Suckling was a rookie and Watts was a pick one investment, which is the footballing tragedy.

The rose coloured glasses that many supporters use to view Watts is one of life's great mysteries. We all know he has talent and skill, but some us also know that he has no appetite for finals type contested footy.

So do we [censored] him off because he was a number one pick? Or do we keep him because we need him down back. I agree he isn't a contested ball king but we still need him regardless of his draft position. I'd rather watts have the ball in his hands then bail and the other butchers

Yarran is very far from crap. Absolute silk coming out of the Carlton backline and probably their most talented player. I'd do that trade.

But back to the hypothetical question in the OP ... I'm on record as saying I'd trade Watts for a package Carlton's pick 11 AND Mitch Robinson.

Yarran has shown way less than Watts and will be the player who becomes "next years" player.

The player every year that the team expect to break out but never does.

Watts broke out this year, in the middle of the year.. just you wait for next year.

So do we [censored] him off because he was a number one pick? Or do we keep him because we need him down back. I agree he isn't a contested ball king but we still need him regardless of his draft position. I'd rather watts have the ball in his hands then bail and the other butchers

He ranks 6th at the club for contested possessions (7.5 per game). That's above midfield ball winners like Magner, Grimes, and Trengove.

He ranks fourth at the club for contested marks (1.3 per game). That's above our other defenders like Frawley, Tom McDonald and Joel McDonald.

He definitely needs to improve his tackling, that's a given. But his ability to win the contested ball is under rated. I'm looking forward to watching him play this year.

And he is a far superior ball winner and kick than someone like Yarran.

He ranks 6th at the club for contested possessions (7.5 per game). That's above midfield ball winners like Magner, Grimes, and Trengove.

He ranks fourth at the club for contested marks (1.3 per game). That's above our other defenders like Frawley, Tom McDonald and Joel McDonald.

He definitely needs to improve his tackling, that's a given. But his ability to win the contested ball is under rated. I'm looking forward to watching him play this year.

And he is a far superior ball winner and kick than someone like Yarran.

I agree and I see his role across the backline as a under rated one.

I agree and I see his role across the backline as a under rated one.

The benchmark for me is Birchall. I love watching him play. It will be interesting to see how the two compare in 2013.

This was then and is now an effing stupid idea. Rehashing it is just that bit embarrassing - like a joke that was bad and does not need retelling.

Champ, it is just not funny.

Robinson is a spud, ableit a physical one. Useful but supremely limited. He'd be good for us for two years...unitil he wasn't needed anymore. So you'd trade watts for pick 11 effectively.

Watts might not (?will not?) be the forwad we wanted but he has the potential to be an excellent attacking defender. Pick 11 is a blind guess. Could be rioli/fyfe/shuey, could be gysberts. So, you'd trade 'very good' for short term grunt + big fat maybe.

That's not playing our hand very well to put it mildly.

Edited October 13, 201213 yr by timD

What cannot be denied is that Watts is by far and away the best kick in our team. He is also a bloody good decision maker, and rarely seems to get caught with the ball, like Pendlebury, he just seems to have extra time when he has the ball.

Is he what we expected for a pick #1? No. But he possesses what we severely lack and desperately need............Good disposal.

I think Jack will deliver some career defining performances in 2013 as his confidence in his ability to physically compete at the AFL level grows.

Prior to Clarks arrival Jack was our biggest forward and as a skinny kid he was never going to flourish.

Talk of trading him before we've seen his best is absurd and short sighted.

Edited October 13, 201213 yr by PaulRB

As everyone is saying, we may have drafted a forward.. but this is a blessing in disguise..

instead we got a goddard.

Plus now we have Mitch, Hogan and Dawes.. plus Sylvia, Howe.

Watts is actually someone we needed, just we didnt draft him to be there.

I WILL TAKE THAT