Jack Watts

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

NikNat is streets ahead of Watts at the moment. It's actually impossible to credibly contend otherwise.

Like Ben Hur, I favoured the recruitment of Watts over NikNat at the time. (I actually would've taken Hurley at number one and was laughed at by a few mates for stating that at the time.)

That said, I was very comfortable with our recruitment of Watts. I don't think it was a hugely left field selection at the time, even though NikNat may ultimately prove to be the better selection. I don't think the club can be criticised for this one - many clubs had Watts at number one too.

Watts will evolve into a very good long term player for us. I reckon that's still a pass.

It's Cook over Darling, and Maric over Selwood, and Morton over Dangerfield/Rioli, and Scully over literally everyone in that draft (given his character/personality issues) that continue to irk me.

Edited August 28, 2012 by Ron Burgundy

[Jerry Lundergard 420]

Some guys are not going to be big, strong players no matter how much weight and size they put on.

I think Watts is quite weak in the core, which is why he seems to get knocked and pushed around so easily. Ii also think a guy like Sylvia is quite weak in the core. He is a beast of a man, but he still gets caught in tackles quite a bit, where a guy like Cotchin doesn't look that big, yet somehow manages to break and stand up in tackles all the time due to a strong core.

Although I do think he doesn't go as hard as he should, I kinda feel like he knows he is completely outmatched against anyone with a strong frame before he goes into a contest, so he tries to think is way around them and win them in other ways. Unfortunately, there are times like on Sunday when he is matched up on Walker with a bomb coming in that there is nowhere to hide.

He might get a little stronger and halve a few more contests, but I won't be dreaming about Jack ever having Carey-esque like games.

Edited August 28, 2012 by Jerry Lundergard

[Brian Wilson 331]

Hasnt done nearly enough Wilo in my opinion

He at least should try to look like he is having a goYou are trying to defend the indefensiblehe is weak and soft and i really dont think he is committed to MFC or a football career

Just my opinion: another wasted draft pick

Why should he 'look like he is having a go'? How does that help the team win? I don't care how players look, I just want them to produce.

I'm sure that it's possible make an argument that Jack's output this year has been poor (personally, I disagree), but his appearance does not enter into my assessment.

[Hardnut 327]

You're a marvel HN. Still on this MM thing!

Watts needs to be bad cop'd. Not coddled. The kid gloves treatment will do nothing for him.

What are you talking about? Don't you have time to read posts properly?

Who's talking about 'kid gloves'?

Pin a player psychologically, and you have more control of them than any other so-called 'threats' - you can actually get them to 'empower' themselves, which is what good coaches do!

Mean while, back at the RR school for punishment ....

Ever coached, or taught, RR?

[dees64 104]

Current form suggest he cannot provide a contest at AFL level

Was drafted as a KPP but as stated above has poor core strength & looks like a boy vs men when playing

When you compare Natanui its like chalk & cheese..... why they didnt pick Nic is beyond me!

Hope Im wrong but cant seem him making it at this level

Eg Jones looked ready to play in his first year in 07

This sums up MFC drafting in the last 5 yrs!

[Range Rover 1,935]

What are you talking about? Don't you have time to read posts properly?

Who's talking about 'kid gloves'?

Pin a player psychologically, and you have more control of them than any other so-called 'threats' - you can actually get them to 'empower' themselves, which is what good coaches do!

Mean while, back at the RR school for punishment ....

Ever coached, or taught, RR?

Some players, yes. But not Watts. He needs to be made to heel by force of the sword.

I've taught. I've coached. I've commanded.

[Go the Biff 3,423]

Can't understand why they are bothering playing him in the last two games. He looks to have lightened off. Once it was realised his ankle was rooted, there was a chance to chuck him in the gym with Mitch Clarke & his moonboot to concentrate on strength conditioning. And maybe to absorb some of Clarke's philosophies on how you go about playing footy.

Opportunity missed

[IRW 1,387]

"needs to be punished" . Is dropping him enough? Perhaps some time in the stocks? Or, perhaps you could give him a jolly good flogging RR?

Needs to be punished...ye gods is this bloke serious or is he just having a lend of you all?

Mind you it was only a few weeks ago that Coach Neeld said "if they BEHAVE they'll be here next year"!!

He may not be a drill seargent but he might be getting them to line up outside the meeting room and wait for the Teacher to arrive

Could be the blokes with an VCE score over 90 like Watts and Martin dont rspond to that kind of treatment

[Brian Wilson 331]

Current form suggest he cannot provide a contest at AFL level

Was drafted as a KPP but as stated above has poor core strength & looks like a boy vs men when playing

When you compare Natanui its like chalk & cheese..... why they didnt pick Nic is beyond me!

Hope Im wrong but cant seem him making it at this level

Eg Jones looked ready to play in his first year in 07

This sums up MFC drafting in the last 5 yrs!

Jones looked ready... But so did Daniel Rich. Should we have drafted him instead of Watts? I recall a few people suggesting this in their first year. Strange, but nobody seems to be suggesting this now. (For the record, I like Rich, but I'd much prefer to have Jack at MFC).

[Hardnut 327]

Some players, yes. But not Watts. He needs to be made to heel by force of the sword.

I've taught. I've coached. I've commanded.

Well, strike me, bring back the old days of the empire ...rah, rah

You must be much older than your comments suggest RR!

Psychology will always succeed if it is applied correctly by those who know how to use it.

[Range Rover 1,935]

Well, strike me, bring back the old days of the empire ...rah, rah

You must be much older than your comments suggest RR!

Psychology will always succeed if it is applied correctly by those who know how to use it.

You could have Jack sit on your sofa for a thousand hours telling you how much he loves his mum. It won't make him put his head over the pill I'm afraid.

[Goodvibes 3,596]

I've commanded.

Contiki tours of Vietnam don't count.

[Hannibal 5,814]

(For the record, I like Rich, but I'd much prefer to have Jack at MFC).

For the record, I'd prefer Rich.

[Philthy 284]

I just wish Watts had some mongrel in him!

[olisik 4,060]

I just wish Watts had some mongrel in him!

kid needs to be made angry, if he has a missus maybe someone should go out and hit on her the night before a match.

[jackaub 1,402]

Needs to be punished...ye gods is this bloke serious or is he just having a lend of you all?

Mind you it was only a few weeks ago that Coach Neeld said "if they BEHAVE they'll be here next year"!!

He may not be a drill seargent but he might be getting them to line up outside the meeting room and wait for the Teacher to arrive

Could be the blokes with an VCE score over 90 like Watts and Martin dont rspond to that kind of treatment

Then what the hell do they respond to?

[IRW 1,387]

Well that is the big question isnt it? The story around is that Stef has a bad attitude to being told to change his game and only god knows what is needed to get Watts realise he doesnt get to pick and choose his contests at this level.....offer Watts and a first round pick to Essendon for Gumbleton and let the Golden Boy sort out Jesus I reckon. ......hang on to Martin for another year and see how he goes

[Chook 15,013]

Well that is the big question isnt it? The story around is that Stef has a bad attitude to being told to change his game and only god knows what is needed to get Watts realise he doesnt get to pick and choose his contests at this level.....offer Watts and a first round pick to Essendon for Gumbleton and let the Golden Boy sort out Jesus I reckon. ......hang on to Martin for another year and see how he goes

Watts and a first round pick for Gumbleton? Are you insane? I wouldn't even swap Watts for Gumbleton and a first round pick. Edited August 29, 2012 by Chook

[IRW 1,387]

Well Gumbleton would be good for the Dees and Essendon would want more than MFC wanted for Bate wouldnt they?What does Watts actually do beyond look good.....his beautiful set ups never go anywhere because thats all they are ....'beautiful' rather than creative, he picks and chooses his commitment and under pressure he's ordinary. He may turn out to be excellent but its not more likely than Gumbleton being likewise imo... There's the smell of Josh Fraser about Jack,let Hird worry about it

[Range Rover 1,935]

Well Gumbleton would be good for the Dees and Essendon would want more than MFC wanted for Bate wouldnt they?What does Watts actually do beyond look good.....his beautiful set ups never go anywhere because thats all they are ....'beautiful' rather than creative, he picks and chooses his commitment and under pressure he's ordinary. He may turn out to be excellent but its not more likely than Gumbleton being likewise imo... There's the smell of Josh Fraser about Jack,let Hird worry about it

Swap the most frustratingly soft player in the league for the most frustratingly injury prone?

[IRW 1,387]

Swap the most frustratingly soft player in the league for the most frustratingly injury prone?

I thought that was Jared Rivers but he came good even before MFC got the sports science genius Guru Craig and Dave Misson....blah blah...they're all one mis step from serious injury.Even Jack managed to get injured

[The Albino Warrior 44]

This will likely sound ridiculous and invite ridicule but when Toby Greene beat Watts in the square at Canberra couple of weeks ago, my first reaction was embarrassment, but my second was relief.

It may well be that the apparent consensus on this thread - that Watts doesn't have the desire to ever fulfil his talent – ultimately holds true. I'm still confident, though, that once the new FD (including the fitness people) have had a year or two to mould him, he’ll start to be a lot better than “just good”.

Perhaps the failure in the contest against Greene demonstrates his lack of mental toughness. To me, though, it demonstrates startlingly poor core strength and a lack of understanding of where to position yourself in a pretty standard contest. Unless Watts is dumb, stubborn or lazy, a good coaching and sports science team while turn this around quickly.

In short, I’m still not writing him off as a wasted Pick 1.

[Range Rover 1,935]

Perhaps the failure in the contest against Greene demonstrates his lack of mental toughness. To me, though, it demonstrates startlingly poor core strength and a lack of understanding of where to position yourself in a pretty standard contest.

Pick no.1's shouldn't lack mental toughness. Nor should they demonstrate poor core strength or a lack of understand of where to position themsleves in contests.

Pick no.1's should demonstrate excellence in all of these areas.

Elementary I would've thought.

[timD 994]

This will likely sound ridiculous and invite ridicule but when Toby Greene beat Watts in the square at Canberra couple of weeks ago, my first reaction was embarrassment, but my second was relief.

It may well be that the apparent consensus on this thread - that Watts doesn't have the desire to ever fulfil his talent – ultimately holds true. I'm still confident, though, that once the new FD (including the fitness people) have had a year or two to mould him, he’ll start to be a lot better than “just good”.

Perhaps the failure in the contest against Greene demonstrates his lack of mental toughness. To me, though, it demonstrates startlingly poor core strength and a lack of understanding of where to position yourself in a pretty standard contest. Unless Watts is dumb, stubborn or lazy, a good coaching and sports science team while turn this around quickly.

In short, I’m still not writing him off as a wasted Pick 1.

Didn't watts play his first game back last week?

[The Albino Warrior 44]

Came on as sub against GWS.