Now here's a dilemma looming on the horizon. Like others I've been - to put it mildly - a bit nonplused by the development of young 'Killer' since he arrived at the club. Late last year I saw his name among the '2013 coming out of contract' list and thought ... yeah, whatever. I was even open to the idea trading him if the right deal could be struck. Rumour has it that feelers were put by the MFC to several clubs on that front but nothing eventuated.

Roll on five months later and I'm beginning to wonder if it wouldn't be in our interests to try and tie up Jack to a new deal sometime during the next month. Watching him on the Gold Coast on Saturday, it finally looks like he feels he belongs out there. Sure, there are definite chinks in his armour (doesn't contest in the air nearly enough) but he is sublimely skilled for a guy of his height, seems to be reading the play very well and I suspect he may be in for a break-out or near break-out season across half back.

If that scenario unfolds things could get a whole lot more complex (and expensive) as we seek to secure him long-term. He absolutely will attract interest from rival clubs. So, should we try to tie him up as soon as possible, or should he prove himself first before we throw a three-year deal under his nose? Given our track record of paying out on players and then watching them coast through contracts, I'd prefer the latter. But ... I don't know if that should apply to Watts. 2013 could be the year he silences the knockers. It's a dilemma.

Back him in this year...defensive sweeper who i would rather use the ball as great as he does and let the likes of Frawley, Garland, McDonald go in and bash and crash for the ball.

No doubt Neeld has his own ideas as to Jacks value. He would highly value his disposal but would be not so enthused by his lack of 'grunt'. But he will only get better as a footballer and it should be a priority together his signature on a long term contract. Apart from anything else we don't need the high profile distraction of drawn out negotiations

And yes there will be plenty around here who regard his lack of intense physicality as more of a problem than I do

Been in our top 3 this preseason , and ready for a breakout year, definitely a keeper.

Now here's a dilemma looming on the horizon. Like others I've been - to put it mildly - a bit nonplused by the development of young 'Killer' since he arrived at the club. Late last year I saw his name among the '2013 coming out of contract' list and thought ... yeah, whatever. I was even open to the idea trading him if the right deal could be struck. Rumour has it that feelers were put by the MFC to several clubs on that front but nothing eventuated.

Roll on five months later and I'm beginning to wonder if it wouldn't be in our interests to try and tie up Jack to a new deal sometime during the next month. Watching him on the Gold Coast on Saturday, it finally looks like he feels he belongs out there. Sure, there are definite chinks in his armour (doesn't contest in the air nearly enough) but he is sublimely skilled for a guy of his height, seems to be reading the play very well and I suspect he may be in for a break-out or near break-out season across half back.

If that scenario unfolds things could get a whole lot more complex (and expensive) as we seek to secure him long-term. He absolutely will attract interest from rival clubs. So, should we try to tie him up as soon as possible, or should he prove himself first before we throw a three-year deal under his nose? Given our track record of paying out on players and then watching them coast through contracts, I'd prefer the latter. But ... I don't know if that should apply to Watts. 2013 could be the year he silences the knockers. It's a dilemma.

Geez RR your attitude to Watts has done a full 360. Weren't you calling for his head not 6 months ago?

Sign him up ASAP. Give him 5 years with incentives in his contract (eg makes AA, b&f position, brownlow votes etc). One one condition - he shaves his beard off.

Grunt or no grunt he is a valuable player. Every good side has at least one effective highly talented player that may be considered softish. If the criteria demands that every player bored in at a 100% then we would have less than half a side. If we were a better team his physicality would not be an issue.

I would be looking to sign him right now to 3 years. Certainly before the season fully gets under way as I really think he's in for a big one.

Will be signed up before May (gutfeel)

Definitely a keeper. he has did a complete turnaround in the last season, and his form between rnds 8-15 should us how important he will become. He has the best disposal out of all our defenders and without him down there i would say there would be turnover after turnover after turnover (not that there isn't already, but a lot more).

during rnds 8-10 last year watts had taken 11 intercept marks (1st in AFL), 34 intercept possesions (1st in AFL), had 19 rebound 50's (2nd in AFL), was averaging 27 disposals (17th in AFL incl mids) and had taken 23 marks in total(9th in AFL). You can always say, "but that is only over 3 games not over a long period, needs to show it for longer", but what i'm getting at is he is still only 21 and he will quite probably have a breakout season down back for us this year, and to have him locked away early will take a lot of distractions away for the remainder of the year for everyone involved, and a lot of worrying away from supporters

he has certainly come a long way from the look and feel of the boy that was "molested" by Collingwood that day on the G'.
Still only 21 years old and playing like not many big men have before him at that age.
Got a good 10 years of enjoyment of Jack with us, and i personally am absolutely relishing every moment.
Fear the beard!

here is the next 47 page topic that will turn into watts v niknat......

Nearly collapsed when I first saw the heading and missed the "of contract" bit.

Not that I would have any problems with it ...

Geez RR your attitude to Watts has done a full 360. Weren't you calling for his head not 6 months ago?

I wouldn't go as far as 360, Django. Not even 180 at this stage. But I did like what I saw on the weekend.

Jack's challenge is to cement himself as a top six player for the MFC by the end of the year. I'm backin him in to do it.

I wouldn't offer him a big money or long term deal yet. I'd let him play out the season and prove what he can do. I can't see him starring this year, I think he will still have ups and downs but prove himself a worthy player. I doubt he'll elevate his game far enough for us to be massively burnt and have to pay big dollars to keep him.

I'd like to see Jack be a one-club player as well as a star, so from that perspective I would love to see him signed up for a good long contract ASAP. However, as the OP says, there are still a couple of question marks over him regarding his contested ball winning. It could be that he finds himself without a spot in the side simply because we have other skilled HBFs who are harder at the contest (and I truly hope that this is not going to happen). It could be in everyone's best interests to see how he goes this season and deal with the contract later.

Aaron Davey worked out well.....

Sign him up ASAP. Give him 5 years with incentives in his contract (eg makes AA, b&f position, brownlow votes etc). One one condition - he shaves his beard off.

keep the beard i reckon its why he came good

i wouldnt be offering Jack ANYTHING untill he starts to play some really good footy. other posters above me are offering him a 5 year contract based on 'a good preason'. That is pure insanity.

Im not fussed if we wait till the end of the year.

if he does have an amazing year then we are in a great position salary cap wise to give him a really good offer.

i wouldnt be offering Jack ANYTHING untill he starts to play some really good footy. other posters above me are offering him a 5 year contract based on 'a good preason'. That is pure insanity.

Im not fussed if we wait till the end of the year.

if he does have an amazing year then we are in a great position salary cap wise to give him a really good offer.

Well said - 5 year contracts are fraught with danger.

Careful you're not too hard on JW, btw.

I can't imagine Watts leaving our club.

He is a Vic lad, his family live in Melbourne as far as I know.

We have enough coin to match other offers.

If rumors are true that we did try to offload Watts - then a cloud goes over Neeld somewhat because offloading Watts was the more ridiculous ideas I'd heard of since we got rid of Junior.

Jack Watts was always going to develop late like Tom Hawkins, they both dominated juniors and just need time.

I am not sold Neeld tried to offload Watts either, surely he isn't that silly, he seems pretty switched on and Watts worked hard last year.

He will sign up for sure. I think both us and Watts would agree we haven't seen the best of him yet. He is showing a lot of promise though and I would assume half way through the year it will all be done.

I've been a strong Watts supporter but I want to see him play out the season before contract talks are held. I think the goal of being in the MFC top six players is a good one but won't play a part in salary negotiations, since he is still in the front half of his career.

The variables involved in salary cap management are intricate but it would seem we have room. We should wait until the end of the season and then pay him what he's worth, whether that be $500k or a bag of doughnuts.

Isnt Killa already on $350k a year?

Well said - 5 year contracts are fraught with danger.

Careful you're not too hard on JW, btw.

easy contracts breed complacency.

He should want to stay a demon with hogan & viney & toumpa & clarke, frawley, grimes, trenners,,,,,,,