Watts is showing a helluva lot more leadership than Grimes and Trengove have on the field this year.

Why do all you idiots keep using basketball as a proxy for softness?

Have any of you actually played?

I was so tempted to say this, but you did it for me. I remember being knocked out cold from an uppercut to the jaw from an errant forearm in a rebounding drill at training. Elite and even local senior basketball is tough. If you don't believe it, it's likely because you've never played it.

I was so tempted to say this, but you did it for me. I remember being knocked out cold from an uppercut to the jaw from an errant forearm in a rebounding drill at training. Elite and even local senior basketball is tough. If you don't believe it, it's likely because you've never played it.

Too right, those that say he has great awareness, BUT he does come from a basketball back ground are too dismissive.

The fact is he is Elite in his awareness and evasive skills, and the best at the club.

Doesnt matter where he gets it from, Basketball or otherwise.

What if Jack is thinking what position will I play next year under a new coach given that Clarke, Dawes, Hogan, Fitzpatrick and Howe will all be available?

What if Jack is thinking that that he may end up in defence and that is a position he doesn't particularly want to play?

What if Jack has already been told by the MFC that we will be putting him up for trade at years end in the hope of gaining a quality midfielder?

I totally support trading him as long as we get a quality midfielder or high draft pick for him. We have a quality forward line if we can get them all on the park. Our backline is also good for talls. So where does that leave Jack - on the trade table!

Gerard Healy, Gerard started @ wing half forward & ended up ruck rover. same as hird.

I see him switching thru the middle/centreline as he matures.

Thanks for agreeing about Jacks honesty. Yes, his answers didn't appear coached.

I'm surprised to be defending him because I hate his softness too, though improving this year (less soft than Davey). Watts is 11Kg lighter than Neitz!! ..he shouldn't be expected to crash & bash quite like Neitz.

I thought we'd all agreed MFC's recruiting was hopeless, therefor it's neither his fault being picked #1, nor erroneously picked to be a KP player.

IMO Watts is, and should be thought of as, a tall, skinny, fast flanker/winger/utility (and better crumber than most). KP only to cover emergencies.

In spite of his fault, he's a unique tallent, still a much better, skilful, faster, more useful player than our captains plus most of the team. Hopefully he'll keep improving here or trade for a top notch bigger bodied a-grade midfielder, nothing less.

I agree that some people here need to take a breather

As mentioned by PJ with Roos people should just start accepting what he says at FACE VALUE:

He didn't say his going to leave, just that he is ambivalent. Hes being honest (unlike Scully) so we should at least respect that.

Yes we are all screaming out for hard nosed 'my way or the highway' leaders but he aint that so get over it.

Hes a different personality we should take at FACE VALUE rather than the standard script reader. One could argue this is reflected by his footy...I am not completely convinced.

In any case, he will be given a few home truths after the interview he will have to deal with but hes put himself in a position that we should be better prepared to handle now

a) his softness

b) his inability to make a decision (this not just restricted to 22yo footballers)

c) leadership and PR

d) desire for a sport on the MFC list

this is the age of free agency so we got suck it up unfortunately

Between Wing & HFF Jack could own if he wanted it.

Memories of watching Matera in th '92 GF come to mind.

Jack needs to want to attack the ball.

[censored] your a dreamer.

[censored] your a dreamer.

and you are an angry man. Chill out. It's not that hard.

This. I don't understand how from one appearance on the footy all these people bag him out all of a sudden? Against the Bulldogs he was our lord and saviour? He has his up's and down's like anybody else does and people saying he's either with us or GTFO need to re-visit some of their own posts about this club when we are losing games... (myself included) Anyway Jack was just being honest and who could blame him for being unsure about his future? I know a few people on here have said they have given up on MFC so why can't the players feel that way too?

DD, you've taken apostrophe mutilation to a cosmic level.

Does anyone really think the Suns would trade Swallow for Watts? Come on.

Watts & Pick 2

For

Swallow & .....

Watts & Pick 2

For

Swallow & .....

Ablett

I just watched the footy show and must say Watts to me seems to just be genuinely undecided.

Can u blame him after the last 7 years as a player u must think "will this shite ever end". Yes I know he has to lead from the front.

I have met Watts several times and is a very likeable and honest guy. Yes I know we need non likeable guys at the dees.

We can not afford to let him go his skills are silky clean and with a new EXPERIENCED coach I am very confident he will take the next step.

It's amazing what a bit of confidence and stability within the club (via PJ and the new Prez) can do.

I just watched the footy show and must say Watts to me seems to just be genuinely undecided.

Can u blame him after the last 7 years as a player u must think "will this shite ever end". Yes I know he has to lead from the front.

I have met Watts several times and is a very likeable and honest guy. Yes I know we need non likeable guys at the dees.

We can not afford to let him go his skills are silky clean and with a new EXPERIENCED coach I am very confident he will take the next step.

It's amazing what a bit of confidence and stability within the club (via PJ and the new Prez) can do.

DO, so many posters have already said this, so I'm acknowledging those who have already written this......JW has to WANT to get this club out of its mire, its darkness. He's not a first year player any more, and, in his own way, HE has to stand up and lead, whatever that is for him.

A collective mindset is needed here, sheer will of the group, communal efficacy to improve....a new coach won't put the footy on his boot or put on a shepherd for him or take the bump for him. The new coach will be the icing on the cake of a changed mindset.

DO, so many posters have already said this, so I'm acknowledging those who have already written this......JW has to WANT to get this club out of its mire, its darkness. He's not a first year player any more, and, in his own way, HE has to stand up and lead, whatever that is for him.

A collective mindset is needed here, sheer will of the group, communal efficacy to improve....a new coach won't put the footy on his boot or put on a shepherd for him or take the bump for him. The new coach will be the icing on the cake of a changed mindset.

That's the thing j r he has never had an experienced coach to guide him. He has had two hacks.

I truly believe when this happens he will take the next step and lead, take the bump and put on a Shepard as u have suggested above.

He is to good to get rid of now. Yes he needs to improve in areas but there is something there to build on.

In the Nathan Jones interview on SEN a couple of days ago, in Tim Watson's quick 5 questions "Your favourite Jack at the club?" without hesitation Jones answered "Watts". That's the second strong endorsement of him from a respected team mate. Earlier in the year I heard Jack Grimes talk very genuinely positive of him too, said he's a key to keeping morale high in difficult times.

What were the other four?

Does anyone really think the Suns would trade Swallow for Watts? Come on.

Spot on Tony. I've always found it amusing that posters from time to time suggest trading Sylvia/Watts/[insert any other player's name] for Ablett/Pendlebury or some other absolute gun!!! Or the suggestion that Dunn/Davey/[again, insert any other dispensable player's name, it used to be Bate] be thrown in to sweeten the deal.

Reality check!! Throw in a packet of Clinkers. Now you're talking!!!

Watts bemoans the club over leadership . Waits for others it seems to shine the light . only needs to look in mirror if he dares, or cares.

How many more preseasons til this awakening ?

Watts bemoans the club over leadership . Waits for others it seems to shine the light . only needs to look in mirror if he dares, or cares.

How many more preseasons til this awakening ?

Some are born leaders, some are taught how to lead, others are happy to follow a leader and just be a foot soldier. That doesn't mean they are not good enough it simply means that they would rather do what they do well and leave the leadership side of things to others.

Sometimes the penny drops a little later in life and as they develop and mature they also learn to lead; who knows Jack may learn one day, or he may not.

God forbid Jack may be the replacement version of Col Sylvia and we may spend the next 5 years waiting for his break out year.

we lamented losing the Kreuzer cup but im concerned we may have won the Cruiser one

I think it's true that a great deal will depend on who will coach and, to a lesser extent, whether Melbourne gets a priority pick at or near the top of the draft.

I wouldn't discount some radical changes to our list that could well see us trading Jack Watts, Colin Sylvia going elsewhere and us taking one or two free agents in his place.

Let's face it. For whatever reason, with our current list we have been abject failures. I don't fear losing Jack Watts, Colin Sylvia or anyone else who doesn't feel comfortable about being on board.

2014 is going to be a brand new day for us and some of our players are going to wake up one morning, playing elsewhere. Others nowhere at all.

That's the nature of the game.

mix it up we must.

For what its worth id gladly retain Jack but it needs to be an awakened Jack, an invigorated Jack. He needs to jump the gate and take the game head on. Combine his ability with gusto and spark and hed be formidable .

I just worry that his talking ,his demeanor and lapses in play suggest to me a sense of deja vu.

There can be no passengers .

There can be no passengers .

On the reality bus?????

Oh wait that bus is gone.

Ive also danced withered notion that possibly Jack is spooked. He knows Clark is back next year. Hes aware wonder boy/man Hogan is coming. With Dawes Howe Fitzy etc its pretty crowded up the front. Watts has at timez strugglex for form and isnt a matter of fact starting 22.

Maybe, just maybe this is all just bs and is an exit strategy to other pastures ; greener of course

there is of course the wing.. maybe the best place .

We'll know before long i suspect

On the reality bus?????

Oh wait that bus is gone.

It crashed into a school and caught fire, killing everyone on board and anyone who was ever going to get on board.

Time to Dream.

It crashed into a school and caught fire, killing everyone on board and anyone who was ever going to get on board.

Time to Dream.

Lol but instead of crashing into a school lets say it crashed into parliament.

That way no one would care about external casualties!!

He is to good to get rid of now. Yes he needs to improve in areas but there is something there to build on.

We wouldn't be tossing him out with the garbage. You trade him to improve a deficiency.

Watts is best as a forward, although he has merit as a swingman. Unfortunately though, he's not dominant at either end. Watts looks great down back without an opponent playing against the Suns, Dogs, or GWS, but against a top team he's easily closed down. And the one area of the ground we look promising is the forward-line. Let's face it, Watts hasn't changed the fact we're one of the worst teams in VFL/AFL history. It's not like we're moving on young Carey. Jesse Hogan will make a difference to this team, Watts doesn't. In fact, Watts is waiting for the team to improve, not driving the team to improve. Jesse hogan is a driver, Watts is a passenger.

Quality mids will make a difference to this team. So it really depends on what value he has. Unfortunately opposition clubs won't want to pay a fortune for upside, even though they'll back themselves to improve him with their development. So there'll be haggling over upside versus what he's done to date, which is two thirds of SFA.