POLL: Watts v Naitanui ... Did we get it right or wrong?

[Hannibal 5,814]

I believe we made the correct choice.

Niknat is a two pony show horse who plays one good game in a half a dozen.

Watts is more reliable and plays more consistently.

I don't think I've stood up for Naitanui since Nov. 29, 2008, but I have to here. Statistically his year is better than Jamar's in 2010 when he made AA, including 22 goals.

I'm not overly enamoured with Naitanui, so won't vote in the poll, but there is no doubt whatsoever that Watts isn't worthy of pick 1. He might scrape in as a first round draft pick, which is probably too generous. No non Melbourne supporter would have him in the first round.

Edited August 27, 2012 by Ben-Hur

[Je Roos Salem 661]

Well Watts is definitely a better kick and can get more possessions, but Naitanui is tapping the ball, slapping the ball, he's around the ball so much. When he goes up for a mark he always looks like marking it. There was a brilliant passage on Saturday night around the WC goals where he just looked like a machine trying to get the ball out.

Naitanui plays more like his life depends on it I must say.

However I'm very happy Watts is at our club and have never felt that it was a wrong decision, now what matters is whether to keep him back or play him forward. He's a good mark, a great kick but probably just has to improve his lead and strength in contests

[Born to Run 204]

I voted that we got it right between these two due to the fact that there is no way Natanui would still be here if we had drafted him in 08. As well as that Natanui is a supreme athlete but average footballer; poor skills and still struggles to read the play.

However if it was Watts vs other players of that draft of course we could have got it right-er or wrong-er, just like every draft.

I agree completely with your first sentence in that Nic Nat would not be here if we drafted him (or at least the risk was enormous). Despite what RR says......

I do think that the athleticism of Nic Nat is his strength so we cant say that aside from his athleticism he is no good. I think that he is a rare talent and may turn out to be a superstar. Ruckman need to win taps and after that the around the ground stuff is a bonus. So if Nic Nat can win the taps, he will be a star.

Did we get it right? I voted wait and see. I think its too early given the players we have and how we are playing compared to WC. I'd say that Nic Nat is slightly ahead at this stage, but not enough to say we botched it.

[Lordweaver 235]

range rover...the name says it all, please get rid of the "I believe in Neeld'", you sound like a born again christian and I don't really need to know what you believe in.

[Lordweaver 235]

watts clearly not as good as nic nat..yet...or perhaps ever

[rpfc 28,079]

range rover...the name says it all, please get rid of the "I believe in Neeld'", you sound like a born again christian and I don't really need to know what you believe in.

That is a bit of a Land in joke referencing a certain posters unwavering faith in the word of a 20 year old simpleton.

So don't crucify him for that...

[Bobby McKenzie 2,370]

I'm confused RR. You start a poll then periodically try to influence the outcome of said poll by pumping up the case for one of the options. Hardly likely to be a reliable result then is it. So what's the point of it (other than winding people up)?

Why not start a thread called "Why i believe Natanui should have been selected by the MFC instead of Watts". It would be a lot more transparent.

Edit: had to laugh, just looked at the photos you included in the initial post. Natanui taking a screamer and Watts being tackled and dragged to the ground. That's funny.

Yes I noted that too. RR trying to influence the voters with two very different photos. Could have at least had Wattsy taking one of his best marks. A very biased poll introduction indeed. NN could be a relative?

[old dee 23,553]

I have no doubt we got it wrong however as DC said earlier he would have gone back to WA.

Would have been Scott Thompson all over again.

The result is we have a more than useful player who will serve us well.

Not the Champion we all hoped for but a darn sight better than a lot of the others we have recruited over the last ten years.

[Hardnut 327]

I'll stand by Watts as a good choice, but I think the better question might lie in a comparison based on Sunday's game.

Taylor Walker is 192 cm and 100 kg, Watts is 196 cm and 91 kg, stats as best as I can find - why?

There is no point in playing Watts as a lightweight running halfback - he should be a strong key player, so why does he lack bulk, probably some 10 kg lighter than last year?

[stuie 7,374]

The way I see it, the "We got it right" and "Still not sure" votes are against the "We got it wrong" votes, for the record I voted not sure, but despite RR posting this thread in dubious circumstances (after one of NikNat's better games, and only Watts' 2nd game back from major injury against a top 4 team) most are either undecided or happy with the decision.

So even against RR's OBVIOUS agenda (NikNat photos? Really?!) he's so far been proven wrong. Wonder if he'll admit it? Or start another poll about it?

[old dee 23,553]

The way I see it, the "We got it right" and "Still not sure" votes are against the "We got it wrong" votes, for the record I voted not sure, but despite RR posting this thread in dubious circumstances (after one of NikNat's better games, and only Watts' 2nd game back from major injury against a top 4 team) most are either undecided or happy with the decision.

So even against RR's OBVIOUS agenda (NikNat photos? Really?!) he's so far been proven wrong. Wonder if he'll admit it? Or start another poll about it?

stuie I think you under estimate Nik Nat's performances this year.

The saying goes that players reputations are built on playing in finals.

At their current rates NN will have played a considerable number of finals and potentially a GF before Watts gets a look in.

Like it or not I believe NN will always be regarded as a better player than Watts.

By 2016 NN will have been a very good player in a very good team for 4 years

Watts will be a good backman in a ordinary team with almost no finals experience.

[stuie 7,374]

stuie I think you under estimate Nik Nat's performances this year.

The saying goes that players reputations are built on playing in finals.

At their current rates NN will have played a considerable number of finals and potentially a GF before Watts gets a look in.

Like it or not I believe NN will always be regarded as a better player than Watts.

By 2016 NN will have been a very good player in a very good team for 4 years

Watts will be a good backman in a ordinary team with almost no finals experience.

So if Watts had been drafted by Geelong you'd think he was better than NN?

I respect your opinion OD, but bit of a stretch to compare these two different players now let alone what they might be in 4 years...

[Hardnut 327]

stuie I think you under estimate Nik Nat's performances this year.

The saying goes that players reputations are built on playing in finals.

At their current rates NN will have played a considerable number of finals and potentially a GF before Watts gets a look in.

Like it or not I believe NN will always be regarded as a better player than Watts.

By 2016 NN will have been a very good player in a very good team for 4 years

Watts will be a good backman in a ordinary team with almost no finals experience.

Hang on old dee, I don't think anyone is really putting Nik Nat down here - if Watts had been selected in the same company as Nik Nat, and vice versa, then what would have happened? We need to consider both players on a hypothetical like for like basis.

[old dee 23,553]

Hang on old dee, I don't think anyone is really putting Nik Nat down here - if Watts had been selected in the same company as Nik Nat, and vice versa, then what would have happened? We need to consider both players on a hypothetical like for like basis.

Hardnut I am sure there are some on here bemoaning his ability and performance this year.

However to answer your comment. I think that over the long term NN will be the better player but I believe it never would have worked at Melbourne.

So we probably took the better option as we will have a useful player versus one that went home.

[Biffen 12,936]

Hardnut I am sure there are some on here bemoaning his ability and performance this year.

However to answer your comment. I think that over the long term NN will be the better player but I believe it never would have worked at Melbourne.

So we probably took the better option as we will have a useful player versus one that went home.

Which is why we chose Jack Watts a year early.

We made Jack Watts no 1 and we made Nic Nat no 2.

We should mothball this conversation for 5 years.

ATM-Jack Watts has better foot skills ,similar pace, better accuracy for goal and more versatility than NN already.

NN does more freakish acts and is a better ruckman.

[garyh007 112]

Hey range rover when he can play in more than 2 positions and doesn't need an oxygen tank after running more than 15 meters then make a decision we should have a poll in 2015 and see the results

[angrydee 842]

When I see Watts's performances in a good side - which IMO will happen in the not too distant future - I'll make up my mind

[Brian Wilson 331]

Hey Range Rover: wasn't Jack Watts listed as one of your favourite players last week??? Seems to have suspiciously changed to Jones.

[Range Rover 1,935]

Hey Range Rover: wasn't Jack Watts listed as one of your favourite players last week??? Seems to have suspiciously changed to Jones.

Yeah no he's been replaced by a guy who puts his head over the footy and has a genuine crack week to week.

Minimum requirement from here on in.

[thaipantsman 180]

yet another deep and meaningful poll.

next poll ....will the sun come up tomorrow!

[thaipantsman 180]

range rover...the name says it all, please get rid of the "I believe in Neeld'", you sound like a born again christian and I don't really need to know what you believe in.

best post yet!! the signature is really in poor taste and uncalled for. It suggests Neeld is under threat which is clearly not the case.

To be fair to RR he has taken the time to run the poll so good on him for that.

NNat is an absolute freak and IMO will be the one of the greatest AFL talents ever seen. He was also taught where to run and how to play. Whether he would of developed at Melbourne we'll never know. Watts will be a star no doubt about it and doubters need to "take off their 7 day goggles". Will be fun watching the two develop over the next 5 years.

Watts may well be right up with him some day.

Edited August 27, 2012 by thaipantsman

[thaipantsman 180]

Yeah no he's been replaced by a guy who puts his head over the footy and has a genuine crack week to week.

Minimum requirement from here on in.

A week's a long time in football:)

[RalphiusMaximus 6,013]

Comparison stats.

Overall, they look to be fairly even over this year. NicNat has played more games obviously, and has had more scores (playing as ruck/forward vs HBF), but Watts is well ahead in disposals and efficiency. Watts wins rebound 50's, Nic Nat wins inside 50s. Again, pretty obvious. Watts has more uncontested while NicNat has contested. NicNat has tackles won. Watts has Marks.

I think the best possible answer to this poll is that we were right to pick Watts, and would also have been right to pick NicNat. Two very different players who are both coming along quite nicely.

[thaipantsman 180]

Which is why we chose Jack Watts a year early.

We made Jack Watts no 1 and we made Nic Nat no 2.

We should mothball this conversation for 5 years.

ATM-Jack Watts has better foot skills ,similar pace, better accuracy for goal and more versatility than NN already.

NN does more freakish acts and is a better ruckman.

like this! Watts is faster in fact. Can mark well. Needs to beef up a little and learn to box. Confidence player and he's coming!!

[titan_uranus 24,912]

It's the most simply worded poll imaginable. A monkey could understand it. You can too if you try hard enough.

Let's se what the results say.

A monkey could also understand that this is a question to which people can only have one answer, yet you have allowed them to choose multiple answers.

You are a complete fail.