medium term when we have Jamar, Martin and Gawn in the same side that i think Jamar could develop in to a very effective tall forward. His marking and physicality are outstanding. If we could teach him to kick straight i reckon he could be a 60-70 goal forward a year.It is a win-win-win situation IMO.

To be fair to Bailey he seems to be going down that path. It will be interesting to see how it makes out.

[Rogue 585]

Danny Frawley said his nephew Chip played a fair bit of his football as a junior at centre half forward, where he dominated as you would expect. He is however more in the Watts mode than say a Riewolt. Rivers given his marking ability could probably play there but i think we have to get serious about a permanent large player there. Personally, i've said in these posts a few times than i think in the medium term when we have Jamar, Martin and Gawn in the same side that i think Jamar could develop in to a very effective tall forward. His marking and physicality are outstanding. If we could teach him to kick straight i reckon he could be a 60-70 goal forward a year.It is a win-win-win situation IMO.

To be fair to Bailey he seems to be going down that path. It will be interesting to see how it makes out.

I don't think DB is going down the path of playing Jamar as a forward, he'll just rest there. We should and were doing this before the sub rule, but the changed rule makes it even more important to get the rucks doing something other than sitting on the pine when they're not in the ruck.