A lot of assumption from Matlhouse that Watts lacks ambition.

I do not agree.

Who cares Mick will cark it soon.

And it will be Jack's fault, for not going hard enough at the contest...

Has there been three shitter blokes in football?? Lethal, Carey, Malthouse

I like all of them.

None of what he is saying is wrong though....

I agree DemonWA but criticism of JW is not allowed on here.

Who cares Mick will cark it soon.

Charming!!!

I like all of them.

That makes at least two of us Ben-Hur

Just because these guys know the game, were champions etc. doesn't mean that they're not sharing the same level of disdain against Watts that most of the football community seems to

Like I said, his good form of last year is erased in these guys minds due to 1 poor showing in a NAB cup match

Watts clearly isn't afforded the benefit of a quiet game without all the old perceptions resurfacing

You're speaking rubbish. There's far more to it than one poor NAB Cup showing. I've had the same concerns since he started his career. I had the same concerns watching him at Casey. His talent is undeniable and it seems that his talent is the only thing you're able to focus on. Others have a broader perspective.

I like all of them.

As footballers or people?

Malthouse turns up heat on Watts

Seriously Mick malthouse needs to shut his trap. I don't want this to turn into another Jack Watts thread because there is enough of them already here but I get sick of listening to old coaches or players who are new to the media saying something for the sake of justifying themselves in the media. For a bloke who would belittle other journalists at media conference's Mick is pretty quick to shoot off at someone over a pre season effort. He has already been pulled up once because of his Ted Whitten comments and now he keeps going with Watts. I fear that footy is becoming over populated with media opinions and these opinions are becoming more ridiculous just so they can be heard. SHUT UP MICK!

Turn down the sound and just watch the game. Miss out on ads and all the crap commentary. Most commercial commentators only state the obvious and look for an opportunity to plug a product. Having said some are good. The Guy found dead in his Apartment was fantastic and most ABC Commentators. SEN are shockers same as all commercial radio stations. They are only beating the drum of Carlton and United this and Sportsbet that. Treat us like Canon Fodder. The MUTE button is very worn on my remote:)

Mick's comments about Watts were very close to the bone and contentious at the same time-maybe to close for some. Watts has got promise no doubt about it but he does hang back a little. I think that will change. He was terrific v Tigers last year. The first game

Edited March 8, 201213 yr by thaipantsman

reading the article, MM is right. You need more than talent, your need the drive to push harder. He didn't say cloke was better, but he worked harder on the track and harder on the field. People have have said similar things and they are true. Personally Bailey and co. were too soft on what they wanted the players to do. Already we have seen a change in the team attitude and I think we have the staff to develop watts into a great player if he wants it.

As footballers or people?

Footballers and commentators. I respect their footy views. I like listening to their insight and rarely disagree with their observations.

I don't know them personally.

That makes at least two of us Ben-Hur

count me in - especially Matthews.

Played hard. Played fair. Played unfair. Either way he never uttered a word when he got pay back.

You're speaking rubbish. There's far more to it than one poor NAB Cup showing. I've had the same concerns since he started his career. I had the same concerns watching him at Casey. His talent is undeniable and it seems that his talent is the only thing you're able to focus on. Others have a broader perspective.

You're entitled to your opinion, I just don't share it

I certainly think in that very dark patch for us last year, he was one of the few showing fight and intensity

After he was made sub against GC I think he showed fight and intensity for the rest of the year

I'll agree in 2010 he did seem to coast - but I give him leeway due to the fact he was so skinny and finding his feet

My point is the intensity he showed for a long stretch of games last year is forgotten due to the one poor NAB cup game

Read what I said - the old perceptions (which were probably true) resurface

Does it really matter at this time of year so much to everyone that his form and every man, woman and child's opinion on it are plastered in the papers, radio and websites. That's what I am trying to get at. I agree Bay Riffin his form hasn't been good but I don't think a 20 year old KPP deserves this attention during the pre season whilst other players all across the league who haven't shown the best of form don't receive squat!

You forgot the general point here. Why is there such attention. Melbourne selected him as number one draft pick. Dees picked him. Can't make excuses later , i.e, he's just a skinny school kid just out of Brighton Grammar. Number one draft picks in third year should be having more of an impact. There is a lot of self preservation in the way Watts plays. This will change I think.

You're speaking rubbish. There's far more to it than one poor NAB Cup showing. I've had the same concerns since he started his career. I had the same concerns watching him at Casey. His talent is undeniable and it seems that his talent is the only thing you're able to focus on. Others have a broader perspective.

So even the games where he's played well, on account of his "talent", you're still not satisfied?

Balanced analysis? Or prejudice?

You forgot the general point here. Why is there such attention. Melbourne selected him as number one draft pick. Dees picked him. Can't make excuses later , i.e, he's just a skinny school kid just out of Brighton Grammar. Number one draft picks in third year should be having more of an impact. There is a lot of self preservation in the way Watts plays. This will change I think.

But this is the point. We're not even in the third year yet. It's PRE-SEASON, FGS.

Little else to talk about, and Malthouse is marking out his territory as a commentator. On Sportsnewsfirst, no less - how the mighty have fallen! No longer coach of the biggest team, he's desperate to stay relevant. Jack is an easy target, so in go the boots.

As others have tried to point out, it's all so out of proportion to what's actually happened.

Edited March 8, 201213 yr by Akum

Finally Malthouse is making sense!

The guy is an absolute looney; what the hell is he talking about? Far far worse than the Martian man, who at least has the excuse of senility.

I've got a lot of respect for what Malthouse achieved as a coach, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't somewhat nervous about what we're going to get out of Watts over the next 10 years. I'm not dismissive of what he says, and I won't be too precious about any criticism this club cops about our on-field efforts because of our rancid displays of slop over the last 5 years. I will say though that I find it interesting that he talks about ambition. I'd have thought that coming to Melbourne as coach, winning a flag or two and putting yourself in the 'greatest coach of all-time' discussion would have shown ambition.

I rate Hurley. I rate what Hurley has done so far in his career higher than what Jack has done. But as I said McQueen, I'm far from hitting the panic button (Jack is one of my favourites).

Elton John was married to a girl at some stage wasn't he? See, stranger things can happen.

Renate Blauel, a German girl. 4 year mariage from 1984.

The article was spot on, I to loved reading every word, jack needs to find the hunger for the footy when he discovers this hunger and want to get the footy he will be a great footballer, until then everyone will be on his back

So even the games where he's played well, on account of his "talent", you're still not satisfied?

Balanced analysis? Or prejudice?

Why would I have a prejudice against one of my own players ?

Prior to Watts being a Melb. listed player I first saw him in the National Champs at the G when he took a great mark and kicked the winning goal. I also saw him at the Telstra Dome that year and at Casey. I've seen him play half a game at Casey Seconds in his first year at Melb. So it's fair to say I've taken a keen interest in his career and no-one was more excited when his name was called out on Nov. 29, 2008. But like Barassi and Malthouse I have no respect for talent, it's what you do with it that counts. Watts showed a lot more last year and proved that he can perform at AFL level, but even in his good games I noticed aspects of his play that concerned me.

I have high ambitions for Watts and knew how crucial the no. 1 draft pick was going to be for the MFC and our quest for a flag. We have a tremendous amount invested in his selection. Importantly, I want players that can stand up in finals. Finals footy is so far removed from H&A it's not funny. The tempo goes up 5 notches. Right now Watts would be badly exposed in a final and so would other talented players on our list. He has the ability to change that and there'll be no-one more excited than me if he drastically improves certain aspects of his game.

I'm going to chuck on my tin foil hat and suggest that maybe Malthouse is trying to do more than simply belittle a young footballer for drama. Malthouse said last year that he thought Melbourne were going to get a top 8 spot. This was about a week or less before Mark Neeld was announced as our coach. From what I've heard and seen Neeld and Malthouse seem to have a pretty good relationship and I think Malthouse truly does want to see Neeld succeed. Maybe Malthouse is trying to bait Watts to the point where he'll respond in the best possible way, on the footy field. Then again, maybe he's just a mediawhore.

Must say i am glad many people on here agree with Malthouse. Jack Watts & the Whole MFC have got much improvement to do. No ifs or buts. We have been a shambles for years.

Love them or hate them Malthouse Carey & Matthews have all won premierships. They know what it requires.

We already blew one draft pick, can't afford to do it again.

Jack Watts is only 20 but he has had 4-5 years knowing he was going to play AFL.

He is old enough now to get some hard training which hopefully will ramp up his ondield performance.

Edited March 8, 201213 yr by why you little

Footballers and commentators. I respect their footy views. I like listening to their insight and rarely disagree with their observations.

I don't know them personally.

I agree. Two were great footballers and one was ok. I like Matthews as a commentator, Malthouse is an agenda driven jerk but he's interesting to listen to and I don't listen to Carey.

But "not knowing them personally" doesn't preclude them from a "like" opinion. Matthews was a thug, Malthouse is a very ordinary individual (calling Maric a cheat, running his own agenda last year to the detriment of Collingwoods flag chances) and Carey hasn't done much to endear him to the public. I think Matthews has grown up and regrets his on field antics. Malthouse is just a terrible man imo.

What do you think of Gillard? (for others, this is rhetorical).

I agree. Two were great footballers and one was ok. I like Matthews as a commentator, Malthouse is an agenda driven jerk but he's interesting to listen to and I don't listen to Carey.

But "not knowing them personally" doesn't preclude them from a "like" opinion. Matthews was a thug, Malthouse is a very ordinary individual (calling Maric a cheat, running his own agenda last year to the detriment of Collingwoods flag chances) and Carey hasn't done much to endear him to the public. I think Matthews has grown up and regrets his on field antics. Malthouse is just a terrible man imo.

What do you think of Gillard? (for others, this is rhetorical).

And why shouldn't Malthouse put his own agenda out there last year? Eddiewood kicked him out. I would have done the same. Don't blame Mick for that one.