We all want to read alot into a short article in The Age but it mentions Sellar and the 'leaders' from last year as much as Jack, so I don't think this is Neeld 'holding Watts' feet to the fire.'

Never said Neeld was putting pressure on Jack, didn't read it that way at all.

The post was in response to people suggesting Jack will or should spend time on a wing or hbf. I'm not sure Neeld will see that as the best way to develop Jack. IMO he'll want Jack taking marks and contesting in the forward line and learning to do what KPF's do, not peeling off for easy kicks at half back. Just my opinion, we'll see in a few weeks.

I can see Watts slotting goals under pressure consistently . He has a beautiful technique and temperament for a goal kicker .Look out .

If we get nice delivery ,how can you stop a forward line like ours will be .

Howe Watts Jurrah

Green Clark Jetta/Bennell

That is more like it!

Really want Jack "Charlie" Watts to become a top 10 player. He could do it.

The article written 2 years ago when he was quoted as saying "losses don"t hurt" bothered me greatly. That is an attitude he must get rid of.

Knowing kids who played school sport with him, Jack was good at every sport he touched, but now he is playing elite AFL.

Will be one of Neeld's project players. Jack Watts could kick a bag in a GF with the right attitude. His 2011 showed glimpses of a more mature kid.

Hope he plays a full 2012 & ramps it up another notch. How we use Watts & Clark this year is what i want to see most. If they click, we will win games.

Thanks WYL that quote about losses don't hurt has been bothering me as well.

You are dead right, his attitude towards losing certainly must change. Forget the fitness and skills, he has got to learn that coming second is not acceptable.

If that doesn't happen then the FD will make him learn the hard way.

Thanks WYL that quote about losses don't hurt has been bothering me as well.

You are dead right, his attitude towards losing certainly must change. Forget the fitness and skills, he has got to learn that coming second is not acceptable.

If that doesn't happen then the FD will make him learn the hard way.

Too much has been made of that. I think that he was basically saying that football is not life or death. Anyone watching the West Coast game in Perth last year will know that Jack gives his all on the field.

Thanks WYL that quote about losses don't hurt has been bothering me as well.

You are dead right, his attitude towards losing certainly must change. Forget the fitness and skills, he has got to learn that coming second is not acceptable.

If that doesn't happen then the FD will make him learn the hard way.

I think the whole reason for recruiting T Viney Craig Misson & Neeld is to harden up the attitude. Break that pain barrier on a regular basis. Having a budget to do it always alluded the club till now. Stynesy knew it. Pay off the debt. J Watts could be as good as J Hird was if he wants it that bad.

he still needs a far greater attack on the footy. And please dont provide examples when he did show this. it should be the norm, not the exception

Wrong..............................again!

Freak is absolutely correct in saying that it's Watts' biggest weakness. He is making an accurate point about something Watts needs to seriously

address if we are going to see him become an elite player. I'm glad our can see it. You clearly have your head in the sand.

As most others have alluded to, all other aspects of his game are great for someone of his age.

You know exactly what he is saying. So how about you engage in some of the constructive criticism that is missing from this thread about Watts?

What's your honest opinion on the matter funny guy?

I didn't know stand up comedians frequented football forums so often?

How old are you HT?

Dear god.

Here we go again

Too much has been made of that. I think that he was basically saying that football is not life or death. Anyone watching the West Coast game in Perth last year will know that Jack gives his all on the field.

Agree. Any chance that an 18yo in front of the media might have been deflecting some of the fallout of some bad losses at the time?Hmmmm.

. Having a budget to do it always alluded the club till now.

Nothing has changed WYL. We still have to live hand to mouth on the money we raise. Do we need another discussion about the debt?

Nothing has changed WYL. We still have to live hand to mouth on the money we raise. Do we need another discussion about the debt?

Ahh, not really no.

Nothing has changed WYL. We still have to live hand to mouth on the money we raise. Do we need another discussion about the debt?

I knew you would be back with the old "hand to mouth" line Rhino. With your attitude we should all just give up and walk away.

A lot has changed. Paying off a massive bank interest debt each quarter is a good start.

Spend $$$ to make $$$ You gotta start somewhere.

No i couldn't be bothered talking about the debt with you. I think you wish we still had it deep down.

Must you argue in every thread Rhino?

J Watts needs to improve his attitude so he becomes elite. Leave it at that please.

That is more like it!

Petterd and or Davey would be in my forward line!

Oh, Watts needs to improve on the ten good games he played last year?!

He needs to improve his physicality?!

You get frustrated by the MFC's 'soft' supporters?

I get frustrated with those supporters who shift the goalposts for this team and its players. Watts had a good 2011, a number of supporters didn't think it would be as good as it was. But here we are and they can't see the forest for the trees.

Why don't we keep the fire on the feet of those who actually didn't live up to expectations last year: Green, Davey, Petterd, the midfield as a whole, Moloney against decent teams, etc.

This desire to keep Watts 'dancing' (that is a reference to shooting bullets at his feet) is getting tiresome for all concerned. Let's see how he reacts to the new FD and the preseason and actually wait until April to cast judgement.

RPFC, to be fair, you would not make a very good coach.

I appreciate what you're saying about his season. I think he showed some steady improvement also. But why do you and so many others just settle at that?

Why in the world is there anything wrong with someone stating that his intensity and attack on the football needs to improve? Why?

Speak to anyone outside this ridiculous forum about him? Nobody, (with half a brain) would doubt his skills, ball handling ability, agility and overall talent. He has it.

But if you can't see that the difference between Watts becoming a good number one draft pick and an elite number one draft pick that will be remembered for a long, long time, then you're either another ridiculously

biased Melbourne supporter that loves killing time on demonland praising all players that have anything to do with the club, or, you are a nuff nuff.

Again. Neeld has come from a hugely successful club in Collingwood and he sees Jack Watts as just a 'player who has played 50 game'.

Does that make you think at all RPFC?

Young at heart stmj, young at heart.

Lighten up, FFS.

I am as light as a feather HT.

Your response to Nasher's post just seemed like you were suckling on that sweet udder.

There was nothing wrong with Freaks post. Why didn't you respond to it if you disagreed?

Wrong..............................again!

Go on Roost it.

Why was he wrong?

Here we go again

"Here we go again, another Melbourne supporter who won't join in with the rest of us, kissing Jack Watts and every other young player's arse!

Making sure that nobody has any right to point out areas in which a player can improve their game."

That was the rest of what was going through your head, yes?

Dear god.

A lot has changed. Paying off a massive bank interest debt each quarter is a good start.

Spend $$$ to make $$$ You gotta start somewhere.

The paying off the debt was important step for MFC but it did not usher rivers of additional money, As previously advised the paying off of the debt cleared approx. $600k of the bottom line. As a % of the total revenue of the Club its not big. Its welcome extra money but it is a small help in the overall battle to run an AFL Club as the costs of competing rise each year.

We are still just barely breaking even and battling to generate any saved capital from our normal operations. Its great to have a "one off" like Bentleigh but that was a one off. The extra revenue from the MCC and any from the AFL is great. However these initiatives only allow us to fund operations to just keep up

And if we have to spend money to make money what are our money spinning ventures atm??? We are sinking much of the extra cashflow into the FD and I have no problem with that but the payback is still some years off in a flag, sponsorship and memberships income streams. And there is only so much money you can spend before you have to .....um....go into debt.

MFC are battling hard and honestly against the ever more costly bar of competition. We still live hand to mouth. Nothing has changed in the past few years that suggests we dont.

Except that we are not wasting money on interest payments. We are making better deals and are trading well with others .On field success is all that matters now . Once we have that winning feeling it'll all build .

RPFC, to be fair, you would not make a very good coach.

How does 'to be fair' apply to that sentence?

And, rpfc will make a great coach. Let's not kid around with that.

I appreciate what you're saying about his season. I think he showed some steady improvement also. But why do you and so many others just settle at that?

Why in the world is there anything wrong with someone stating that his intensity and attack on the football needs to improve? Why?

How was I settling on that? I gave rhetorical questions about the fact that Watts needs to improve on his physicality, and ten good games last year. Of course, he needs to improve in 2012, but 2012 hasn't happened yet, all that has happened is 2011 - when he, from a slow start, powered through the middle of the year and finished 9th in the best and fairest. Who saw that coming? Hell, C&B likened him to a woman in the early rounds of 2011 and now he is forever taking a speccie in his signature...

On exposed form, we have reason to be pleased with how Watts is progressing and not alluding to a disappointing 2011 - he didn't have one.

Speak to anyone outside this ridiculous forum about him? Nobody, (with half a brain) would doubt his skills, ball handling ability, agility and overall talent. He has it.

But if you can't see that the difference between Watts becoming a good number one draft pick and an elite number one draft pick that will be remembered for a long, long time, then you're either another ridiculously

biased Melbourne supporter that loves killing time on demonland praising all players that have anything to do with the club, or, you are a nuff nuff.

Well, rpfc isn't a nuff-nuff, and nor is he unwilling to criticise players who deserve it. I don't think many on this forum would forget the rants concerning the Leadership Group of 2011...

So I think you have to put away that chestnut about 'rose coloured glasses'...

Again. Neeld has come from a hugely successful club in Collingwood and he sees Jack Watts as just a 'player who has played 50 game'.

Does that make you think at all RPFC?

Considering you have labelled him to become either a 'good number one pick' of an 'elite number one pick' he isn't another 'player who has played 50 games' is he?

Your expectations of him are probably so high because of that fact and that is entirely understandable - we see Gibbs and Murphy and Nik Nat and we won't him to hurry up but shifting the goalposts is unfair.

He is expected to do more in 2012 than he did in 2011 but he gave every indication in 2011 that his game will continue to progress in the areas of consistency and physicality.

The paying off the debt was important step for MFC but it did not usher rivers of additional money, As previously advised the paying off of the debt cleared approx. $600k of the bottom line. As a % of the total revenue of the Club its not big. Its welcome extra money but it is a small help in the overall battle to run an AFL Club as the costs of competing rise each year.

We are still just barely breaking even and battling to generate any saved capital from our normal operations. Its great to have a "one off" like Bentleigh but that was a one off. The extra revenue from the MCC and any from the AFL is great. However these initiatives only allow us to fund operations to just keep up

And if we have to spend money to make money what are our money spinning ventures atm??? We are sinking much of the extra cashflow into the FD and I have no problem with that but the payback is still some years off in a flag, sponsorship and memberships income streams. And there is only so much money you can spend before you have to .....um....go into debt.

MFC are battling hard and honestly against the ever more costly bar of competition. We still live hand to mouth. Nothing has changed in the past few years that suggests we dont.

Please Rhino I know we are not living on easy street...you are not telling me anything i have not read or heard about...i know it is a tough road.

But WE ARE NOT PAYING AN INTEREST BILL EACH MONTH that was forever growing....a lot of clubs are.

We are a lot better off than we were...can we please agree on that???

I happily sent money into the 100 foundation last year to help increase our FD funds....i am happy with what has been done...

We the supporters are going to have to dig deep for a while yet...But if the club goes upwards i do not mind.

BUT we do need to see results now....not dreams and false hope..those days are gone.

Except that we are not wasting money on interest payments. We are making better deals and are trading well with others .On field success is all that matters now . Once we have that winning feeling it'll all build .

Thanks Dude....i can see better days too...we are not there yet.

Please Rhino I know we are not living on easy street...

Great then you will know we still have the same constraints on us relative to the competition and we are still constrained.

Oh and thanks for restating the points you quoted from me. Good work

And give away the CAPS writing. Its does not do anyone favours on the forum.

And back on Jack Watts I hope he really starts showing the goods with Clark up forward to take some heat. He has got the goods

Great then you will know we still have the same constraints on us relative to the competition and we are still constrained.

Oh and thanks for restating the points you quoted from me. Good work

And give away the CAPS writing. Its does not do anyone favours on the forum.

And back on Jack Watts I hope he really starts showing the goods with Clark up forward to take some heat. He has got the goods

What are you blowing a fuse about now Rhino...It's friday night, time to go out

I have never restated anything...you keep bringing up "Hand to mouth" though.

If i wish to use CAPS i will....Goodnight.

And back on Jack Watts I hope he really starts showing the goods with Clark up forward to take some heat. He has got the goods

Excellent and true, I think we can all agree that he had a good (improved) 2011, and that we hope for an even better 2012, especially now with Clarke up there as well......

Go on Roost it.

Why was he wrong?

"Here we go again, another Melbourne supporter who won't join in with the rest of us, kissing Jack Watts and every other young player's arse!

Making sure that nobody has any right to point out areas in which a player can improve their game."

That was the rest of what was going through your head, yes?

Watts is 20 years old, has done 1 complete preseason and people criticise him for not having a mindless attack on the ball. I'll guarantee that when his body develops and his understanding of the game grows he'll attack the football in a way that will make you proud to be a Demon. For now let him fill out and learn his place on the field. Or would you prefer he ran around like Mitch Robinson?

Watts is 20 years old, has done 1 complete preseason and people criticise him for not having a mindless attack on the ball. I'll guarantee that when his body develops and his understanding of the game grows he'll attack the football in a way that will make you proud to be a Demon. For now let him fill out and learn his place on the field. Or would you prefer he ran around like Mitch Robinson?

I wouldnt mind If he ran around like Mitch Robinson

I think this will be a real breakout year for 3-4 Dees. Watts being amongst them. I cant help but feel that good ol Dean was compromised and a little bit all ove rthe shop with his development of Watts. Jack was one of thefew that invariable gave as much as he could on each day , albeit with varying results, but he had a dip. He wasnt allowed to truly develop into a role as he got shipped all over the ground., somewhat out of necessity and I cant help but feel now somewhat out of panic.

Hes a bit bigger, a bit wiser and even more at home in his place as an AFL player. He wil lhave serious help at the pointy end and this small relief of attention will be just what he needs to flex his stuff.

An interesting year ahead

I think this will be a real breakout year for 3-4 Dees. Watts being amongst them. I cant help but feel that good ol Dean was compromised and a little bit all ove rthe shop with his development of Watts. Jack was one of thefew that invariable gave as much as he could on each day , albeit with varying results, but he had a dip. He wasnt allowed to truly develop into a role as he got shipped all over the ground., somewhat out of necessity and I cant help but feel now somewhat out of panic.

Hes a bit bigger, a bit wiser and even more at home in his place as an AFL player. He will have serious help at the pointy end and this small relief of attention will be just what he needs to flex his stuff.

An interesting year ahead

That is the understatement of the week BB and it covers a lot more than JW.