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

[monoccular 17,579]

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

Deecisive - is that decisive or indecisive, or can't you quite make up your mind?

[dee-luded 2,959]

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.

I agree Nasher, i think your spot on... i see watts as a copy of Dunn when he was young except Dunn thought he was tougher than watts seems to. watts is smarter & more skilled.

Dunn is a harder worker & I think is waking Up, but imo he still has his same old spots, even if he's dyed them.

I won't cry if watts goes 'Static' at the end of the Year... my Hair may stand Up on It's Roots, but I won't scream, I promise!

.

[dee-luded 2,959]

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

Deecisive - is that decisive or indecisive, or can't you quite make up your mind?

Kick it to me - Kick it to me

[pm24 451]

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

Ummm three weeks ago in Brisbane he kicked two goals from marks on the lead inside 50. One from basically the boundary line 50 out. In that game he also took a mark in the back half, where he actually went back with the flight of the bar and took the mark while getting crunched from behind.

I get the feeling, he may actually be more willing to put his body on the line these days.

[DeeSpencer 26,089]

Ummm three weeks ago in Brisbane he kicked two goals from marks on the lead inside 50. One from basically the boundary line 50 out. In that game he also took a mark in the back half, where he actually went back with the flight of the bar and took the mark while getting crunched from behind.

I get the feeling, he may actually be more willing to put his body on the line these days.

One swallow doesn't make a summer. Was a nice effort but doesn't make up for all the ones he didn't go hard at. And its not contests in the air or at the ball mainly its things like tackles where he has to stick them and instead lets the player run straight past.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

He jogs to a contest, I've rarely seen him sprint this year, but......he has gone hard and low when it's been his turn.

Perhaps he's getting the message.

[pm24 451]

One swallow doesn't make a summer. Was a nice effort but doesn't make up for all the ones he didn't go hard at. And its not contests in the air or at the ball mainly its things like tackles where he has to stick them and instead lets the player run straight past.

I wasn't suggesting that he's done enough but more pointing out that for the first time he's starting to show some of the attitude towards a contest that we have been asking for.

Thus my statement "I get the feeling, he may actually be more willing to put his body on the line these days".

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

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

What about Dawes, Terlich and MJones who recruited them? Dean Bailey I suppose.. oh and how great are Petterd, Gysberts and Martin going at their new homes?

[DeeSpencer 26,089]

I wasn't suggesting that he's done enough but more pointing out that for the first time he's starting to show some of the attitude towards a contest that we have been asking for.

Thus my statement "I get the feeling, he may actually be more willing to put his body on the line these days".

Thus my statement one swallow doesn't make a summer. If I've learnt anything from footy I've learnt don't get a feeling about something after a player does it once!

Otherwise my feelings about Juice Newton being a star and Dean Bailey a super coach might have come true by now!

[angrydee 842]

What about Dawes, Terlich and MJones who recruited them? Dean Bailey I suppose.. oh and how great are Petterd, Gysberts and Martin going at their new homes?

What about Dawes, Terlich and MJones who recruited them? Dean Bailey I suppose.. oh and how great are Petterd, Gysberts and Martin going at their new homes?

I stand corrected.

He's a master recruiter and a great coach.

The improvement since he came to the club has been profound!

[Dr. Gonzo 24,333]

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.

Clark to the ruck/ruck-rover.

[Whispering_Jack 30,706]

Watts has played the best football of his career in defence which he did for 6 -7 weeks around the middle of the season and before he was injured. He returned late in the season when the team was in true junk time mode and, apart from the early NAB Cup stages, hasn't been quite right fitness-wise this season.

As has been pointed out above, he doesn't seem to fit into our likely forward set up and given where we are at the moment, once he proves his fitness it's more appropriate to play him where he most benefits the team. Clearly, that's in defence or in the middle and not necessarily up forward.

[Mad_Melbourne 877]

how many times did we struggle to hit a target coming out of our backline on the weekend?

this could be due to a midfield issue, but it is also due to players not having the kicking ability, get the ball in the hands of watts and he will hit targets, this is why the defensive forwards always get to him and have been limiting his output.

i hope that watts will be a swing player because in our forward line he could play as a small forward due to his speed but at the moment play him down back and let him kick the ball as much as possible

[Guest rednblue4life]

Watts needs confidance and the footy in his hands up forward he will be staved of oppertunity like everyone else. grate user of the ball out of defence mayb he can beswitched forward as a third tall every now and again but not a perminate target.

[jazza 1,323]

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

dont quite know when mn said he was a defender

i think he wants him to learn certain values and our team not being equipped with stars he has to move the pieces around to suit also they make it harder to be tagged coming out of backline

earlier this season neeld was quoted as saying WE ARE ALL TRYING TO FREE JW UP SO HE CAN JUST GET A KICK AND ENJOY HIMSELF AND FOOTY

Edited May 22, 2013 by jazza

[PaulRB 6,411]

For some bizarre reason I see Watts best position being in the midfield with a license to float back and forward as the game requires. In the mould of Pendlebury or Goddard.

Not saying he's there by a LONG shot but feel he is being groomed as a player who could play that role as he matures physically and mentally.

He needs to demonstrate he wants such a pivotal role and is prepared to back himself to take more responsibility in the team.

Edited May 22, 2013 by PaulRB

[DeeSpencer 26,089]

For some bizarre reason I see Watts best position being in the midfield with a license to float back and forward as the game requires. In the mould of Pendlebury or Goddard.

Not saying he's there by a LONG shot but feel he is being groomed as a player who could play that role as he matures physically and mentally.

He needs to demonstrate he wants such a pivotal role and is prepared to back himself to take more responsibility in the team.

I agree, but the midfield is no place for shrinking violets. Watts would be a major liability at clearances and around the ground because I'm yet to be impressed by his work rate. So that's why half back makes sense. Eventually down the track I think he'll prove a bit tall and cumbersome for inside mid unless he starts acting like Adam Goodes but I certainly think he could play the wing very well. The hunger for the contest and running has to be displayed.