Jack Watts

[Hannibal 5,814]

Maybe you're in the wrong gig, B-H :-)

I don't have the temperament.

And I wanted to add that you do pick a Jack Watts type in the draft. But not early. Or if you do pick them first round purely on their high level of talent you're better off doing it if you're already a top 4 club and have time on your side. Don't do it when you're a club anchored to the bottom of the ladder and can't afford to gamble.

I also remember supporters that went to a function that I think was in Sth Yarra before the draft. Patrons were asked to put their hand in the air if they preferred taking Watts, or Naitanui. At least nine to one were in favour of Watts. I assume and hope that supporter momentum has no bearing on selections, but it's always played on my mind a little.

[Buzzy 966]

Travis Johnstone vs Jack Watts.

take your pick?

Brent Grgic

[IRW 1,294]

I,m glad to see that Watts has stopped that" pathetic one arm out in despair before he falls over pretending to chase tackle",but his stats remain the same....zero tackles

.At least Fitzy kicked 2 goals, but everyone else was able to lay at least one.

[Deers 202]

Twelve disposals and zero tackles is a donkey's [censored] of a performance.

The era of giving players like Jack a grace period is over. Yet I want to focus attention on the staff. Why does his pea-hearted attitude continue unabated? Are we completely immune from putting players like Jack through the wringer a la Jolly's initiation @ Sydney?

For the record I don't care if Jack is shown the door tomorrow. I just hope we have tried all avenues of coaching to sort him out.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,087]

I would not think twice if I saw Watts up for trade. let someone else see if he eventually can get it together - it hasnt worked at MFC. Unless he lifts he will have no currancy. I compare his development to Travis Johnstone.

[Brian Wilson 331]

Still way too early to judge the man. He's a 21 yo playing in a terrible team. He hasn't suddenly lost the talent of his teenage years, it's simply a matter of continuing the development. He is clearly better than he was last year and will be considerably better again next year.

I'm guessing that Misson will spend a bit of time with him over the next few months.

It will be interesting to see where he finishes in this year's B&F. I'm guessing that he will finish reasonably high, which will be followed by several Landers moaning about A) what a joke this is and B) how lamentable the club is when Watts finishes so high.

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,087]

Next year your going to see how a true future star of the game comes in and has an almost instant impact - by round 10 next season Viney will have shown just how poorly some of our previous recruits have faired. mark my words!

[Redleg 38,618]

I would not think twice if I saw Watts up for trade. let someone else see if he eventually can get it together - it hasnt worked at MFC. Unless he lifts he will have no currancy. I compare his development to Travis Johnstone.

For what it is worth he was injured yesterday and has carried it the last two games. I thought he was pretty good up until he got injured a few weeks ago. Yes he is no Jonathan Brown, but we have one in Mitch and how many of them are there?

[Range Rover 1,935]

Still way too early to judge the man. He's a 21 yo playing in a terrible team. He hasn't suddenly lost the talent of his teenage years, it's simply a matter of continuing the development. He is clearly better than he was last year and will be considerably better again next year.

I'm guessing that Misson will spend a bit of time with him over the next few months.

It will be interesting to see where he finishes in this year's B&F. I'm guessing that he will finish reasonably high, which will be followed by several Landers moaning about A) what a joke this is and B) how lamentable the club is when Watts finishes so high.

Who cares where anyone finished in the best and fairest (bar Jones).

[Brian Wilson 331]

Who cares where anyone finished in the best and fairest (bar Jones).

Are you suggesting that the Bluey is not a prestigious award? Have a look at the list of past winners.

The point is that it is a good indicator of relative performance.

[Brian Wilson 331]

Next year your going to see how a true future star of the game comes in and has an almost instant impact - by round 10 next season Viney will have shown just how poorly some of our previous recruits have faired. mark my words!

I certainly hope so and I've loved watching him play a couple of games this year. But he is a midfielder, whose body won't change anywhere near as much as Jack's has and will continue to do.

[IRW 1,294]

Next year your going to see how a true future star of the game comes in and has an almost instant impact - by round 10 next season Viney will have shown just how poorly some of our previous recruits have faired. mark my words!

Yawn...how many times have I heard that prophecy on a MFC chat group site.?

He certainly seems to have the right attitude though,I'll acknowledge that.

Short,slow and hardly a booming kick

I'll be waiting to see myself

[IRW 1,294]

Are you suggesting that the Bluey is not a prestigious award? Have a look at the list of past winners.

The point is that it is a good indicator of relative performance.

If it wasnt for Jones Howe and maybe Grimes,then Clark would win it on 10 games and Bluey from Ology would be runner up

[Norm Smith's Curse 2,087]

true, but how many of our previous hopes were carving up more disposals than most of our AFL listed players at VFL level at the age of 17?

[Sir Why You Little 35,330]

If Jack Watts finishes high in the Bluey.. Then it ia clear indication that this club is not up to AFL standard.

Simple.

[IRW 1,294]

true, but how many of our previous hopes were carving up more disposals than most of our AFL listed players at VFL level at the age of 17?

A cyncic would suggest that this only means our listed players are even worse, or more dispirited, than ever under the new regime

[Range Rover 1,935]

Are you suggesting that the Bluey is not a prestigious award? Have a look at the list of past winners.

The point is that it is a good indicator of relative performance.

Who cares about 'relative performances'. I'm only interested in good ones.

[Brian Wilson 331]

Who cares about 'relative performances'. I'm only interested in good ones.

So am I but my point is that you are caning Watts when in fact he has put himself ahead of around 30 players on the list in terms of performance.

You will need to start 30 new threads bagging other players before you can bag Watts.

[IRW 1,294]

True but lets see where he actually finishes first , on how many votes and against players who played as many games.

I dont know about here, but on Ology last year he was voted a runaway winner in the Grinter and then finished well down the list on the real Bluey.

Actually the thought that Watts and Grinter appear in the same sentence is kinda funny isnt it?

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

If Jack Watts finishes high in the Bluey.. Then it ia clear indication that this club is not up to AFL standard.

Simple.

He did pretty well in the Demonland voting, as Nasher mentioned he had a good run of high possession games, it will be interesting to see if this is reflected in the B&F.

[Sir Why You Little 35,330]

He did pretty well in the Demonland voting, as Nasher mentioned he had a good run of high possession games, it will be interesting to see if this is reflected in the B&F.

Possessions off Half Back..sure he got the ball, but minimum pressure.

[dpositive 1,603]

Have returned to this thread again with some hesitation.

I am more reassured with the comments to the extent that there is a more reasoned presentation.

the calls to trade or sack are now less vehement and there is an acceptance that his performance is seen against perhaps unrealistic expectation, poor research at recruitment, lack of training example and maybe recognition that coaching demands need to be considered

I have particularly liked BH more reasonable comments and reckon that JW could benefit from being shown this thread.

It may be interesting to hear the coaches and his thoughts on the comments.

I know that I dont know the full picture but do believe from acknowledgement on DL that he has skills and great potential IT should be up to the club and JW to improve and use his skills and reach that potential and beyond

[Scoop Junior 3,132]

I said when we drafted Watts that I didn't care about his first three years. KPPs take a few years and skinny under-age ones take even longer. I wanted to see some glimpses but ultimately we all knew he was a long way away when first drafted.

So I have long been a defender of Watts because he simply wasn't ready for senior footy when drafted.

This was his fourth year and so I expected to see some genuine improvement. After a slow start he showed signs when moved to half back that he was prepared to get involved more and influence games. He was probably our best player for 3 or 4 games in a row.

It's really the few weeks before he got injured and the last few games where he has been really disappointing, especially given the progress he had made around about Rounds 8-11.

So I'm not going to write off a player after four years when I didn't expect anything from him in the first three. However, at the same time, some of his efforts this year were below expectation and as he moves into his fifth year he needs to make a big improvement in a few areas.

In 2013 he will not be a baby any more. He will have had enough pre-seasons to at least be able to compete physically at AFL level. I'm not expecting him to be a superstar next year, as he still has development in him, but I will be bloody disappointed if he's still losing one-on-one contests against 18 year olds and failing to go when it's his turn.

[IRW 1,294]

Are you suggesting that next year he's actually going to commit to one on one contests, instead of getting trapped in them?

I'd like to see thar

[Hannibal 5,814]

Yawn...how many times have I heard that prophecy on a MFC chat group site.?

He certainly seems to have the right attitude though,I'll acknowledge that.

Short,slow and hardly a booming kick

I'll be waiting to see myself

So you think Viney is slow ?

If you haven't seen him play why comment ? And if you have give up posting.