Fantastic measured and balanced article about the 2008 Draft. Couldn't see it posted anywhere and yes it's a few days old but for those who haven't read it make sure you do. Makes for some very interesting reading!

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/watts-the-debate-top-two-to-deliver-in-spades-20110627-1gmz7.html

"His contested marks against Richmond in round 14 excited most applause, and as he grows stronger, Watts will become more of an aerial threat."

Are we supposed to clap half way through that sentence?

"His contested marks against Richmond in round 14 excited most applause, and as he grows stronger, Watts will become more of an aerial threat."

Are we supposed to clap half way through that sentence?

Haha!

"His contested marks against Richmond in round 14 excited most applause, and as he grows stronger, Watts will become more of an aerial threat."

Are we supposed to clap half way through that sentence?

lol!

"His contested marks against Richmond in round 14 excited most applause, and as he grows stronger, Watts will become more of an aerial threat."

Are we supposed to clap half way through that sentence?

Well, apparently we are not allowed to clap Jack too heavily, so I would say no...

"His contested marks against Richmond in round 14 excited most applause, and as he grows stronger, Watts will become more of an aerial threat."

Are we supposed to clap half way through that sentence?

Hah!

"His contested marks against Richmond in round 14 excited most applause, and as he grows stronger, Watts will become more of an aerial threat."

Are we supposed to clap half way through that sentence?

Couldn't help laughing at that!

On a side note, last night I watched the replay of the second quarter from the weekend's game against Richmond... and I couldn't help but notice how fixated Dwayne Russell is on talking about draft picks - i.e. where different people were picked up, comparing them to others picked up in the same draft etc. Fairdinkum, he spent at least half the quarter bringing stuff up about draft picks... was painful listening.

I understand the debate it creates, but I've always adopted the view that once they are at the club, who cares where/how/what number they arrived there... most top draft picks turn out to be good players, and hindsight is a wonderful thing. Having said that, the importance of the recruiting manager's role in a club has never been higher...

Just as an aside, here's a tracking after 31 games of some of the games elite in comparison of goals only to that of Jack :-

Jack Watts - 26 goals

Nick Riewoldt - 24 goals

Travis Cloke - 17 goals

Jonathon Brown - 39 goals

Others:

James Hird - 51 goals

Wayne Carey - 50 goals

Warren Tredrea - 61 goals

Chris Grant - 63 goals

And just for interest:

Liam Jurrah (30 games) - 71 goals

And just for interest:

Liam Jurrah (30 games) - 71 goals

Man thats crazy eh .

Liam leads some big company there .

Whilst not yet a focus of the forward line, he is becoming one of the most dangerous Demons for opponents.

Disagree with this, think he is absolutely a focus point now, after his performances of the last six weeks. Especially with Jurrah's drop in form and lack of any other tall target.

Whilst not yet a focus of the forward line, he is becoming one of the most dangerous Demons for opponents.

Disagree with this, think he is absolutely a focus point now, after his performances of the last six weeks. Especially with Jurrah's drop in form and lack of any other tall target.

This garbage they've been rattling on about in the media annoys me. If you're not 27+, have arms with the girth of my legs, 105+kegs, and you don't spend 75% of the game within 30 metres of goal... then you're not a "focal point..." Seriously, the way the game is played today height counts for less than ever. Watts has been a focal point for MOST of the year. As has Jurrah, Petterd when he's played, Sylvia and Trengove when they drop forward... And while Green hasn't been in form, he was in the top ten last year for goals playing EXACTLY like an old-school full forward.

We are exactly in the middle of the league for "points for" this year, so SOMETHING must be going right up forward some of the time, especially since we're not relying on any one player to kick 8 a week for us. Don't get me wrong, a gorilla in the square is a lovely thing to have if your system needs it... after all who couldn't do with a Jack Riewoldt... But that doesn't mean that just because they don't play the game like a Dunstall ripoff that they're not focal points... and GOOD ones at that. Jurrah and Watts would walk into any side on current form. In fact they'd walk into Geelong's forward line. Can you imagine? Jurrah would collapse for exhaustion at all the ball he was getting if he played there.

Just as an aside, here's a tracking after 31 games of some of the games elite in comparison of goals only to that of Jack :-

Jack Watts - 26 goals

Nick Riewoldt - 24 goals

Travis Cloke - 17 goals

Jonathon Brown - 39 goals

And let's not forget who was kicking the ball to Brown on the lead... only one of the best midfields of the modern era.

And let's not forget who was kicking the ball to Brown on the lead... only one of the best midfields of the modern era.

Indeed. Jurrah's way ahead of some seriously classy company and has probably had far worse delivery than any of them.

Just as an aside, here's a tracking after 31 games of some of the games elite in comparison of goals only to that of Jack :-

Jack Watts - 26 goals

Nick Riewoldt - 24 goals

Travis Cloke - 17 goals

Jonathon Brown - 39 goals

Others:

James Hird - 51 goals

Wayne Carey - 50 goals

Warren Tredrea - 61 goals

Chris Grant - 63 goals

And just for interest:

Liam Jurrah (30 games) - 71 goals

As a matter of interest, anyone know how many goals Lance Franklin had kicked after his first 31 games?

As a matter of interest, anyone know how many goals Lance Franklin had kicked after his first 31 games?

In his 31st game Franklin kicked a bag of 6 to take his career tally to 45.

As a matter of interest, anyone know how many goals Lance Franklin had kicked after his first 31 games?

Apologies, should have perhaps remembered Franklin as a comparison. Thanks Nasher.

edit: May I add, in Chris Grant's first year when visiting the stats yesterday, grant kicked plenty in his first year ( I think over 50 odd), and hardly any in his second year - perhaps change of position to the backline ?)

Of course no mention of Watts output to date would not be complete without mention of Michael Hurleys 'accomplishments' to date

Michael Hurley - 33 Goals

Lance Franklin - 45 Goals

"His contested marks against Richmond in round 14 excited most applause, and as he grows stronger, Watts will become more of an aerial threat."

Are we supposed to clap half way through that sentence?

It is interesting how we as Dees supporters applaud every little good thing that Jack does (me included). I think we have responded to him in a number of ways.

Firstly, he was our first number one draft after hitting rock bottom and we wanted to see him as the Messiah. We were initially attracted to NikNat and when the club decided to go for Jack we were unsure. All of the comparisons with NikNat made us desperate for him to succeed. We didn't want to be the losers who picked the dud, like Richmond who picked Anthony Bannik or Richard Tambling.

Secondly, we saw the pressure he was under the moment he ran on to the G for his first game. Apart from wanting him to be a gun player, we could also see the way he was treated by the media and many supporters (some of them Dees supporters who cast aspersions on the masculinity of his playing style), was unfair. I have also read comments from opposition supporters who say things like, "I don't know why but I just hate this guy". Maybe they see him as a blonde haired, silver-spoon boy. They will hate him more if he starts to be really effective.

Thirdly, he does seem like a very nice young chap who likes to be liked and has that quality that endears him to mothers (gross generalisation here). That apparent vulnerability evokes that desire in us to see him succeed. We don't worry about Jack Trengove or Jordie McKenzie like we worry about Watts.

In summary, I think we've invested a great deal of emotional energy in this boy, and its a bit like watching you're own child out there. When he does something good that many other players may do equally well, we clap and think "good boy Jack, that's the way".

Despite all of this, I see an exceptional talent who will be a great player for the Dees.

Of course no mention of Watts output to date would not be complete without mention of Michael Hurleys 'accomplishments' to date

Michael Hurley - 33 Goals

Lance Franklin - 45 Goals

That Hurley stat is incorrect. After 31 games, Hurley had kicked 26 goals. Remarkably the same as Watts after 31 games.

edit:

Hurley has 35 goals from 39 games to date.

Well, apparently we are not allowed to clap Jack too heavily, so I would say no...

if you read what i actually said you'd see where i was coming from but instead you continue to be smart about it. next time i'll realise your opinion is the opinion

Edited July 1, 201114 yr by High Tower
No nned for the poor language DL7

next time i'll realise your opinion is the opinion

It would save time and effort.

It is interesting how we as Dees supporters applaud every little good thing that Jack does (me included). I think we have responded to him in a number of ways.

Firstly, he was our first number one draft after hitting rock bottom and we wanted to see him as the Messiah. We were initially attracted to NikNat and when the club decided to go for Jack we were unsure. All of the comparisons with NikNat made us desperate for him to succeed. We didn't want to be the losers who picked the dud, like Richmond who picked Anthony Bannik or Richard Tambling.

Secondly, we saw the pressure he was under the moment he ran on to the G for his first game. Apart from wanting him to be a gun player, we could also see the way he was treated by the media and many supporters (some of them Dees supporters who cast aspersions on the masculinity of his playing style), was unfair. I have also read comments from opposition supporters who say things like, "I don't know why but I just hate this guy". Maybe they see him as a blonde haired, silver-spoon boy. They will hate him more if he starts to be really effective.

Thirdly, he does seem like a very nice young chap who likes to be liked and has that quality that endears him to mothers (gross generalisation here). That apparent vulnerability evokes that desire in us to see him succeed. We don't worry about Jack Trengove or Jordie McKenzie like we worry about Watts.

In summary, I think we've invested a great deal of emotional energy in this boy, and its a bit like watching you're own child out there. When he does something good that many other players may do equally well, we clap and think "good boy Jack, that's the way".

Despite all of this, I see an exceptional talent who will be a great player for the Dees.

I think you missed the joke.