Watts, Trade or Keep

[drdrake 3,133]

Jack Watts wasn't a loose man in defense he basically stood next to the Goal umpire and was like a seagull feeding on left overs. I can't believe our coaching staff allowed him to do this, it was the worse bit of coaching I have ever seen. I have no issues playing a loose man in defense with the role to stop goals and contest but Watts wasn't that he was there purely to receive the footy and try and set up attack. Considering the ball went over his head 20 times I don't think it worked. Saying that though every time Watts had an option to compete for the footy he didn't.

We need to keep Col Sylvia, the reason behind this is Jack Viney is 19yo, we can't expect him to bash and crash every week he needs support, you have Sylvia, Jones and Viney in that midfield you have options. For Col to leave now we are stripping away someone from what is already a bare cupboard.

Watts on the other hand we can cover if he goes, Clark, Dawes, Fitzpatrick, Hogan, Howe, Gawn.

The club should pull any offer we had on the table to Jack and tell him we are waiting till the end of the year to see if he has a spot.

[mjt 640]

Jack Watts wasn't a loose man in defense he basically stood next to the Goal umpire and was like a seagull feeding on left overs. I can't believe our coaching staff allowed him to do this, it was the worse bit of coaching I have ever seen. I have no issues playing a loose man in defense with the role to stop goals and contest but Watts wasn't that he was there purely to receive the footy and try and set up attack. Considering the ball went over his head 20 times I don't think it worked. Saying that though every time Watts had an option to compete for the footy he didn't.

We need to keep Col Sylvia, the reason behind this is Jack Viney is 19yo, we can't expect him to bash and crash every week he needs support, you have Sylvia, Jones and Viney in that midfield you have options. For Col to leave now we are stripping away someone from what is already a bare cupboard.

Watts on the other hand we can cover if he goes, Clark, Dawes, Fitzpatrick, Hogan, Howe, Gawn.

The club should pull any offer we had on the table to Jack and tell him we are waiting till the end of the year to see if he has a spot.

Agree, Sylvia wants 3 yrs he's barely injured and we have no midfield he's a must keep.

[mjt 640]

This,,

we have no midfield simpleton, Sylvia stays at all costs.

[alias275 259]

We don't need Watts. I don't agree with anyone who says we do.

Clark, Dawes with Hogan to come (who is a 10 times better forward and not scared to get hurt like Watts)

[dee-luded 2,959]

We don't need Watts. I don't agree with anyone who says we do.

Clark, Dawes with Hogan to come (who is a 10 times better forward and not scared to get hurt like Watts)

& was neeld right all along... stripes stand out, especially up close...

http://img3.allvoices.com/thumbs/image/609/480/86887900-donkey-painted.jpg

Edited August 19, 2013 by dee-luded

[The Reverend 1,736]

Viney is a first year player who hasn't had to put up with all the Shite the rest have. Look at all the players, they are absolutely wasted with what is the MFC, Howe, Blease, Watts, jones today even Garland, macdonald no tackles. I could go on. I saw Frawley tonight flat as a tack. The fish rots at the head and as Jackson and Craig have said the club needs to take responsibility and make the players play good football and want to be there. Someone has to be responsible and I think they are not over Neeld because they can't suddenly stop playing his ridiculous game plan of guarding grass and not playing on one on one.

You don't think the players have anything to answer for in all of this?

As individuals who are paid as elite sportsmen, personal pride should be driving them to be better than this.

As members of a team, responsibility to others should be a factor.

As representatives of the MFC, they have a responsibility to honour the history and work to turn things around. Not good enough on any of these counts.

It's a Gen Y thing to blame failure on others and wait for someone else to fix it. Yes the club has a role to play, no doubt, but the players are the ones who have the power to provide some fight on the field.

[FireUp 67]

This guy broke my heart yesterday. I left halfway through last quarter after watching Jack standing around with no care to get into a contest. We never leave. Previously I have supported him and just recently obtained a signed photograph of him which I gave to a nephew. I felt ashamed for my club yesterday to have a guy like that wearing our jumper. This was member appreciation round. What a joke Jack. Please sit down with your coach and commentate on your game. I have felt that the media had been tough on you. You didn't vote yourself no. one but poor development or not. If you don't have an opponent bloody well find one and get into the action

I'm shattered

[Ted Lasso 18,912]

i think col will stay, watts can just walk for all i care, he is as soft as cale morton and we need fighters and scrappers like viney

[alias275 259]

i think col will stay, watts can just walk for all i care, he is as soft as cale morton and we need fighters and scrappers like viney

Spot on. Trade now while we have the currency still left in him. One more year of this and he won't even be worth pick 88.

[Bedraggled Dee 336]

Watts is mentally already gone in my opinion. Looks to be going throught the motions although it is hard to tell with his laconic attiidue. He seems like a great bloke and obvioulsy has prodigious talent but it does not materialise on the field and I worry it never will. If I was in the recruiting dept I would definately see what was on offer and if we could get a quality small forward/mid and maybe an early pick you would have to consider. Especially given we have Frawley, Garland, Tommy Mac and Pedersen down back and Clarke, Dawes, Fitzy and Hogan up front. If Watts played to his potential he would be world beater but not sure we have the time or capacity to get it out of him.

[Ted Lasso 18,912]

watts to carlton for pick 11 pencil it in.

[Adam The God 29,658]

I wouldn't have rate his game as bad as most people on here, his disposal was still a stand out above most players. I will agree that his efforts were very weak and reflective of his entire time at Melbourne. I could go either way now with him, ideally I'd like to keep him and see if our new coach can get the best out of him but not if he holds the club to randsom. Pay him what he deserves and if he doesn't like it send him on his way.

Just on The Hoods question of why Craig plays him as a floating backman. He started as a forward and barely touched it, he can actually set us up quite well from defense but the problem for me is his defensive efforts are minimal at best.

I agree with your first paragraph, cannot with your second, Pates. It was extremely poor coaching from Craig. He left arguably Freo's most damaging player, S Hill loose in defence. It was weak and defeatist from very early on. He should have kept Watts up forward, thus manning that loose man. Playing Watts back simply means that he's allowed to play in an even more negative and less physical fashion.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Watts is mentally already gone in my opinion.

the fact he said what he did on TFS to me is proof he is definitely leaving - he MUST have known that taking that stance publicly was going to attract a level of contempt from large portions of the supporter base... contempt that for some will never go away. If he has a single brain cell he would realise that if there is ANY chance whatsoever he is at the MFC after this year he simplay cannot take that stance publicly.. therefore, he must be gone

[dazzledavey36 53,282]

My dad went to the game yesterday and took a bus load of disadvantage kids and couple of mates hiked along as part of a program they are starting up. Not only did he say it was a [censored] game to watch but he was also disgusted in in some of the pissweak efforts shown by Watts and said that he just refused to run hard or support a team mate and didn't go hard enough at the ball. He has been a supporter of Watts but after watching yesterday we both agreed it would be best to part ways with jack and get a suitable trade.

He also did mention that Watts was getting booed and a lot of abusive choice of words directed to him from Melbourne supporters. Even Freo supporters hope they don't recruit him lol

Edited August 19, 2013 by dazzledavey36

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

He also did mention that Watts was getting booed and a lot of abusive choice of words directed to him from Melbourne supporters.

Do others agree with this? I only saw TV, you could hear slight murmurs, I wondered what it sounded like at the ground

[jackaub 1,402]

Definitely Boos in the MCC members wing and to the eastern end of the ground

[Bring Back Barassi 552]

I have been a staunch Watts supporter, loved his precision kicking and great vision... always thought he would toughen up at some stage and show some fight and desire... but you know what... I am done with the guy.

Soft, gutless nancy boy with no heart. Get rid of him while we can get something for him.

Really upsets me to feel like this, but I must say I feel entirely betrayed, as pathetic as that may sound.

[Vipercrunch 2,820]

A few weeks ago I was scathing at Jack's performance against GWS (the thread was later deleted). I have tempered a little bit since then and my opinion follows.

He should leave.

He is not as good as he should be.

BUT...

I do not blame him for wanting to leave.

I do not blame him for not being as good as he should.

AND...

I would wish him all the best at another club (be easier if it wasn't a club I detest...) and hope he turns into a very, very good AFL player.

Basically the MFC stuffed this kid up. Too much pressure. Used him as a marketing tool. Pathertic development. We didn't want to play good football (tanked) just when he should have been learning what the AFL was all about.

He owes us nothing.

If he decides to stay then great. I really hope we get the right FD in place to help him reach his potential.

He he leaves, then I will hold no anomosity towards him.

[chookrat 4,215]

You don't think the players have anything to answer for in all of this?

As individuals who are paid as elite sportsmen, personal pride should be driving them to be better than this.

As members of a team, responsibility to others should be a factor.

As representatives of the MFC, they have a responsibility to honour the history and work to turn things around. Not good enough on any of these counts.

It's a Gen Y thing to blame failure on others and wait for someone else to fix it. Yes the club has a role to play, no doubt, but the players are the ones who have the power to provide some fight on the field.

Agree with much of this until the Gen Y rant. Totally irrelevant, discriminatory and inflammatory.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,366]

watts to carlton for pick 11 pencil it in.

Great idea(NOT) and have Watts tearing us apart with six goals every time we play the Blues? He would be a champion in a good team. Who is No 11 draft pick anyway? Could be a spud. We need EXPERIENCE not more kids as we are a very young, inexperienced team already.

[Hannibal 5,814]

I'm filthy on the club and Watts' coaches. they've pandered to this prima donna for years. I know he's been dropped occasionally, but nothing has really ever changed.

Watts' weak efforts lost me years ago, but why did the club put up with it ? I heard young Mitch Wallis interviewed after the Dogs win. He was asked why he'd been out of the team a month, or two earlier. He stated that he "probably wasn't hard enough". Watts' efforts have infuriated me for 5 years. But he's been allowed to get away with it. I would have left him at Casey for a year if i had to to get him playing the way i demanded. Watts has never been coached properly in my opinion.

[Hannibal 5,814]

He would be a champion in a good team.

Oh dear.

[P-man 13,366]

I've got a gut feeling he is Carlton bound.

Gibbs and Watts in the same team. Opposition supporters will have a field day.

[Adam The God 29,658]

Definitely Boos in the MCC members wing and to the eastern end of the ground

I sat on the MCC members wing. Didn't hear a single boo.

[jumbo returns 6,704]

I'm filthy on the club and Watts' coaches. they've pandered to this prima donna for years. I know he's been dropped occasionally, but nothing has really ever changed.

Watts' weak efforts lost me years ago, but why did the club put up with it ? I heard young Mitch Wallis interviewed after the Dogs win. He was asked why he'd been out of the team a month, or two earlier. He stated that he "probably wasn't hard enough". Watts' efforts have infuriated me for 5 years. But he's been allowed to get away with it. I would have left him at Casey for a year if i had to to get him playing the way i demanded. Watts has never been coached properly in my opinion.

He could never be coached to be hard at it - never had it. Putting him in the twos would not have yielded that quality.

We've got a young Viney going ape [censored] in every contested possession, scrapping like a pit bull, and Watts running away from the contest.

I'm happy to take a pick in the mid 30s for him.