First of all, I refute that he is averse to physical contact but that aside - following on from your comment above I would have to assume that you dont believe in "great finals footballers" -footballers who take it to a different level at finals ?

Your assumption is silly. History is littered with Snake Baker type exploits.

Some players yearn for physical contact and others tolerate it. I suspect you know what category I'd put Jack.

Watts has a big future in the game .

Malthouse has a history in it .

Jack will dominate the comp.

Malthouse wouldn't get a game these days if he were starting again .

It's not Jacks fault Mick has been retired.

Good night Mick .Have your pills and off to bed .

Even your daughter is too old for Jack to consider .

Malthouse is very outspoken yes, but i think what he said is somewhat there.

People need to relax, Mick gets paid (very well) to talk the way he does, he has opinions, and they arnt that scathing. He was talking about the difference between Watts being Good great or GREAT imo. everyone knows he will be good, just how good is the point mick wants to know.

He questioned watt's desire, many of us say he needs to look more urgent ect, very similar criticisms imo. When you do all the hard things, the 1% its obvious you want "IT", on the weekend Watts looked a little off, he still has all the skills but until he pushes himself right to the limit every week he will be holding himself back.

Malthouse is giving him a slight wake up call, i think Watts can do with this to keep motivating him.

He said himself though that the only feedback he will take on board seriously is that of Neeld and the Football departments. And they will be telling him these things too.

I am more than happy with Watts as a 20yo, cant wait to be watching him run around in 2-3 years time......will be amazing

Your assumption is silly. History is littered with Snake Baker type exploits.

No sillier than ignoring the steps a 20 year old took last year, assuming there will be no further improvements in both skill and hardness by declaring he would be well and truly found out in finals. One only need look at brad green to see his formative years where he was learning his craft. He certainly wore the "soft tag". Do you think he is soft now ?

No sillier than ignoring the steps a 20 year old took last year, assuming there will be no further improvements in both skill and hardness by declaring he would be well and truly found out in finals. One only need look at brad green to see his formative years where he was learning his craft. He certainly wore the "soft tag". Do you think he is soft now ?

I'm arguing with a shallow thinker. Actually, a shallow 'football' thinker, as I gave a "like" to a superb post you made in the Jurrah thread.

Green has always been relatively brave, although no doubt he's improved with experience, but he's certainly not hard. There's a difference between having courage and being hard. Green shows enormous courage in marking contests, and it really does take courage, but even now he's far from hard at the footy when the ball is on the deck. It's not the way he plays and he wasn't built that way.

I said Watts would presently be exposed in a final. I said that Watts doesn't enjoy physical contact, where others craved it (Brereton, Hurley, Brown, Carey, Hall). It doesn't mean that Watts won't dominate a final in 3 years time. It doesn't mean that Watts won't build his body to a point where he'll no longer be intimidated on a footy field. Once he builds his body he'll gain more confidence. He'll never be a crash and bash forward like the others I mentioned and we don't need him to be. But he certainly needs to markedly improve his physicality and change his mindset. Watts avoids some situations and doesn't excel in others, because right now he lacks confidence in the role being asked of him. He's much more comfortable getting on his bike and showing his class out wide in open spaces, but he's very uncomfortable having the ball kicked on his head for the reasons I've mentioned. I know it, commentators know it, ex-footy players know it, current footy players know it, his teammates know it, and Jack knows it. I'm saying nothing more than what is his current reality. But it certainly doesn't mean I'm writing him off.

Many Melbourne supporters are intoxicated by Watts' natural ability and leap to his defence at any given opportunity. I'm sobered by his deficiencies. You can please yourself.

Lots to like in what you say Ben-Hur

but while Watts may be found out presently he may also be found The skills and attitude he has presently can still be used within a specific team structure and strategy, He may never be required to be the Bash and crash type you identified.

Im not sure that there are many even the listed elite in other threads who have every aspect of the sport contained in the one package. Perhaps its more about using the skills, gift you have to get the most effective result. Im sobered by what is written and trust that Watts can sort the wheat from the chaff with the help of his coaches and teammates. I still think its an exciting time of development for the individual and the team.

Perhaps it does introduce the question of wether the player makes the coach or the coach makes the player

90% of the early picks in the 2008 draft year are really imposing themselves on the AFL - check it out for yourself.

Bigger, stronger, get the ball, and really work hard.

Watts should play Scorpions for most of the year until he learns to stop jogging and tiptoeing everywhere.

We get it.

You've got an obsessive agenda with Watts.

Well done.

We get it.

You've got an obsessive agenda with Watts.

Well done.

I only like to talk footy - I won't get drawn into snide remarks.

Yet you're prepared to litter various threads with snide remarks about Watts, under the pretence of "talking footy".

Strange.

90% of the early picks in the 2008 draft year are really imposing themselves on the AFL - check it out for yourself.

Bigger, stronger, get the ball, and really work hard.

You cannot deny this part is right.

It is now up to Jack to see how much he wants to get better.

From memory the leadership group at Geelong had to take Gary aside and talk to him about his work ethic, seems he listened. Watts will be a player, as the coach says he is coming from a fair way back (APS) and has only 40 games under the belt. Maybe Mick is doing his mate Mark a favour and providing an extra bit of needle. One post said he was "scared", that reminds me of the day Greg Healy played with a fractured cheek bone and one of our supporters called him weak and gutless. No one running around in AFL football is scared, they may not all be Jonathan Browns but it takes courage to take the field.

And this is probably the Issue. There is No one @ Melbourne in the playing group of sufficient standing to demand a better work ethic.

So the Outside tries to do it.

Yet you're prepared to litter various threads with snide remarks about Watts, under the pretence of "talking footy".

Strange.

Well, no - if you read them properly, my comments do not relate directly in any ad hominem attacks on Watts, more his development and footy abilities.

Your comment was snide and directed at me.

And this is probably the Issue. There is No one @ Melbourne in the playing group of sufficient standing to demand a better work ethic.

So the Outside tries to do it.

So true, and that is a big problem. At Hawthorn a young player can come in and have Hodge, Sewell, Mitchel, Buddy there to guide their progress, at Melbourne they are on their own. The coaches are going to have to be the ones to turn it around along with the young leadership group, they are going to have to stand up.

So true, and that is a big problem. At Hawthorn a young player can come in and have Hodge, Sewell, Mitchel, Buddy there to guide their progress, at Melbourne they are on their own. The coaches are going to have to be the ones to turn it around along with the young leadership group, they are going to have to stand up.

Yes.

And it has got to start yesterday....Shame Brad Sewell couldn't be traded a few years back....No offense to R. Ferguson...Bless Him.

People bagged it but i fully understand why ND got Byron Pickett.....in 2006 he was still intimidating.

Players would run away from Byron....