Liked Mark Neeld's comments on Jack tonight. His prior 'calling out' has been blown right out of proportions and I think Neeld's learned from that more than anyone.

Looking forward to this season more than any other for a long time.

Will be playing at Casey until he again begins to will himself to get where the ball is, instead of running in circles around it.

He can make the mental adjustment, he did it last year after getting a kick in the fleshy bit. It's disappointing to see things travelling down the same road again.

And right now he's as useless as [censored] on a bull.

No-one denies his talent. It's his application that is the concern.

False this is my 3rd reviewing of the game and his application is fine. He broke open two packs with force and was dishing reasonable handbills in traffic.

Watts was playing on one of the best marking rebounding defenders in the AFL there's every possibility Neeld said to him at stages, neutralize Reid and help out your teammates doing so.

That is more for the team than being hard but watching every ball fly back out of the 50 each time

Still cautious with Watts

Think he has class all over him but from appearances and comments needs to display heart and attack

BUT

dont want to see an obviously skilled mobile attacking option reduced to a dour defensive unit ala Bruce and even Green

and dont want to see all heart displayed with foolish abandon into a Jonathan Brown injury, (even Hird received cruel injuries as his attack overcame his reflexes???)My opinions only

I recall Jeff White running through the centre and being ignored on many occasions so hope we dont miss opportunities due to adherence to game plan and recall comments about Geelongs kid that may have been dispelled with the grand final performance.

I am happy with Watts development and look forwqard to the coaches plans for him

plenty of talent to refine and as I have said before hope fervently he becomes the big game player we need

Will be playing at Casey until he again begins to will himself to get where the ball is, instead of running in circles around it.

He can make the mental adjustment, he did it last year after getting a kick in the fleshy bit. It's disappointing to see things travelling down the same road again.

He will be playing round 1 AFL, may not be doing the flash things or getting high stats at the moment but some good blocking for team mates, knock on to Pet, good use of the ball in heavy traffic and pressure. I think Neeld's assesment was on the money, 20 yo 40 game player with a lot of upside who doesn't need to do a lot to influence a game.

He simply needs to be a lot more agressive and demand the ball with smart positioning. With 40 games under his belt he should be very soon, starting to play more consistently. Expectation of him is way too high and I for one think he will be a quite good, but not great player, in the future. His best footy will come between the ages of 24-28.

False this is my 3rd reviewing of the game and his application is fine. He broke open two packs with force and was dishing reasonable handbills in traffic.

Your idea of application and physicality are very very different to mine.

True.

Remember how Travis Cloke did stuff all in his first few years? Look at him now. Same height but 103kg.

Jack will come on.

Watts all the fuss about?

http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2012/03/04/watts-all-the-fuss-about/

I'd like to see Watts spend more time in the midfield. He reminds me of Hird, and may add the class that Melbourne lack in the middle. A great midfielder is as valuable as a great forward.

I agree with this, always thought he had Hird like qualities

He deserves all the criticism he gets over the weekend, 3 touches is nothing.

I wouldnt say he is that far off what he should be, he has shown us where he is heading with a number of his performances last year.

Still wouldnt take Nat or Hurley ahead of him, honest truth.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing JT.

But right now I would take Hurley in a heart beat

Hindsight is a wonderful thing JT.

But right now I would take Hurley in a heart beat

You'll regret that statement Old Dee .Big Time

You'll regret that statement Old Dee .Big Time

I agree Biff. In 5 years time any discussion about "should have" taken Hurley or Kit Kat will be a funny reminder of the lack of long term perspective that dominates football analysis at present

Haven't heard of Peter Ryan before, but just read his article on Watts on the AFL site and liked this bit:

"Perhaps when he thinks of the reaction to commentators' observations, Watts could be reminded of the line of American comedian Danny Kaye, who said of a former girlfriend: "Her favourite position was beside herself and her favourite sport was jumping to conclusions".

That appears to now be what a key position number one draft pick needs to get used to through his first 50-odd games."

Haven't heard of Peter Ryan before, but just read his article on Watts on the AFL site and liked this bit:

"Perhaps when he thinks of the reaction to commentators' observations, Watts could be reminded of the line of American comedian Danny Kaye, who said of a former girlfriend: "Her favourite position was beside herself and her favourite sport was jumping to conclusions".

That appears to now be what a key position number one draft pick needs to get used to through his first 50-odd games."

Love it .Keep em coming .

Watts is being groomed for a critical role in the Melb forward line that will ALSO address any weaknesses in his game. He trusts the coach and is doing the role he's given. He is one of the pieces that will go"clunk", and when it falls into place for Jack, the Melb footy team will have stepped up another notch.

Him and Clarke in sync with Liam, Col, Howe, Petterd, Green and Davey will win us finals.

Just watched the last Q of The Filth game...Watts was not dominant, but did heaps of team things..should have kicked a goal late, but kicked to a marking contest.

Jack will be fine...i think he is learning to be a cog in a team rather than the dominant one.

Our new coach doesn't care if he was a no 1 pick, he is just a young 40 game option. Watch the game again closely.

Jack will be fine. At some stage this year he will click

Being objective and not emotive about this subject if Neeld is fair dinkum about his "even keel" philosophy then as it stands now then surely Watts doesn't play round 1, nor do I think he should.

If anyone replies to this using the words "bashing" or "writing off" I will I dunno, probably get annoyed.

Because he was picked up in the '08 draft it feels like he's been around for a while, long enough for him to be imposing himself on games.

Fact is that he's only 20 yrs of age and played 40 games.

Sure, other high draft picks have had some good games and shown glimpses of their huge potential. Jack has done this as well. His stats against Nik Nat for last year are superior in every way apart from ruck which is irrelevant.

Hurley IMO has been equally as frustrating.

Jack will deliver this year.

Its not just some of us.

In todays age.

The comment from Leigh Mathews is very scathing.

http://www.theage.co...0304-1ub46.html

Missed the comments from Matthews. There is a thread on this, may I propose a merger..

I'm glad that this doesn't seem to be getting to Watts. I thought he did an okay job without being a standout on the weekend. There is plenty of room for improvement, but his game is way too heavily critiqued for such a young and developing player. He'll have his good games, he'll have his bad games, and he'll have his average games, but I guarantee that he WILL come good, it's just a matter of time and developing some consistency.

Sorry I mean't Mick Malthouse. Disregard Matthews.

I went to the game on Saturday and saw first hand the game plans that we are looking to play. It is all about contested footy for now, kicking long to contests, working for your team mates. Unfortunately for Jack there wasn't to much clean footy coming to him most kicks to him were a long kick for him to contest, no pin point passing to Jack. Not once did Watts not contest and either bring the ball to ground or create space for someone else to take the make. On most occasions Jack didn't even attempt to mark he was bodying his opponent or spoiling to the front. This is an improvement on last year Jack was out marked a lot or was out of the contest due to his strength.

The big difference I have noticed in all our players is the work together, to me the last couple of years we didn't work hard off the ball to create space and opportunity for our team mates. This year at every opportunity this was happening and Jack played a role for the team. This week Jack just found himself doing a lot of off the ball work next week that may be Clark or Martin and Jack may have a day out. When we get our best team on the park the ball movement will become cleaner, we will run the ball more of half back rather than a long bomb and this will bring Jack more into the game.

I can't believe after 2 games of the NAB cup one in monsoon rain conditions that people are on Jack's back.

Sorry I mean't Mick Malthouse. Disregard Matthews.

And you can disregard Malthouse...

Look, people don't rate him. And they are not easily satisfied with his progress. Some of these people are on here.

He needs to work on his physicality but our forward line last year had issues with implementing an adequate press and defending space moreso than Watts' physicality.

Watts worked hard in that area on Saturday night and he will remain in the mix for a spot round 1.

The forward line for Brisbane has to have Clark, Howe, Martin, and Green. Plus it has to fit Petterd, Watts, Davey, Sylvia/Bate, Dunn, and Blease. Jurrah won't play which certainly opens a door for Watts.