There is a lot of argument that Jacks development is taking its time as he is a KPP.

Let me ask how many years Frawley took to shine?

Yep, and Jack Riewoldt the same. Both drafted in the same year 2006, first games 2007 and had breakouts in the same year AA 2010.

This whole Watts thing is gettting a bit out of control in the media lately. On the back of Malthouse and Carey the rest of the sheep are following.

He may not be in stellar form in the practice games (should he be?) but when he gets the ball at least we are more than likely to retain possession, which in my mind puts him in the best 22.

A mate of mine was at an REIV breakfast this morning where Malthouse was a speaker. Apparently not a great one either. Was all over the place.

Seems that most of his talk was critical of Melb – our game plan, that we won’t be successful for 5 years, to of course, everyone’s favourite punching bag at the moment – Jack Watts.

Seems that in the past few days Jack has come to Mick and asked him to be his mentor. Seems odd that he’d go to Malthouse, also odd that there’s nobody at the club who could do it.

Yep, and Jack Riewoldt the same. Both drafted in the same year 2006, first games 2007 and had breakouts in the same year AA 2010.

This whole Watts thing is gettting a bit out of control in the media lately. On the back of Malthouse and Carey the rest of the sheep are following.

He may not be in stellar form in the practice games (should he be?) but when he gets the ball at least we are more than likely to retain possession, which in my mind puts him in the best 22.

If Watts is on par with Frawley and Riewoldt then lets hope he makes AA this year. I don't think he should have any excuses about being a KPP developing after this season, his 4th season.

A mate of mine was at an REIV breakfast this morning where Malthouse was a speaker. Apparently not a great one either. Was all over the place.

Seems that most of his talk was critical of Melb – our game plan, that we won’t be successful for 5 years, to of course, everyone’s favourite punching bag at the moment – Jack Watts.

Seems that in the past few days Jack has come to Mick and asked him to be his mentor. Seems odd that he’d go to Malthouse, also odd that there’s nobody at the club who could do it.

Maybe Mick wanted the job and was upset when we got Neeld?

Anyone notice how much we are upsetting the Wobbles lately, (Hi Pendles).

Watts is going to be a terrific player for the club and the whole media circus around him is just a lot of blather breeding on itself.

If Watts is on par with Frawley and Riewoldt then lets hope he makes AA this year. I don't think he should have any excuses about being a KPP developing after this season, his 4th season.

After this season I would think there are no more excuses, big gains this season, maybe AA in his 5th after he was coming from a long way back with his first.

Seems that most of his talk was critical of Melb – our game plan, that we won’t be successful for 5 years, to of course, everyone’s favourite punching bag at the moment – Jack Watts.

I find this odd seeing as Neeld was Malthouse's right hand man.

everyone’s favourite punching bag at the moment – Jack Watts.

At the moment?

He's been beaten up in the media since day one.

I think JW was on a hiding to nothing from the day he was selected at no.1 by the MFC.

He was selected in the darkdays when the organization was struggling with a poor list,

a hugh dept and the very real possibility we could become the WSD

For better or worse he was put up as the Massiah.

He was the best part of a year younger than most in that years draft so was always going to be behind the eight ball.

The MFC in a bleak year of 2009 needed badly something to hang their hat on so JW was paraded out in the QB game.

When he probably should not have played senior football game that year.

So the fans and commentators having had the Messiah presented to them by the MFC expected almost imediate game winning performances.

And surprise surprise he did not deliver.

From his first game in 2009 he has been playing in a sides that finished last two years and then 13th twice.

So he has hardly been surrounded by good players, he has had IMO a difficult start with little help from the players around him.

Jack looks to me to be a nice guy who wants to play football at the top level. he did not pick himself as no.1, the MFC bestoed that disadvantage on him.

He is not a J Brown version, I doubt he will ever be a mongrel of the type needed to be a Champion of the game

Has he shown the requirements of a No.1 choice?

I don't think so but he will probably be a good player for the dees, if the cards fall right he could easily play 150 games for the Dees.

So now he gets to the start of the 2012 year and it is like 2009 all over again.

Time will tell with young Jack Watts but I feel very sorry for him.

He is In situation that is not of his own making and IMO doing his best to fulfill everyones dream.

Good luck JW you will need every gram you can find.

Great work OD

It will be interesting to see how the additional crash and bash Clark forward and other players around him fashion his game. With his apparent run and flexibility(atheliticism) he may become an interesting link option.

Of course this is dependant on other players using him and coaching strategies requiring that role.

Many posters have identified him as a fast lead option and again players and strategies must use that.

I recall many decoy forwards who were recognised being as valuable for their team as the star Jack may fullfill this type of role.

As long as he complements the team and does what is required He will satisfy the ranking

Ultimately it will be up to the coaches, hope they can recognise and utilise his talents.

Jack "Killa" Watts is like a cheese and wine they get better with age. To the the media, commentators and experts well I reckon its all a [insert Storm in a Tea Cup Pic Here]

I watched Natanui tonight in the NAB final. As usual the commentators were enthusiastic about him but all I saw was him do was take a couple of marks and do a couple of good things. About what Watts might do in some matches.

Was this an atypical effort by NN? From the little I've seen it was pretty typical of him. So does Watts have to grow a funny hairstyle and jump about to be raved about? It amazes me that so many posters think we clearly made a mistake in taking Watts over him. I'd say the jury is well and truly out.

I watched Natanui tonight in the NAB final. As usual the commentators were enthusiastic about him but all I saw was him do was take a couple of marks and do a couple of good things. About what Watts might do in some matches.

Was this an atypical effort by NN? From the little I've seen it was pretty typical of him. So does Watts have to grow a funny hairstyle and jump about to be raved about? It amazes me that so many posters think we clearly made a mistake in taking Watts over him. I'd say the jury is well and truly out.

Spot on sue. I don't know how he made it so high into the top 50 if at all. The combo with Cox is the only thing he has going for him. If he was battling in a side with average ruck stocks you would hear little of him.

couldnt agree more sue. jack darling definitely didnt live up to the demonland hype either.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this on here. I was just watching a re play of league teams on fox footy. Dermott Brereton was talking about how Leigh Matthews asked him to help with the development of Jonathon Brown as an 18 year old. He has now been asked to assist with the development of Folau at GWS.

I think it would be a good idea if Mark Neeld did the same & asked Dermott to help out Jack in his development by acting as a consultant outside of the FD.

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this on here. I was just watching a re play of league teams on fox footy. Dermott Brereton was talking about how Leigh Matthews asked him to help with the development of Jonathon Brown as an 18 year old. He has now been asked to assist with the development of Folau at GWS.

I think it would be a good idea if Mark Neeld did the same & asked Dermott to help out Jack in his development by acting as a consultant outside of the FD.

Good post. I too think that some one needs help Jack, some one who has experience at playing a KPF

Surprisingly what Dermott had to say about playing KPF / CHF had little to do with ability. He described ball use & influencing the game with the ball in the CHF's hands icing on the top. He believes running patterns, body work/positioning, protecting the ball drop area & knowing which leg to push off when leading & marking far more important. All pretty basic stuff to learn I'd imagine if taught by the right person. Not ever playing CHF personally it's all pretty new to me. It makes a lot of sense though. He described playing CHF as more of a system than anything else.

My theory on Jack Watts is that he needs to be spoon fed until he is ready to take us to premiership glory. If Peter McKenna had to get his own ball he wouldn't have dominated the forward position the way he did. Watts' dilemna is not unlike that of Riewoldt who is also suffering under the modern game plan. Once Watts has developed confidence players will seek him out not leave him high and dry chasing fresh air. in the meantime shove him down the backline so he can re-bound and use his footy nous to set up play.

jack darling definitely didnt live up to the demonland hype either.

It's unfair to judge Watts on a poor game, but you're doing the same with Darling ?

I see how this thing works ...

It's unfair to judge Watts on a poor game, but you're doing the same with Darling ?

I see how this thing works ...

that was my point ben-hur. people are way too quick to write players off. just because darling had a quiet game, doesnt mean he is not a good player. just the same as watts shouldnt be written off after a couple of quiet pre-season games. or gysberts, cook, etc, etc.

I would be worried Jack going to defence might not be beneficial. I think Bruce and Green were "strikers" who lost a lot of their impact by becoming more defensive. Davey also added to thebackline but we lost his tackling and speed in attack and he was never quite the same value IMO

I know that Neeta (champion CHB) moved to champion forward player but that was because we few options. We now have good defensive strength and better to use Jacks strenghts rather tahn try and modify him too much. I like his speed and fleibilkity as well as his footy smarts which many others have identified. I have seen him outmuscled (boy againstMan) early on and see his increased weight improving his game and impact

that was my point ben-hur. people are way too quick to write players off. just because darling had a quiet game, doesnt mean he is not a good player. just the same as watts shouldnt be written off after a couple of quiet pre-season games. or gysberts, cook, etc, etc.

Any concerns I have for Watts are the same ones I've had for 3 years. I don't have any concerns for Darling. See the difference ? I have no problem with a player having a quiet game, but having a quiet game is the least of Watts' issues.

One of the above named players embraces contested footy and the physicality of the game and the other is still trying to come to terms with it. One has been in the system for 3 years and the other 12 months. And the 'concern' is a pretty big one for a potential key forward. Also, Darling instinctively knows where to position himself in the forward-line. Watts doesn't.

But we live in hope...

jack darling walked into a west coast team with a forward line of kennedy, lynch, le cras and one of cox / naitanui. he was left with the 4th or 5th defender every week. he did have some impressive games, but i think its a bit unfair to compare the two considering the forward line, or lack of it, that watts has had to contend with. i would also think the delivery from west coasts midfield might be slightly ahead of ours at the moment.

darling definitely has watts for physicality and attack on the ball, but i think given time watts will improve this area of his game dramatically. he made some big inroads last year, and now after a couple of quiet preseason games he's being questioned by everyman and his dog. i wish people would just give him time, not everyone is a jack darling or joel selwood, and able to walk into the game and play from day one.

not everyone is a jack darling or joel selwood, and able to walk into the game and play from day one.

You're right and Jack's natural ability is unquestionable, but not many pick ones are as speculative as Jack. Which, of course, is not his fault.

Given his lack of appetite for the contest he's coming from a long way back. Certainly in terms of being the rolled gold star he was picked to be. And he was most definitely picked to become a key forward star. Right now there are doubts he'll ever be a dominant key forward.

I've never seen a star key forward in the game that has started out as timid as Jack. I too can make excuses for him, but I'd rather face reality.

You're right and Jack's natural ability is unquestionable, but not many pick ones are as speculative as Jack. Which, of course, is not his fault. Given his lack of appetite for the contest he's coming from a long way back. Certainly in terms of being the rolled gold star he was picked to be. And he was most definitely picked to become a key forward star. Right now there are doubts he'll ever be a dominant key forward. I've never seen a star key forward in the game that has started out as timid as Jack. I too can make excuses for him, but I'd rather face reality.

He wasn't too timid for three months last year...

He has got work to do, but 2011 was better than 2010 and we will see what 2012 brings.

Agree with RPFC, let's let 2012 season actually get underway before we hit the panic button (again).