Jack Watts

[Nasher 33,047]

But he isn't a rookie...

Alright, you win. I've been out-nitpicked.

[bush demon 1,885]

Redundant like your lack of identification for sarcasm.

my brother used to say, "had of". I wish I had of whacked him.

[Scipio 5,868]

But he isn't a rookie...

But the term 'rookie' can refer to a young inexperienced player. I suppose if someone uses the term in regards to football it should mean a player who is rookie-listed though.

[Guest Artie Bucco]

Rookie generally means first-year player, in any sport.

In AFL it is often used to describe a player on the strangely named "rookie list."

By either definition, it is incorrect.

[Binmans PA 26,051]

I understand what you mean to an extent. I was not at the Richmond game but at the Fremantle game every time a player came off the ground there was a round of applause, which is just silly.

On another note, great game again Jack, you are well and truly on the road to Super Stardom

Why the heck is supporting a player silly? [censored] hell. We're supporters for a reason. Ridiculous statements.

[Hip & Shoulder 64]

+1

I reckon he's showing all the attributes of a future captain. I'm about to celebrate my 60th birthday and I haven't had a footy guernsey for nearly 50 years. My present to myself this year is a guernsey with the number 4 on the back - and I'm going to wear it proudly.

[Scipio 5,868]

Why the heck is supporting a player silly? [censored] hell. We're supporters for a reason. Ridiculous statements.

Just my opinion that clapping every player off the ground (not because of a good performance by the player but just for the sake of it) is way over the top.

[mauriesy 6,790]

However, hated the Melbourne supporters clapping him running to the bench after one contested mark and goal in the second quarter. It makes us look like a joke

Encouraging your players for doing well. Cardinal sin, is it?

[rpfc 27,451]

Just my opinion that clapping every player off the ground (not because of a good performance by the player but just for the sake of it) is way over the top.

He took a mark and kicked a goal.

What do you want the MCC members to do?

Stand up and tell him to eff off back to Brighton?

Sometimes I hate Melbourne supporters...

Oh, wait, that's self-loathing?!

God dammit.

[Scipio 5,868]

He took a mark and kicked a goal.

What do you want the MCC members to do?

Stand up and tell him to eff off back to Brighton?

Sometimes I hate Melbourne supporters...

Oh, wait, that's self-loathing?!

God dammit.

If you read further above you can see I was talking more about the Fremantle game than Watts at the Richmond game, as I was not even there. The earlier post that brought this up reminded me of the Freo game, and I stated that I agreed with it in part, I'm all for cheering a player on when they do something outstanding, as I'm sure I would have had I been there and seen Watts' goal and mark or whatever it was.

[Fork 'em 6,507]

Doesn't matter if they've taken a mark or kicked goals .

They've been running their guts out while on the field .

Give 'em some encouragement .

[Scipio 5,868]

Doesn't matter if they've taken a mark or kicked goals .

They've been running their guts out while on the field .

Give 'em some encouragement .

It's their job to run their guts out whilst on the field. I just think it is needless to be clapping every interchange, especially considering how many rotations there are these days. I'll leave it at that.

[stuie 7,374]

It's their job to run their guts out whilst on the field. I just think it is needless to be clapping every interchange, especially considering how many rotations there are these days. I'll leave it at that.

Haha FFS... Should we just throw money then? Give us a break, what is footy for if we can't do stuff like that?

[stuie 7,374]

He took a mark and kicked a goal.

What do you want the MCC members to do?

Stand up and tell him to eff off back to Brighton?

Sometimes I hate Melbourne supporters...

Oh, wait, that's self-loathing?!

God dammit.

Spot on RPFC, when was the last time any of us heard an MFC crowd described even remotely similar to a group like the Pies, Tigers, or even Bombers supporters? I'm not saying we should strive to emulate their particular ummmmmmmm "traits", but a tribe mentality, positive support of our players, and more of an "us against them" mindset will only help strengthen us as a club.

[Rogue 585]

What I liked is that he was much stronger in the contests on the weekend. That part of his game is really coming along, which is excellent.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

It's their job to run their guts out whilst on the field. I just think it is needless to be clapping every interchange, especially considering how many rotations there are these days. I'll leave it at that.

Edited June 29, 2011 by Curry & Beer

[Arrow 1,257]

Encouraging your players for doing well. Cardinal sin, is it?

no you seething idiot, a standing ovation when one runs to the bench I am all for at the end of a game when they have played a blinder, it's seems to be tradition that b.o.g always gets a rousing reception as they run off for the final time, however after one contested mark and goal and than 5 minutes later a standing ovation for him running off was over the top. Myself along with all the people I was sitting with all agreed that it seemed silly. I celebrate harder than anyone after a goal but it looks one-sided when you give a bloke a standing ovation as he comes off when the best player on the field runs off without a clap.

I wasn't expecting supporter outcry and to the [censored]-bag that suggested i am the reason Melbourne have a bad name for supporters well I am lost for words on how to describe you.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

no you seething idiot, a standing ovation when one runs to the bench I am all for at the end of a game when they have played a blinder, it's seems to be tradition that b.o.g always gets a rousing reception as they run off for the final time, however after one contested mark and goal and than 5 minutes later a standing ovation for him running off was over the top. Myself along with all the people I was sitting with all agreed that it seemed silly. I celebrate harder than anyone after a goal but it looks one-sided when you give a bloke a standing ovation as he comes off when the best player on the field runs off without a clap.

I wasn't expecting supporter outcry and to the [censored]-bag that suggested i am the reason Melbourne have a bad name for supporters well I am lost for words on how to describe you.

has it occurred to you the reason Watts got (what you seem to be labelling) 'special treatment' is because he has had to endure nothing but people getting stuck into him since he joined the AFL at 17. He has endured it unflinchingly and worked hard, now for him to show genuine talent on the big stage and stick it up everyone is worthy of a clap for mine

[Arrow 1,257]

has it occurred to you the reason Watts got (what you seem to be labelling) 'special treatment' is because he has had to endure nothing but people getting stuck into him since he joined the AFL at 17. He has endured it unflinchingly and worked hard, now for him to show genuine talent on the big stage and stick it up everyone is worthy of a clap for mine

As fantastic as that is in theory it is a two fold effect. The more you single out players the more the media centers their attention around the person. Watts copped so much unnecessary treatment from the media purely because a poor team had noone else to play so they threw a puppy into a pack of hounds. I am incredibly proud of him as a supporter for proving the doubters wrong, but like I said in my first post it seemed tacky to clap off the kid every time he came to the bench. With everyone screaming out the messiah and it seems to me more pressure gets added and if he was just treated like every player he and we would be better off.

Let me stress at the 28th minute mark of the 4th quarter if he has played exceptionally i'll be leading the brigade to stand and clap as one but whether you disagree or not standing for him running off looked and sounded poor.

[Fork 'em 6,507]

Let me stress at the 28th minute mark of the 4th quarter if he has played exceptionally i'll be leading the brigade to stand and clap as one but whether you disagree or not standing for him running off looked and sounded poor.

You shouldn't have too long to wait .

Won't be the only standing ovation you'll give him before he's done either .

[Deestroy All 14,261]

I understand what you mean to an extent. I was not at the Richmond game but at the Fremantle game every time a player came off the ground there was a round of applause, which is just silly.

On another note, great game again Jack, you are well and truly on the road to Super Stardom

It wasn't every time, it was when a player was doing well or had just put in a big effort.

Which would explain why Watts is being clapped off a lot lately, he's on fire.

I like it, it's better than sitting there shaking our heads all day.

[rpfc 27,451]

It wasn't every time, it was when a player was doing well or had just put in a big effort.

Which would explain why Watts is being clapped off a lot lately, he's on fire.

I like it, it's better than sitting there shaking our heads all day.

It sure is.

And maybe the MCC members are urging him on aswell?

Are we so self-loathing that we have to criticise the way we support our players?

[GRUN DEE 69]

The kid is a ball tearer! He is going to rip games to shreds... Pick 1 most definitely!!!

[btdemon 475]

The thing that has impressed me about Watts this year is that he is beginning to adapt to the tempo of the game at senior level. There is an urgency now when he gets the ball, both in the attack and the disposal. There is no doubt that he possesses great skill and a good footy brain, but he is now executing with speed and accuracy. You could see that when he played his first few games two years ago that he was operating at an under 18s tempo.

[Deestroy All 14,261]

It sure is.

And maybe the MCC members are urging him on aswell?

Are we so self-loathing that we have to criticise the way we support our players?

Sadly, I think so.

Lack of success has damaged many a supporter, and the "accepting mediocrity blah blah" mob are so scarred that they can't enjoy any small steps forward we take.

Too bad for them.