Jack Watts

[Guest strawberry_gumdrops]

Worst Idea Ever!

[old55 21,644]

you think Magner learnt his courage through the vfl? That's ridiculous! He would have been a hardnut as soon as he started playing footy. Just like Jack Viney is already a hardnut. You can't teach or learn hardness, it's an innate ability and its the sole reason why Cale Morton and Watts will never improve in this area

Morton has shown signs of progress in this area this year, including last saturday night - there was a fair contrast between Cale's and Jack's intensity.

[rjay 24,046]

You can and there are plenty of examples of footballers who become harder as players as they progressed. A most obvious one is Brad Green. At the start of his career there was a question mark about his appetite for the contest. In the 2nd half of his career, Green has gone hard when he has need to.

Some players are more prone to being hard than others. Its not a characteristics that typeset to your DNA at birth.

Back you up on this one. Barry Hall said that everyone thought Adam Goodes was soft in his first few seasons, he certainly isn't now. I think whether true or not Watts is painted with that brush, you only need to watch opposition players getting into him. Is he going to be one of those highly skilled players who just falls away or will he put the work in that's required?

[mauriesy 6,860]

Hardness can be learned (although the preservation instinct is strong in a lot of us). While it's a mental state, a bigger body, more experience and even getting injured a few times can overcome the fear associated with going in hard.

[frankie_d 1,410]

Neeld on Watts:

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/134871/default.aspx

excerpt:

---

He said Watts doesn't lack hunger but needs to work on his game at the lower level and improve in certain areas to earn a senior recall.

According to the coach, Watts is well aware which areas of his game need to improve and is working hard to develop them.

"He's receptive to it," said Neeld. "We've had some really good chats, productive chats during the week. He's on the training track confronting the things we want him to confront and we will see how he goes at VFL level."

---

[GRUN DEE 69]

I say give him a key position backline role.

B Rivers Frawley Bartram

HB McDonald Watts Grimes

C Sylvia Moloney Howe

HF Jurrah Garland Trengove

F Petterd Clark Bennell

Foll. Jamar McKenzie Jones

Inter. Tapscott, Bail, Magner, Martin

Edited May 4, 2012 by jungle dee

[Guest José Mourinho]

I still don't think that playing for the Scorpions is going to help Jack.

He is betwixt at the moment - he may get 25 touches, but how will this help him against a Hawthorn, a Geelong, a West Coast, a Swans?

You play against the best, you'll get better.

Make him play a defensive role on Mackie or a Harry Taylor - they're play makers.

But it aint happening and it's only an opinion.

I'm pretty sure Neeld will make it known to Watts in no uncertain terms that he won't be promoted based on disposals, but rather tackles, second efforts, 1 percenters and a willingness to throw his body into contests.

[Guest José Mourinho]

you think Magner learnt his courage through the vfl? That's ridiculous! He would have been a hardnut as soon as he started playing footy. Just like Jack Viney is already a hardnut. You can't teach or learn hardness, it's an innate ability and its the sole reason why Cale Morton and Watts will never improve in this area

"He would have been"?

Well, that's definitive enough for me! You certainly are an expert on the topic!

How about both Buckley and Voss saying they become hard because when they were young they shirked contests and were embarrassed by it..?

Btw Cale has already shown improvement this season.

The anti-prophet returns!

[drdrake 3,057]

Being a young tall or any young player you need to have confidence. With Jack I have no problem with the contests in the air, would love to see him take a some good strong pack marks but to me this year he hasn't been beaten in the air, on most occasions he has been able to get the ball to ground. He still gets out positioned not the same as past years but you still see this which makes him look bad when it happens, to me it's not a strenght thing it is his initial postioning and timing.

His tackling is the biggest issue he just doesn't stick tackles, once again this is not a strength issue this is technique, he tries to tackle with his hands rather than really attacking with his shoulders and arms, he trys to grab people rather than the big aggressive tackle.

Playing at VFL level smaller bodied players he needs to impose himself, watch Jack Viney he tackles to hurt, this is what we want to see from Jack Watts tomorrow crash packs and tackle to hurt so the next time someone backs into your space they duck the head or go in half hearted. This is the big difference between Jack Watts and Mitch Clark, Mitch wants to hurt someone and knows in doing this he might get hurt, Jack just doesn't.

He will be a very good player for us but he may not be the type of player we thought he was when we drafted him. If he can get his hardness and fitness right to me he will be an Adam Goodes type of player.

[The Chazz 4,077]

I'm pretty sure Neeld will make it known to Watts in no uncertain terms that he won't be promoted based on disposals, but rather tackles, second efforts, 1 percenters and a willingness to throw his body into contests.

Has to be pretty close to spot on I reckon Jose.

I mentioned earlier about leaving him at Casey until the GWS game, but what are the chances of us going "back to the future"? Give him a 5 week program at Casey, tell him not to even think about playing AFL footy, just really concentrate on the areas that Neeld requires (which no doubt a lot of the ones Jose listed above), then tell him that his "comeback" game is Collingwood. This game is to be earmarked as Jack's arrival in the AFL, similar to what it was tried to be used for with his first game.

If Jack can spend 5 weeks in the VFL, purely focusing on Neeld's demands, then he can come back against reasonable opposition and show that he has learnt and that he is ready to make a statement to the AFL community. There doesn't have to be a big soing and dance about it, just let it go under the radar so that the external pressures aren't as great.

Thoughts of doing this, as opposed to what I originally said (bringing him back for GWS) is that in theory, most players should have a day out against GWS, and we won't get a true indication if he has taken that next step.

Obviously this is all dependent on Jack doing what is asked of him at Casey on a consistent basis.

Thoughts?

[jumbo returns 6,547]

You cant make someone do anything. He has to choose to do it and he has to begin to reflect the required standard's in the way her plays. He has an opportunity to start to do it with Casey.

You're right - if he chooses not to do it, then his position at the Club could potentially become untenable?

[binman 39,096]

Has to be pretty close to spot on I reckon Jose.

I mentioned earlier about leaving him at Casey until the GWS game, but what are the chances of us going "back to the future"? Give him a 5 week program at Casey, tell him not to even think about playing AFL footy, just really concentrate on the areas that Neeld requires (which no doubt a lot of the ones Jose listed above), then tell him that his "comeback" game is Collingwood. This game is to be earmarked as Jack's arrival in the AFL, similar to what it was tried to be used for with his first game.

If Jack can spend 5 weeks in the VFL, purely focusing on Neeld's demands, then he can come back against reasonable opposition and show that he has learnt and that he is ready to make a statement to the AFL community. There doesn't have to be a big soing and dance about it, just let it go under the radar so that the external pressures aren't as great.

Thoughts of doing this, as opposed to what I originally said (bringing him back for GWS) is that in theory, most players should have a day out against GWS, and we won't get a true indication if he has taken that next step.

Obviously this is all dependent on Jack doing what is asked of him at Casey on a consistent basis.

Thoughts?

Interesting idea. One problem Jack will have though is the 2 week break the Scorps have. Perhaps he'll play in the development squad (i highly doubt it). A two week break is nonsense and won't help Green or Jurrah for that matter

[old55 21,644]

Jamie Bennell went back and according to reliable reports is making progress working on his game, particularly last week. He's been rewarded with 1st emergency this week. That's how it works IMO.

[Undeeterred 2,883]

One of the silliest things I've ever heard.

[dees189227 11,016]

I cant beliebve some of the reaction from journalists about this. Some are saying that Jack should leave melbourne and go to another team. The thing is we had 102 tackles last week and Jack didnt lay one. His job was to stop fisher and in the 1st qusrter fisher had the ball 10 times.

As we saw in Neelds first address to the players he said everyone has a role to play and when its your turn you go. He also said you can trust me if the bloke beside you doesnt go then he will be dropped.

Watts needs to find some form and confidence and the thing is as Derm said this morning JAck has always excelled at sport in his jumior days. he starred at basketball and dominated jumior footy. Now he is in the big league and cant dominate as much.

I agree with the call and Clark had to come back in and someone had to go. WAtts will bounce back.

[Guest José Mourinho]

There's not much else going on to talk about at the moment.

Let the journos have their fun.

It'll all come to nothing in the end.

[Range Rover 1,935]

I wonder what Watts' perceived trade value would be among rival clubs at the moment.

2 round pick?

Don't scoff at this. He may come into calculations at trade time.

[Guest José Mourinho]

I'm scoffing.

Almost as stupid as popping him in the ruck.

[GRUN DEE 69]

Play him as a tagger! He will learn to play defensive competitive footy quickly and run to position.

I'm sure he would have more than 1 tackle. He should be laying 8+ a game. Then switch him to CHB.

[Range Rover 1,935]

I'm scoffing.

Almost as stupid as popping him in the ruck.

Why is it stupid? If an offer comes in from another club and we could possibly turn it to our advantage, we'd be silly not to look at it. List management.

I'm not writing Watts off but if there's a deal to be done that benefits the MFC then that becomes more important.

The club may have to make a hard call on what type of player Jack will become and whether or not we really need that type of player in preference for someone else.

Edited May 4, 2012 by Range Rover

[Jerry Lundergard 392]

Watching Jack last week before the game on DeeTV with Robbo it occurred to me how natural he looked as a basketballer. He grew playing at Sandringham where I played a bit of ball, so people tell me he could definitely play. The problem I see, is that he played as a guard in basketball, and although you can get some tough physical guards, it a position where you don't have to bang and crash as much as a forward or centre position. You can see guys like Natunaui, Tippett and Goldstein probably played those postions, and seem more adept to the physical side of the game.

My take is that while Jack was still considering both sports, he comes out in the carnival and plays really well in a good team and is then thrusted into a postion of having to make a choice. Going as a high draft pick, into an immediate well paid profession is a hard propsition to turn you back on. I wonder though if he sometimes questions the decision he made and whether he would have been happier playing ball. Just a thought.

[Guest gidon]

I was deflated when Neeld said he was unsure of what is Watts best position. He was recruited as a CHF. Why is this not his best position. Two reason that are obvious are his pack marking and physical exhersion or impact on the game.

If Jack Watts is a midfielder/wingman, he should have far more impact on a game. Midfielders taken at no 1 do not take 4 yrs to show glimpses of what can be. They show results more often

[Dee Adjudicator 9]

I think the point that Neeld was making, is that Jack Watts as the ability to play any position on the ground just about. I'm thinking that Mark Neeld is possibly thinking that Jack Watts can play like a taller version of Scott Pendlebury. Both played basketball as juniors, both have elite skills and marking capabilities and both are good at ground level. Both will/have the capabiltiy to play forward/half-forward/ midfield as well.

I also personally think Watts should have played a siginifcant amount of game time in the middle this week in order to get him involved more, instead of being dropped to Casey, this approach seemed to work with Morton last week.

No need to worry about Watts everyone, he is one of the most skillfull players in our side. He will be a superstar of the competition, I just hope it is with the Demons.

[rpfc 27,646]

I was deflated when Neeld said he was unsure of what is Watts best position. He was recruited as a CHF. Why is this not his best position. Two reason that are obvious are his pack marking and physical exhersion or impact on the game.

If Jack Watts is a midfielder/wingman, he should have far more impact on a game. Midfielders taken at no 1 do not take 4 yrs to show glimpses of what can be. They show results more often

Well, that's simplistic.

The reason we give Key Position player more time is not because of their position on the field but because of their inherent traits - their height.

As 'Checker' Hughes once said 'give a year for every inch over 6 foot.'

So saying Watts should be useful as a mid because mids are nearer their peak when drafted is a tad disingenuous.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

You're right - if he chooses not to do it, then his position at the Club could potentially become untenable?

His position as an AFL footballer is untenable.

We are a long way from that stage.