Players who will thrive under Neeld?

[Range Rover 1,935]

Has Jack Watts thrived? To me Jack Watts has been extremely dissappointing, OK he has done well playing down back but this guy was drafted as a forward, in a year that we have been crying out for forwards Jack Watts is playing mainly as a sweeper down back. All our back 6 get a lot of footy it is down there enough. Watts had a run of games last year at CHF which to me are still the best games at the club, putting him down back hopefully will teach him something but I want him back forward next season.

If we talk about thriving, you have to improve, to me only 4 players have improved Jones, McDonald, Grimes and Howe. It will be interesting how Sylvia bounces back after his first real poor performance in the last month, if we plays 3-4 more good quality games you can say he has had his most consistant year.

Sylvia may have had a reasonable month but his first 10 games after returning from injury were absolutely woeful.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

Has Jack Watts thrived? To me Jack Watts has been extremely dissappointing, OK he has done well playing down back but this guy was drafted as a forward, in a year that we have been crying out for forwards Jack Watts is playing mainly as a sweeper down back. All our back 6 get a lot of footy it is down there enough. Watts had a run of games last year at CHF which to me are still the best games at the club, putting him down back hopefully will teach him something but I want him back forward next season.

If we talk about thriving, you have to improve, to me only 4 players have improved Jones, McDonald, Grimes and Howe. It will be interesting how Sylvia bounces back after his first real poor performance in the last month, if we plays 3-4 more good quality games you can say he has had his most consistant year.

To me Watts has thrived. He is getting his hands on the footy and is showing his footy smarts and absolute pin point passes. I have loved watching him play down back. Wasn't Cameron Ling drafted as a forward? I don't care where they have come from I care about what they do now.

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

I expect more from players returning from cracked vertabrae!

Sylvia may have had a reasonable month but his first 10 games after returning from injury were absolutely woeful.

And it was only a cracked vertabrae!

[IRW 1,291]

Watts has improved no doubt but these pin point passes you talk about are run of the mill stuff in teams like Hawthorn .

He's got elite skills but still seems to avoid the hard stuff and the improvement is only to be expected from a number one pick.

The credit goes to the coach for finding a spot where he can develop, we're still waiting for some head turning play from Jack

[Range Rover 1,935]

And it was only a cracked vertabrae!

Medical staff declared him fit to play. That's all that matters.

Do you see Lenny Hayes or Luke Hodge reach for the injury excuse handbook when they return from a lay off?

Nup, they'd be embarrassed to.

[Jesse Christ 2,884]

Hayes and Hodge used as a comparison to Sylvia, lol.

I don't klnow, back injury seems more serious and psychologically damaging.. wasn't sylvia thrown back into AFL without VFL games? Hodge came back through the VFL didnt he?

[IRW 1,291]

He looked rusty to me, but he does have a 'reputation' to overcome.

6 of one half a dozen of another

Edited July 30, 2012 by IRW

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

Watts has improved no doubt but these pin point passes you talk about are run of the mill stuff in teams like Hawthorn .

He's got elite skills but still seems to avoid the hard stuff and the improvement is only to be expected from a number one pick.

The credit goes to the coach for finding a spot where he can develop, we're still waiting for some head turning play from Jack

May be run of the mill in Hawthorn but it isn't for Melbourne maybe that's why his skills stand out so much.

[IRW 1,291]

May be run of the mill in Hawthorn but it isn't for Melbourne maybe that's why his skills stand out so much.

and thats why we should enjoy his skill but not carry on like it proves he's going to be a superstar.

When oppostion fans acknowledge his skills we'll know he's making real progress.

His 'vision' and decision making is good as well unless he's under pressure when it drops off noticably.

The only stand out improver is Jonesy and surely no one gives the coach credit for that unless its the same as with Watts...finding a way for him to maximise his abilities.

I want to see the coaching group teach Howe to make intelligent choices and take the time to execute them properly