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

[Brian Wilson 331]

IF the club had come out at the draft to say that we need a quality half back, one whose disposal skills are exemplary, who averages over 80% efficiency, who reads the play and can set up attacks, who will start slowly but gradually will grow into his role over a number of years, who will average 18+ possessions in his third full year of footy, would we want another ruckman, given that we already have an All Australian?

IF...

I'm not saying that Jack is better than NN. I'm simply saying that the club has done him few favours in the way they present him, and it started on Queen's Birthday.

[NowWeKnow 130]

Jack Watts is probably sitting back watching West Coast also wishing we picked Naitanui

[sue 8,433]

Jack Watts is probably sitting back watching West Coast also wishing we picked Naitanui

Why? Because he regrets being at a club where 'supporters' take cheap pot-shots at you presumably.

[jumbo returns 6,488]

BP and DB stuffed up big time.

Nuff said, really.

[Mac7 309]

Commentators jizzing every-time NikNat scratches himself!!

The reality is he has had 13 possessions at 77% efficiency!! 20 hit out is not exactly spectacular either.

The guy can play and will only get better, but the media frenzy is fair dinkum joke!!

[DemonDan... 77]

No, it's Mr.Anus. Suits you better.

Really?

Cause you talk more sh!t than most.. no poll needed

Nik Nat blitzing in September...i warned you...

Wow!!

13 possies and a dozen and a half taps.. glad you warned us of those 10 impending handballs!

He CAN NOT kick properly.. what he does do well is athletic.

Give me Watts anyday.

EDIT: Nic Nat would HOPE to be as good as Mitch Clark.. Fitzpatrick will surprise too, imo, as a nic nat type player - looks like he kicks ok too and has Clark and Martin for support.

Edited September 9, 2012 by DemonDan...

[Guest KingDingAling]

Nick Nat is a freak.

But Jack Watts will be a very good player.

I've always been pretty one eyed Watts - his skills are sublime.

In a team lacking good kicks, Watts is a great kick!

Athletically he is very gifted, has great hands - although hasn't shown them much this year.

I look at Jack Watts play and I've always thought that when he gets stronger through the core,

that things will click in a big way.

I like that we have played Watts forward and now down back, he is becoming versatile.

When it does all click, we will have an elite utility player.

[McQueen 17,863]

I hope Jack Watts has the body capable of putting on some serious muscle bulk. I mean Travis Cloke like. If this happens, and he gains some confidence relative to that size then we will be on a winner.

If it doesn't happen this next season though, I'm afraid Neeld and Misson have different ideas and plans.

[Demon SeaMan 108]

Aside from NicNat going home after 3 yrs (that would be a given IMO) if he played for MFC so what if we had made up an xtra 2- 3 places on the ladder with this enigma (not champion yet). I still have a lot of faith in JW & long term 3-4 yrs time will develop into as good a player as NN. wont be as flashy but will be honest. Is naturally gifted, is a purist and rembering the white man doesn't generally have early age muscle mass like this collosus. yeah I think we made the right decision.... And JW would you believe still plays for the guernsey as much as anything else. Very rare in today's commodity!!

[bing181 8,167]

Commentators jizzing every-time NikNat scratches himself!!

The reality is he has had 13 possessions at 77% efficiency!! 20 hit out is not exactly spectacular either.

Jake Spencer:

Round 21: 15 possessions, 24 hitouts

Round 22: 13 possessions (85%), 21 hitouts

Pity he doesn't have dreadlocks.

[DeeZee 6,733]

Natanui is already a superstar match winner........Watts is a serviceable half back flanker.

[Sir Why You Little 34,490]

Really?

Cause you talk more sh!t than most.. no poll needed

Wow!!

13 possies and a dozen and a half taps.. glad you warned us of those 10 impending handballs!

He CAN NOT kick properly.. what he does do well is athletic.

Give me Watts anyday.

EDIT: Nic Nat would HOPE to be as good as Mitch Clark.. Fitzpatrick will surprise too, imo, as a nic nat type player - looks like he kicks ok too and has Clark and Martin for support.

You are not looking at what he does with those possessions though. Put the stat sheet down.

Some of his taps are as good as kicks.

I am not bagging JW here. I just love watching Nik Nat play...

Edited September 9, 2012 by why you little

[Dee_Flower 53]

NN will probably be All Australian this year.

JW was in and out of the worst team in the AFL this the year.

The comparisons were valid once. Now any comparison is a joke.

[sylvinator 96]

Agreed. Watts is an average player struggling to maintain a spot in the worst team in the afl.

NicNat is a star and has HUGE influence on a finals team, probably will be all australian this year.

If anyone wants proof why stats are meaningless with NicNat, look at the video on afl.com.au "Cox chalks up 250". His 13 possessions and 20 taps can have a huge influence on games. The scary thing is that he's shown this year that he is capable of getting 25 possessions and 35 taps, where he's the BOG by a mile.

Our recruiting is the reason we are in the hole we're in.

Tell me we wouldn't be in a totally different situation if we had done the following (all realistic choices at the time):

NicNat > Watts

Darling > Cook

Lewis Jetta/Dangerfield/Rioli > Morton

[EVIL DEE 1]

as they stand now Nic Nat is a FAR better player. But what If Jack Watts went to West Coast? Would he better than he is now? And if Nic Nat played for us would he have learnt the game as well? that's the real question I think.

Edited September 10, 2012 by EVIL DEE

[Dee_Flower 53]

as they stand now Nic Nat is a FAR better player. But what If Jack Watts went to West Coast? Would he better than he is now? And if Nic Nat played for us would he have learnt the game as well? that's the real question I think.

It's one of the questions. There's no doubt Worsfold wouldn't have given Watts the soft treatment that he got from Bailey. And if NN had gone to us he might have become the next Nick Smith.

But there are people on this forum who argue, apparently in all seriousness, that Watts right now is the better player. This is insane.

[Deestroy All 14,261]

I don't care about this debate, what's done is done and the culprits are gone.

But F me if these commentators aren't ridiculously over excited / over hyping this guy. They replay and rave about a Naitanui hitout that went to the feet of Priddis, it was average (I'm not questioning his tap work, it's sublime at times and is the reason he's more useful than Watts) at best. Dean Cox a bit later did 5 of the most brilliant taps you'll ever see in a row, in a row, a ROW, straight to moving players... we're lucky to get 5 of those a game... anyway, not a mention of it. If it was Naitanui that did them they'd need about 5 shamwow's to clean the bukkake remnants off the commentary box window.

[DaveyJones'sLocker 585]

I voted we got it wrong ,

But wow nick nat has dished up absolute stink so far tonight

[Dee Fan 3,247]

I voted we got it wrong ,

But wow nick nat has dished up absolute stink so far tonight

Shocking game by him he hasn't got a clue how to play football.

Running and Jumping don't make you a good footballer if you can't get the ball, and if you do, you don't know what to do with it.

[Biffen 12,327]

Could we afford to carry a player like NiKNat in a final?

I'd rather have the silky Jack Watts.

[Hardnut 327]

Whether we got it right or wrong re JW or NN is probably still open to question, although personally I think we got it right provided the club does the right thing by JW. The worst part of tonight is that one of two boring, dull, negative teams will get into the grand final!

[Neeld Help 7]

It's time MELB supporters turned on other teams duds. Here goes, Natanui is a pea heart who has no decision making and can't kick, Schuey , pea heart, Darling no big deal. That should take care of the three West Coast players Who have been rapt on here over the year. as for the coach Worsfold, no idea either.

Do you want me to start on Ross Lyon and Fremantle. Another dud.

I've never seen a bigger opportunity for MELB players to get behind the coach, get fit, get faster, work on quick hands and decision making, stay tight and each just might be easier than they imagine to jump over the two pretender sides that lost this weekend.

[rjay 23,922]

Certainly didn't show a real thirst for the contest tonight unlike Kerr who was magnificent.

Party tricks are not for finals football.

[Biffen 12,327]

It's time MELB supporters turned on other teams duds. Here goes, Natanui is a pea heart who has no decision making and can't kick, Schuey , pea heart, Darling no big deal. That should take care of the three West Coast players Who have been rapt on here over the year. as for the coach Worsfold, no idea either.

Do you want me to start on Ross Lyon and Fremantle. Another dud.

I've never seen a bigger opportunity for MELB players to get behind the coach, get fit, get faster, work on quick hands and decision making, stay tight and each just might be easier than they imagine to jump over the two pretender sides that lost this weekend.

Good post . All the hero worship of Selwoods and NicNAt irritates me.

One thing I've noticed about these finals is that the ruckmen are the keys.

[Neeld Help 7]

Ta Biff, it was irritation that drove me to post an edited version of how I've felt felt this weekend.