Sounds like Jack Watts is headed to the backline.. Again

[Guest]

"Jack Watts should be available next week, so that's good,"

"That gives us another player coming out of the backline like Dean Terlich. We certainly like having the ball in Jack's hands." - Mark Neeld via MFC website

FFS the man is obviously better as a forward. Stop screwing around with him and play him where he belongs. His best bit of footy for the year was when he played up front in the second half against Brisbane.

Granted, we need cleaner disposal coming out if the backline, but Watts has been successfully tagged out of the game each time he's played there this year. It's a waste of his talent.

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

"Jack Watts should be available next week, so that's good,"

"That gives us another player coming out of the backline like Dean Terlich. We certainly like having the ball in Jack's hands." - Mark Neeld via MFC website

FFS the man is obviously better as a forward. Stop screwing around with him and play him where he belongs. His best bit of footy for the year was when he played up front in the second half against Brisbane.

Granted, we need cleaner disposal coming out if the backline, but Watts has been successfully tagged out of the game each time he's played there this year. It's a waste of his talent.

Freo is going to arguable put more pressure on us in this area then we have seen this year, some good disposal won't hurt us, but i think we need to throw him to CHF and try and win the game.

[pm24 451]

No point having his good disposal in the forward line if we haven't got the players in the back line or midfield to get it to him.

[DeeZee 7,445]

His best position is on the wing, playing more defensively to get the ball out of the 50 with pin point passes, and drifting forward every now and then to provide another forward option.

[Deemotivated 550]

"Jack Watts should be available next week, so that's good,"

"That gives us another player coming out of the backline like Dean Terlich. We certainly like having the ball in Jack's hands." - Mark Neeld via MFC website

FFS the man is obviously better as a forward. Stop screwing around with him and play him where he belongs. His best bit of footy for the year was when he played up front in the second half against Brisbane.

Granted, we need cleaner disposal coming out if the backline, but Watts has been successfully tagged out of the game each time he's played there this year. It's a waste of his talent.

Id like a few dollars on him kicking 50 odd goals for another club if we stupidly trade him.

Using him as a backman is a waste of time and is robbing Peter to pay Paul. Wing or Fwd for mine.

[Young Dee 1,303]

If only a bit of Terlich rubbed off on Watts you might just have a half decent player with desire and skill.

Watts topic really frustrates me - sic of hearing that he is so talented. Why should he come back into the AFL team after 3 weeks out injured and prior to that he was about to be dropped anyway. As Dawes said in the presser after the game our major downfall is effort. We finally showed some on the weekend and everyone wants to now bring in Watts? Let's make sure he has some desire/aggresion before he comes back in, we don't want him to have any negative influence on the team.

[pm24 451]

I wonder if we are one of the only clubs where a coach has to clearly identify which Jack he is referring to by also stating their surname....

[Young Dee 1,303]

I wonder if we are one of the only clubs where a coach has to clearly identify which Jack he is referring to by also stating their surname....

Not on the weekend anyway

[monoccular 17,662]

All of the above but he needs to be accountable (does Neeld know that word?) and not just a drifter in space.

IMVHO attacking winger is where I would like to see him, or HFF. He hasn't, at least to date, been accountable enough to have on the back line.

[pm24 451]

If only a bit of Terlich rubbed off on Watts you might just have a half decent player with desire and skill.

Watts topic really frustrates me - sic of hearing that he is so talented! Why should he come back into the AFL team after 3 weeks out injured and prior to that he was about to be dropped anyway. As Dawes said in the presser after the game our major downfall is effort. We finally showed some on the weekend and everyone wants to now bring in Watts? Let's make sure he has some desire/aggresion before he comes back in, we don't want him to have any negative influence on the team.

I thought the game against Brisbane was one of Jack's best for the year. Firstly, he was finally showing a willingness to go after the hard ball and got crunched hard from behind in a marking attempt, yet held the mark. He then also went forward to kick 2 goals, which has resulted in many on here wanting him to play forward, not back, thus the topic.

He actually played his best game for the year against the Lions, so hopefully, with the rest he'll be fresh and ready to go against Freo. We NEED his disposal out of the back line badly. Dunn is a great long kick, but showed that he is accurate enough with the shorter kicks, which he bungled on at least two occasions on Sunday with one leadign to a Reiwoldt goal.

[DeeSpencer 26,349]

If only a bit of Terlich rubbed off on Watts you might just have a half decent player with desire and skill.

Watts topic really frustrates me - sic of hearing that he is so talented. Why should he come back into the AFL team after 3 weeks out injured and prior to that he was about to be dropped anyway. As Dawes said in the presser after the game our major downfall is effort. We finally showed some on the weekend and everyone wants to now bring in Watts? Let's make sure he has some desire/aggresion before he comes back in, we don't want him to have any negative influence on the team.

I can not agree more! Unfortunately with Toumpas out and Bail completely useless we must be scraping the bottom of the barrel which will likely mean Watts back in.

And if we are going to play him we know it can't be forward he won't get a kick against any of Freo's decent defenders. For all those who think he's a forward they should look around the league and see how many 6'4'' 90kg forwards who are timid at the contest and can't take a strong overhead mark to save themselves get games in the AFL. Especially compared to how they go down in the backline when their opponent gives them somewhere to play from and they can use their height, speed and sumblime skills.

If Watts has his head in the game and is attacking the ball and defending with desperation he will start to fulfill his potential down back and eventually build strength and even take more dangerous opponents.

[angrydee 842]

Now we all know Neeldy knows best. We've all seen what a wonderful developer of talent he is. And we know that he has a great eye for a footballer - the recruitment if Pederson (on a 3 year contrct so we don't lose him), Gillies and Roden prove that.

So if he says Watts is a defender - it is what it is

[PRIME 41]

He should be placed in the mid field, he may have been a forward once but we have all the forwards we need at best he can swing down there when needed but we need clean disposal in the mid at the moment and he can offer that...

[Dr. Gonzo 24,452]

Play him forward FFS.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Why would Neeld flag his real intentions to the media, to Freo, to us???

It's just another comment that means nothing.

He has been savaged by the media and he's very guarded in his approach and all his comments.

[old dee 24,006]

Watts will be playing elsewhere in 2014 IMO.

I would swap him to Carlton.

Wonder if they would take him for Murphy?

[Matt Demon 1,575]

I like the idea of Watts returning to the forward line but I wonder what would happen next year when Hogan comes in. We surely can't play Clark, Dawes, Hogan & Watts all up forward? So that makes me think why play him forward now when he won't be there in the long term. He needs to be settled in a position.

[Deecisive 1,709]

play him on the wing that way he can go back and he can go forward.

[picket fence 17,994]

"Jack Watts should be available next week, so that's good,"

"That gives us another player coming out of the backline like Dean Terlich. We certainly like having the ball in Jack's hands." - Mark Neeld via MFC website

FFS the man is obviously better as a forward. Stop screwing around with him and play him where he belongs. His best bit of footy for the year was when he played up front in the second half against Brisbane.

Granted, we need cleaner disposal coming out if the backline, but Watts has been successfully tagged out of the game each time he's played there this year. It's a waste of his talent.

The sooner Mark Neeld goes the haapier I'll be!!

Hello

WATTS IS A FORWARD!!

[jacey 333]

I like the idea of Watts returning to the forward line but I wonder what would happen next year when Hogan comes in. We surely can't play Clark, Dawes, Hogan & Watts all up forward? So that makes me think why play him forward now when he won't be there in the long term. He needs to be settled in a position.

Watts needs a fixed position. If it's back, it's back but he needs stability.

I'd prefer he played forward.

Watts should be playing Howe's role. Forwards who have freedom to move up field when required.

Clark, Dawes, Hogan as the big three. Watts and Howe as the mid forwards who are creative and a small crumber. We would have a nice looking forward line in 2014. Limited supply still but it looks good.

[Nasher 33,617]

How come Watts is suddenly a forward again in everyone's mind? He's only ever been poor and timid as a forward, he has had some success as a defender. I'm wondering what it is that I've missed that everyone else has seen.

The coach has only ever said that he sees Watts as a defender. I know everyone wants as many reasons as possible to bag Neeld, but his view on Watts has been the same for a long time now. This is hardly new.

[Suzanna 72]

I wonder if we are one of the only clubs where a coach has to clearly identify which Jack he is referring to by also stating their surname....

Ha ha ha. My friend was trying to work out one of the new player's names at a game earlier this year - I told her to just call him Jack, odds on she would be right!

[Chook 15,023]

Now we all know Neeldy knows best. We've all seen what a wonderful developer of talent he is. And we know that he has a great eye for a footballer - the recruitment if Pederson (on a 3 year contrct so we don't lose him), Gillies and Roden prove that.

So if he says Watts is a defender - it is what it is

I notice you conveniently left out Clark and Dawes there. Good job distorting the facts to suit your agenda.

[kretinburger 5]

Watts hasnt been the same since he lost the beard!

[Young Dee 1,303]

I can not agree more! Unfortunately with Toumpas out and Bail completely useless we must be scraping the bottom of the barrel which will likely mean Watts back in.

And if we are going to play him we know it can't be forward he won't get a kick against any of Freo's decent defenders. For all those who think he's a forward they should look around the league and see how many 6'4'' 90kg forwards who are timid at the contest and can't take a strong overhead mark to save themselves get games in the AFL. Especially compared to how they go down in the backline when their opponent gives them somewhere to play from and they can use their height, speed and sumblime skills.

If Watts has his head in the game and is attacking the ball and defending with desperation he will start to fulfill his potential down back and eventually build strength and even take more dangerous opponents.

Yer, I agree. Putting Watts upforward is pretty much like playing a player short because he just doesn't have the strength or aggression to win or mark the ball. I can think of very few times that Watts has taken a mark in the forward 50 and gone back to slot it (especilaly contested marks). And how many goals has he got from wining his own ball in the 50? I can still remember that one agianst Richmond 1-2 years ago (thats how rare it is!). Most of Watts goals from memory come from free kicks - can anyone find a stat for that? I bet it would be quite alarming!

If only we could lock him in a cage with Hurley for 5 min....mmm