Watts, Trade or Keep

[Deez 298]

Im so over watts. I was hoping to keep him, but his heart is not in helping melbourne get out of this hole.

By what he has said to the media lately, he is wanting out bad.

bugger it, trade him, get in a consistent mid.

[agent 99 71]

Just like Sylvia we can keep him on our list and crap on that all he needs is one more season to turn himself around. Apparently he has elite skills or something like that blah blah blah!

Jack Viney is already twice the player Watts is and has been playing at afl level less than half the time.

[Earl Hood 6,101]

That kid is a gutless disgrace to our jumper and club, I watched him closely today and he constantly let Dunnand T Mc do the hard yards, I hate his body language I hate his non aggression at the ball and his opponent and I hate the way he plays as a loose defender and still won't bleed for his teammates, the guys worth nothing at the trade table and he is everything that Glen Bartlett talked about at the presidents lunch today, Kudos to Davey give the guy 1 more season on a limited wage because he deserves it, Christ that pea heart Watts must be barely able to look a kid like Viney in the eye after a game and I personally think one of the reasons JW hasn't been dropped this year is because they Didnt want him Infecting Hogan, that pea heart will be lucky to get a game at another club.

Why does Craig put him in this position as floating, loose backman? His job is to mop up loose balls, not go to contests, to receive handballs and spot up targets coming out of the back line. This is not the training he needs. I blame the coaches for not putting him in the engine room where he must be accountable. They should have thrown him onto Pav or into the centre.

Scarlett did this to perfection but he had earnt his points over many years as a legitimate backman.

[Jack Jack Tappy 112]

Just like Sylvia we can keep him on our list and crap on that all he needs is one more season to turn himself around. Apparently he has elite skills or something like that blah blah blah!

Jack Viney is already twice the player Watts is and has been playing at afl level less than half the time.

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.

[jnrmac 20,154]

Just like Sylvia we can keep him on our list and crap on that all he needs is one more season to turn himself around. Apparently he has elite skills or something like that blah blah blah!

Jack Viney is already twice the player Watts is and has been playing at afl level less than half the time.

This,,

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

Just like Sylvia we can keep him on our list and crap on that all he needs is one more season to turn himself around. Apparently he has elite skills or something like that blah blah blah!

Jack Viney is already twice the player Watts is and has been playing at afl level less than half the time.

he is in his first year, JW is in his 5th yes that is far less than half

[agent 99 71]

he is in his first year, JW is in his 5th yes that is far less than half

My point exactly?

When do the excuses stop and Watts just comes out on the field and plays like he is paid to do.

[dee-luded 2,959]

watts & our 2nd Rnd pick for Rich & their 3rd Rnd pick.

[Adam The God 30,403]

I'm another MFC supporter who has stuck up for Jack countless times throughout his career, but given what he has said in the press over the last week, his effort today was thoroughly deplorable. Today he was again laconic and avoided contests all day. He's not a combative player, but has more tantalising attributes than Sylvia of '08-'10. I think he's been dealt with harshly by our club on a number of occasions. Mismanaged is probably a better way of putting it. However, if you're going to demand high standards of the club, you must deliver yourself on gameday. If you don't, you won't get support from me. Talk about 'cheek'.

[Ted Lasso 19,549]

He clearly doesn't want to be a demon, so he can go be soft somewhere else and we should make sure we get a good deal out of it, i wonder if Taylor Adams for Jack Watts could be done?

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

He clearly doesn't want to be a demon, so he can go be soft somewhere else and we should make sure we get a good deal out of it, i wonder if Taylor Adams for Jack Watts could be done?

Not if GWS share the assessment of Watts of most who've posted on this thread.

[jackaub 1,402]

Jack is now completely damaged in my opinion

Partly due to circumstance mostly due to his overvaluation of his self worth

You are only number 1 if other people assess you as number 1

Sadly he was overvalued initially, poorly managed and has none of the desire to improve and use his obvious skill set

Im not entirely sure he is of any particular value now

[Vitamin Dee 903]

I too have defended Watts on countless occasions over the years, the words "He'll come good, just give him some time" have come out of my mouth every Monday morning for the past 5 years. But, not today.

If Watts played on Watts (bare with me here) they would both be happy to be stateless because they'd break even without taking a risk, getting to a contest or getting tackled. Imagine the nice 'chit chat' after the game too.....ohhh I'm going to vomit.

After recent events he must go, and, the compensation is secondary, it the statement. If Bartlett and co want to be professional, ruthless and improve the culture of the club, well here is 'exhibit A' staring them in the face.

[Curry & Beer 5,444]

we should have dropped him after TFS and then watched him bargain his way to a new club on the strength of three lacklusture VFL appearances. That would stitch him up nice and well

[Born to Run 204]

Jack probably working hard to reduce his value so he can get to a club with lesser bargaining chips. Keeping all options open! Well played Jack!

I have said all along, I want to keep him. This is more on account of how we will get dudded in a deal rather than on what he has shown thus far. I get the feeling that whatever trade deal happens, we will come off second best.

Anyway - after yesterday, perhaps its just something we will have to cop. I don't want people at the club who don't want to be a part of it. So unless he does, he can go wherever.

[Pates 9,660]

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.

[beelzebub 23,382]

Going also with the new "ruthless" club ideology then we have to dispassionately look at everything about the club and assess its wealth and health and restructure accordingly. When we come to Jack many of us ( and I include myself ) have to oheavily weighed his value , not so much on his shiny #1 badge but his skills etc which exude potential. I sense not much more will ever come from that as you need ambition, heart, desire to drive all of that and that seems lacking.

So going with the "time to get tough " stance the club simply has to look at the what of Watts and ascribe a value to him and go with that at the trade table. This unfortunately will be with more than a tinge of write down but if that where he is at, then thats where he is at. We exchange that value for someone who can grown the prospects of the team as opposed anchor in tar.

Some one once described getting ahead as picking and choosing from a selection of moving walkways. They go at different speeds at different times. If you pick the right ones at the right time to get ahead and much faster and further than if you choose poorly and stay on the slower/slowing ones too long. The thing is yo do have to change at times.

Watts is a slow one.

[John Crow Batty 8,878]

Jack probably working hard to reduce his value so he can get to a club with lesser bargaining chips. Keeping all options open! Well played Jack!

I have said all along, I want to keep him. This is more on account of how we will get dudded in a deal rather than on what he has shown thus far. I get the feeling that whatever trade deal happens, we will come off second best.

Anyway - after yesterday, perhaps its just something we will have to cop. I don't want people at the club who don't want to be a part of it. So unless he does, he can go wherever.

if he is trying to reduce his value then may have to accept less pay. Unless he has already made a deal with another club.

[Dinosaur Rover 197]

We seem to be overweight in tall mobile forwards when we need midfield.

[Hip & Shoulder 64]

I've been a Watts believer but after watching his performance - or lack thereof today - I reckon he's already got his bag packed. My 9-year-old nephew said he felt ashamed to have number 4 on his back yesterday. Very sad.

[mjt 640]

we should have dropped him after TFS and then watched him bargain his way to a new club on the strength of three lacklusture VFL appearances. That would stitch him up nice and well

All that does is stitch us up, we need the pathetic butterfly to perform so we can get something decent for him, he's screwing himself with his future earning capacity and he's screwing the club that invested a number 1 pick for him and he's screwed the supporters that backed Hes insipid gutless displays over the last 5,seasons, can't wait to watch Hogan demand the ball next season.

[What 18,810]

Put him in the table and take the best deal we are offered

i reckon we can get a top 10 pick

[beelzebub 23,382]

Put him in the table and take the best deal we are offered

i reckon we can get a top 10 pick

On the table........well its all but a certainty hes going that route

I think many simply have to forget what pick we used and consider the how or what of Watts . First round picks are gold. They will nearly always be used on the upcoming draftees unless an absolute gun is on offer. Watts is not that gun. He , if we are lucky will translate into a second round pick and more likely form part of a trade with picks crossing also

top 10 No way

top 20 extremely doubtful

top 30 not on his own

top 40...most likely outcome of sorts.

Any club 'hopeful' of gaining him will know he has to be worked on and wont over value him but seek instead to grab as bargain. We simply have to negotiate.

[dazzledavey36 55,315]

Id offer him for a top EDFL football player.

[hardtack 10,612]

Just before jones started to play well, there were threads like this about him.....

Edit: after the footy though... Watts is definitely gone....

The big difference between Jones and Watts is that Jones always tried and kept trying until it all started to click and, well, look at him now!

Before Sunday's effort I was in the keep Watts camp, but after watching Sunday's game, I am now firmly of the belief that he has made up his mind to leave and nothing will make him consider otherwise... his place in the side for the remaining games should be given to untried players to give them a taste of AFL.