It's time for Watts to leave - according to Barrett

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

Morton is now at a top AFL club, he's not to late to be saved, if we were the problem. But I think he's got the same problem at Watts. If other clubs landed Watts where would he line up??

I'd expect most clubs have better ball users out of the back half than us so probably up forward

[Carrot Top 947]

Watt's was woeful for the first couple of games, there is no debate there. But so was most of the team. Watt's has more talent in his little finger than majority of players in the team. Either he doesn't believe what the coach is selling and that translates to his onfield performance or the Coach is playing him horribly out of position and Watts is losing his confidence in him because of this.

Not trying to be smart, but what the hell is his position? He can't play forward, and he isn't accountable as a backman. He gets lost on flanks and hasn't the presence to be spine player. So what is he? An expensive linkman that goes to pieces if tagged? I put it out there that Watts is out of confidence because he's out of his depth in the AFL. He just isn't cut out for it because he hasn't got it inside to handle the pressure it brings. Shame, and God knows I backed his first few years, but it is what it is and no amount of polish is going to change that.

[Pirlo 813]

Watts is no longer a "young KPF" - with Clark, Dawes and Hogan where will Watts fit in? If he can't get a game ahead of Sellar or Pedersen that should be setting off the bells ringing.

Setting off the bells ringing...about the intelligence of our coaching staff.

[Pirlo 813]

Haven't actually read the article, but you can just imagine the smug [censored] reading the excerpts in that voice of his. Prefaced, of course, with a "yeah, well, look, Gaz..."

[The Hallowed Turf 95]

I know it's a hard call but I think Barrett is right. We have stifled his career. Having said that, his efforts this year have been deplorable. I say we cut our losses, trade him & try and get a first round pick for him. Like everything else we seem to do, it hasn't worked, let's start again.

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

It's amazing how much of this is based on the first three rounds, i thought he would be All Australian this year on the half back flank based on last year and i still think he can have a big impact playing there, probably best to leave any decisions on watts til the end of the year. One would hope this young man would want to repay the faith we have already put in him.

[DeeZee 7,445]

It's amazing how much of this is based on the first three rounds, i thought he would be All Australian this year on the half back flank based on last year and i still think he can have a big impact playing there, probably best to leave any decisions on watts til the end of the year. One would hope this young man would want to repay the faith we have already put in him.

Exactly.....i thought he had a good year last year.

He hasnt done himself any favours so far this year though.

The jury is still with alot of players and coaches at our club....we will just have to wait and see how it pans out over the next 4 or 5 weeks.

I would love to see him on a wing though.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,289]

Damien Barrett clearly doesn't like us and he makes no secret of it, as mark neeld said, jack watts was ill as well as out of form and that's why he was subbed, he is a confidence player who was feeling like crap and getting destroyed on the field, makes no sense to leave him out there.

So why drop him then? More to the story than "he was ill".

[The Hallowed Turf 95]

It's amazing how much of this is based on the first three rounds, i thought he would be All Australian this year on the half back flank based on last year and i still think he can have a big impact playing there, probably best to leave any decisions on watts til the end of the year. One would hope this young man would want to repay the faith we have already put in him.

I think HBF is Watts best position also but if you aren't applying any defensive pressure you need to think about your role. I would say to him Jack, you have the next 6 rounds. Show us something!

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,408]

I know it's a hard call but I think Barrett is right. We have stifled his career. Having said that, his efforts this year have been deplorable. I say we cut our losses, trade him & try and get a first round pick for him. Like everything else we seem to do, it hasn't worked, let's start again.

Crap, Watts needs to harden up. End of case. Neeld helped destroy so many careers at the pies as did Craig and Misson at their Clubs. Thats why other clubs were chasing all three. Jacks extra training should include boxing twice a week including sparing.

[rjay 25,086]

Watts is a utility a bit like what Howe is doing now and what Goddard does, a bit forward a bit mid and a bit floating back. Will add to our midfield depth. Get him in the side and get the ball to him, he is our best user of the ball.

[DeeZee 7,445]

Crap, Watts needs to harden up. End of case. Neeld helped destroy so many careers at the pies as did Craig and Misson at their Clubs. Thats why other clubs were chasing all three. Jacks extra training should include boxing twice a week including sparing.

Watts is a utility a bit like what Howe is doing now and what Goddard does, a bit forward a bit mid and a bit floating back. Will add to our midfield depth. Get him in the side and get the ball to him, he is our best user of the ball.

Both of these are correct.

If our coaching group is so bad then why aren't the likes of Dangerfield, Thompson, Swan,Pendlebury, etc etc now useless spuds?

And yes when in form he is our best ball user.

[45HG 1,559]

"When it comes to taking a life-and-death approach to all matters football, he is no Joel Selwood. But then again, no one else is, either."

I'm sure Joel Selwood has something to say about that.

[LegsLeoncelli 162]

Put Watts on the wing and let him run

Yeah, like Woewodin did when he went to Collingwood...

Unfortunately there's a bit more to footy than just running around.

[stinga81 210]

Not trying to be smart, but what the hell is his position? He can't play forward, and he isn't accountable as a backman. He gets lost on flanks and hasn't the presence to be spine player. So what is he? An expensive linkman that goes to pieces if tagged? I put it out there that Watts is out of confidence because he's out of his depth in the AFL. He just isn't cut out for it because he hasn't got it inside to handle the pressure it brings. Shame, and God knows I backed his first few years, but it is what it is and no amount of polish is going to change that.

To be honest I don't know where it is! But dropping him after two weeks isn't going to help his confidence. Either play him forward or on the ball for 6 games straight in that possie without fear of being dropped. I dunno, but he's not backman doesn't have the [censored] nor the accountability to play there. I think midfield is probably the only place he hasn't been tried and with all the midfield rotations that go on he might have the engine to run out games there.

[Wilbur 447]

Barret is a coniving hack journalist. Watts is down on confidence atm play him on the wing ffs

[Return to Glory 8,448]

Muck raker and Young Lib impersonator.

[michael collins 49]

So Jack had a couple of shockers. So he was dragged, but he took his medicine. A game at Casey might have lifted his confidence, but that assumes that confidence is the problem. If Mark Neeld think he needs to be more determined, or more aggressive, or work harder, I don't see that he needs to play at Casey for that. He's had a kick in the backside, let's see how he goes now.

I thought he had a fair year last year, and looked a much improved player. If we trade everyone who plays two bad games there won't be much left. Give him a fair go - and if at the end of the year he wants to go, let him. But its in his interest to work his value up.

[dees189227 12,398]

"Maybe it can be traced back to his very first game in the AFL, round 11 2009. Having quarantined Watts from the pressures of the big-time for the first half of the season, Melbourne officials abandoned the cotton-wool approach and, putting its own public relations requirements ahead of Watts, unveiled him in front of 61,000 spectators in the Queen¹s Birthday game against Collingwood."

He's not wrong about that.

That entire thing was embarrassing for the club and Watts. They actually made an announcement as the team ran out: "Ladies and gentlement, No.1 draft pick Jack Watts, and the Melbourne Football Club."

God awful.

I wasnt at that game. Are you serious they actually announced him. That is awful. At the time I didnt think there was anything wrong playing im but looking back now it was a horrible thing to do. I think Neeldy felt the same way because he said last year Watts was virtually set up to fail as soon as he was taken number 1.

Look at how essnedon have managed Daniher. they havent thrown him out there. Jack was still a raw kid doing year 12. I think it was a desperate stunt to get people at the game and it was stupid to debut him int hat game.

In saying that Watts is in his 5th season. he cant coast through now. He actually has to perform. Id like to see him stay and neeldy work it through with him.

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

How do you think he'd go in the ruck?

[tonatopia 278]

Play him in the guts, like tj.

[KLV 1,768]

Keep him!

Ignore media hypotheses, they are underemployed, got to find something to carry on about it.

It's only 3 rounds in, but I'm sick of it all already.

How much time do these endless tv / radio shows actually spend talking about the GAME?

They are all wannabe Caroline Wilsons, God forbid!

[demoniac 1,336]

Why would anyone read or listen to Damian Barrett. My fellow Dees fans you have to start consuming media in a more critical manner.

[Guest rednblue4life]

Id play Watts this week in the back line tell him i dont care how many times u stuff up just want to see second and third efforts all day. He looks scared hes ganna stuff up. Just play on instict and get fired up!!

If he cant have a influance agaist Gws then its back to Casey for a month.

[[email protected] 101]

Its amazing how journalists cant stand the club, we havnt won a thing for 50 yrs and they still stick the boots in, who gives a [censored] what Damion Ferret thinks, if jack wants to leave the balls in his court.

Damien Barrett is a sleezy "ambulance chasing" Gutter Journalist !! Nothing more, nothing less. He is your typical Sensationalising "Nerd" Reporter who wouldn't know one F...NG thing about what it takes to be an AFL player or a REAL man for that matter...

Edited April 17, 2013 by [email protected]