Watts is in career best form and our premier full forward has been ruled out for the season.

If you heard that at the start of the season, you'd think it'd be a chance for Watts to step up and make FF his own. But 12 weeks is a long time in footy...

It seems inevitable that Watts will at some point return to the forward line, ala Neitz, Grant, etc. But is this week too soon?

PROS

- He's in career best form. He's confident, he's marking well and he's reading the play better than he ever has before.

- Mitch Clark's absence opens up an opportunity for him to be our no.1 target

- While his role in defence has been impressive, swapping him for Rivers or Garland wouldn't change our structures much

- Our other future key forwards Cook and Fitzpatrick aren't ready yet

- If we play him in defence too long, will he forgot how to play FF?

- Brisbane's monster full-back (Merrett) is a forward now, so Watts won't necessarily be overpowered if one-out with his direct opponent.

CONS

- "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"; if he's in career best form leave him there

- If he plays up forward and does poorly, the media will be back on him and the bloody Natanui debate will re-open

- Rivers, Garland, Dunn and Davey provided a great forward setup in the 2nd half of last week. Let's keep testing that out.

- Watts is not Mitch Clark. He still needs a few more years to develop the body and ability.

If I were coach, I'd start him in defence this week with the option of shifting him forward if we struggle for goals early on. But whether or not it's this week, I'd like Clark 's absence to be an opportunity for Watts to at least try and be that key forward in at least a few games this season.

I'd move him forward when he stops whooping ass in the backline.

NUH

We actually need the drive he gives us from the backline, more than ever now taking in account Clarks injury as Clark had the skills to mark even the worst delivery into him. But alas the rest of our "forwards"/"part-time forwards"/"utilities" do not share the same skill, with the exception of Howe, so we need Watts's excellent delivery to give our "forwards" the best chance possible of taking a grab.

p.s i love how we now are starting to speak of Watts as being a "crucial" part of our side. Makes me happy in my pantaloons.

I watched the replay last night and made a point of watching Watts. He is very confident down back, much more than i have seen him previously. In the last quarter he brought the backs together and almost seemed to be giving instructions about where to go and to keep shape etc.

In a post match interview he said that people were saying he was a loose man but that was wrong and always has a man. I noticed this during the match, he often played well off his man when the ball was say in dispute on the wing or midfield and if it came back towards their goal was prepared to run to the space where it was coming or cover his man if that was more of a threat.

Very impressive confidence and reading of the ball and was never caught out. His disposal wasn't as good this week as it has been (only 70% efficiency) but he reads the play really well. he seesm also to have permission to set up on the wing at bounces, which he did a few times

He also went to the contest when he it was his turn but when it wasn't he sat of it and on few occasions ended up with the spillage and got it out with quick hands.

I doubt Neeld will risk stopping his momentum at the moment but swinging him up forward in bursts, say swapping with rivers or Garland for 10 minutes, and he could be lethal

Leave him where he is and let his confidence grow, grow and grow.

As it turns out we may well have picked a premiership quality CHB at No.1 in the 2008 draft ... and that's okay.

Smaller post - when we are in front I think we will see Watts go forward to enjoy junk time build confidence for 2013.

Watts' kick to bate on the wing in the second. At the time I thought it was a great kick, even though bate didn't take the mark.... On the replay I saw it was with his left.... Sexy stuff

Watts' kick to bate on the wing in the second. At the time I thought it was a great kick, even though bate didn't take the mark.... On the replay I saw it was with his left.... Sexy stuff

I remember watching and thinking the same thing. His skills are fantastic.

One of things that has frustrated me over recent years, and no doubt many others, has been the way the consistent butchering of the ball out of defence. It made us a laughing stock. In recent weeks, Watts' disposal has eliminated this to a large extent. We look a much better side with his pin point accuracy. I don't believe we can afford to risk this just yet.

Why would they ruin a winning formula?

He doesnt

He doesnt

He doesn't what?

His disposal is too good...he creates more goals as a half back/sweeper/quarterback , than he would kick as a forward.

He doesn't what?

He doesn't go back to the forward line.

It seems inevitable that Watts will at some point return to the forward line, ala Neitz, Grant, etc.

No

He doesn't go back to the forward line.

Yeah I sort of figured that after I posted. Not sure I'd rule out the possibility but tend to think he will be better suited when he gains some more muscle. Nothing to be gained at this point. Leave him where he is.

well...lets qualify it all. Not in the forseeable future.

He doesn't go back to the forward line.

thankyou...lol

I wouldn't send him forward, as others have said, our disposal from the back half hasn't been the greatest, his is probably the best in the team. He can be our taller version of Goddard in the backline. With Frawley and Cook being competent in taking the bigger forwards, it can keep him free and lets Rivers and Garland stay forward.

It doesn't seem that inevitable to me. He looks A grade in defence, and if that's where he has to play for us to capitalise on his talent, then so be it.

Leave him where he is thanks.

Never. Ever.

Best kick left or right above 195cm in league

Leave him where he is and let his confidence grow, grow and grow.

As it turns out we may well have picked a premiership quality CHB at No.1 in the 2008 draft ... and that's okay.

Knights?