Training - Wednesday 14th November, 2012 Welcome Chris Dawes

[Hannibal 5,814]

I decided to put olisik on ignore a couple of days ago, but let me tell you it's futile.

[Undeeterred 3,124]

Watts now plays on half-back. A position that we have how many players pushing to make the team? Strauss, Dunn, Mcdonald, Macdonald, Garland, Gillies, Davis, Seller....

The guy will be lucky if he is not dropped to Casey in 2013 with so many players competing for those positions.

Zero credibility.

Not one of those players will come within a bull's roar of doing the job they want Watts to do.

[Allen Jakovich 516]

It's a pretty simple correction, you can either take it on board and apply it in the future, or get all defensive about and continue to post like an uneducated dunce.

Do you spell 'he's' correctly in private but not in public? Somehow I don't think so.

Are you serious? Man you if really care that much about how the guy spells "he's" you must have one charmed life, lol.

[beelzebub 23,382]

Why does he need extra beef.........it wasn't a rubbishing diatribe......I think the problem is everybody remembers Neitz and Schwarz so they believe if you are recruited as a forward, from day one you have to be enourmous.....Jack Watts has had to live with this since day one...........If you can get into space or use your aerobic capacity to outrun you won't need the beef....I for one don't want to see Watts bloody wrestling some monster fwd next season.....let's leave that to Frawley, McDonald etc....I want to see him use his footy brain, play off his man, take an intercept mark and then lace out to one of our big fwds coming down a flank...

for the very reason I outlined.. he still gets pushed off the ball in tight etc. Coming over or across hes fine but he needs greater strength..that simple.

But for about 5 kg hes the same as Nick. Nick DOES have that extra muscle, he doesnt get moved so easily.

I, and I note many others here from time to time , just want him to be a little bigger, not goliath like. Hed play more confidently Im sure if he was.

[Deestroy All 14,266]

Are you serious? Man you if really care that much about how the guy spells "he's" you must have one charmed life, lol.

I am and I do.

It's not just how he spells it. Hopefully anyone that reads it that doesn't know the difference between his and he's takes note and makes life moron free for all of us.

It's never too late to better yourself, especially if it's something as simple as a three letter word.

Edited November 14, 2012 by Deestroy All

[stuie 7,374]

If you want to settle and say good things about Watts then go ahead but as far as I am concerned he has not nearly performed well enough to warrant him being taken at #1 over his 4 years so far.

We have been ladder dwellers for half a decade.

Funnily enough his draft position was decided before his career was judged....

[hardtack 10,626]

So, sorry to go off topic, but does anyone have anything to report on how Dawes was looking at his first session with the club?

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

So, sorry to go off topic, but does anyone have anything to report on how Dawes was looking at his first session with the club?

I didn't go to training, but his press conference was really good, it's on the Melbourne site, he speaks really well and he definitely has a good head on his shoulders! A lot to like about the fella

[deejammin' 2,373]

I didn't go to training, but his press conference was really good, it's on the Melbourne site, he speaks really well and he definitely has a good head on his shoulders! A lot to like about the fella

Hi I really liked the interview too, seems very confident, I loved it when he said "get this club back to where it belongs", it sounded like he meant it. Also I think the emphasis on respect for the coaching group seems to me to imply he may have had a few problems with old FIGJAM.

[CBDees 3,167]

Zero credibility.

Not one of those players will come within a bull's roar of doing the job they want Watts to do.

I full agree that Sellars and company won't come within a bulls roar of matching Watts for skill levels and endeavour!

[beelzebub 23,382]

So, sorry to go off topic, but does anyone have anything to report on how Dawes was looking at his first session with the club?

i'll pay that !! lol

[markc 975]

I didn't go to training, but his press conference was really good, it's on the Melbourne site, he speaks really well and he definitely has a good head on his shoulders! Alot to like about the fella

i love the reply re game plan !! well worth watching it

[Deestroy All 14,266]

So, sorry to go off topic, but does anyone have anything to report on how Dawes was looking at his first session with the club?

I only saw him do laps, but he was doing them at a good speed for such a big boy (he's wider than Jamar) and he looked to be doing it easy, pretty good for his fist session.

I'm not surprised though, he is a pro at training and preparation apparently.

With blokes like Jones, Clark, Dawes, McDonald and Nicholson setting the standards at training, hopefully it's a new breed of professionalism we have to drive this team and culture forward.

[Slartibartfast 17,592]

I'd correct "fist" before we get another English lesson.

[Deeoldfart 8,061]

I didn't go to training, but his press conference was really good, it's on the Melbourne site, he speaks really well and he definitely has a good head on his shoulders! Alot to like about the fella

Excellent interview. In some ways he reminds me of Mitch, and I can see him bringing similar qualities both on and off the field. I think he will prove to be a great get for our club.

[beelzebub 23,382]

Anyone else notice Neeld during the interview... sat there like an ALL-Knowing -Yoda.

Finally heading in the right direction, Melbourne is. Herh herh herh.

not just because of Dawes, but as result of trades and drafts ( and picks to come ). The big picture is clearing

Our way at last, on. Hmmmmmm.!!!

[BIG JIM 508]

Yes the force is strong my dawes.

[Wells 11 5,422]

Its unbelievable how underrated by the media this guy was in the crossover to the dees. He lost confidence playing ruck and forward in 2012 but he's still a strong potent forward and was considered a gun in 2011. I think he's going to be huge for us..on and off the field and he's only 24! Im really looking forward to us being having a strong forward line next year.

First time in a month Ive had head back in football and off CW etc etc feels good!

[McQueen 17,867]

I love how you can buy photo prints of the players at training and this is one you can buy.. amazing..

http://www.aflphotos...=collection:AFL 2012 Training - Melbourne 141112&image_id=272727

Already reminiscing about the Pies?

[markc 975]

Anyone else notice Neeld during the interview... sat there like an ALL-Knowing -Yoda.

Finally heading in the right direction, Melbourne is. Herh herh herh.

not just because of Dawes, but as result of trades and drafts ( and picks to come ). The big picture is clearing

Our way at last, on. Hmmmmmm.!!!

you have to love his smirk ...

[jumbo returns 6,741]

A training report has turned into a Jack Watts thread....

Nik Nat anyone?

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

So, sorry to go off topic, but does anyone have anything to report on how Dawes was looking at his first session with the club?

Dawes looked good. All his (he's) spelling and punctuation was excellent.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

I am neither here nor there on the Watts bulk issue, but funny how a couple of years ago many kept saying all Watts needs to do is bulk up a bit and he will feel at home and take games by the scruff of the neck. And now we have people saying he doesn't need to bulk up.

Jack Watts is easily best 22, but he will never be a top 50 player in the league with his current deficiencies. Has the talent and will always be serviceable, but capable of a lot more. And I am talking right now, not in 3 years time.

[Brian Wilson 331]

I am neither here nor there on the Watts bulk issue, but funny how a couple of years ago many kept saying all Watts needs to do is bulk up a bit and he will feel at home and take games by the scruff of the neck. And now we have people saying he doesn't need to bulk up.

Jack Watts is easily best 22, but he will never be a top 50 player in the league with his current deficiencies. Has the talent and will always be serviceable, but capable of a lot more. And I am talking right now, not in 3 years time.

Birchall is the benchmark for half back at this point in time. JW is closer to Birchall than many have noticed, especially given the difference in what they have to kick to. Birchall gets more of the ball and uses it slightly better (he's one of the best in the league) but the key difference at this stage is the quality of tackling. However, JW has him covered in the air, which means he has the potential to overtake Birchall eventually.

I think JW will bridge the gap and I will monitor the comparison closely in 2013.

[tappysquads 618]

Very impressed with dawesys return, looks fit, spoke well.....can anyone tell me

Where d.barry is and when he will get onto the track?