Would be good but he could do that in the forward line to which would result in more goals!

Would be great if he did it anywhere on a footy field...

I have not found many posters that understand this - excellent point.

I talk about trust on the field and this is what I mean; Nathan Jones doesn't need someone on the ground next to him as fights for the footy. He needs a person to hand it to outside of the contest so that he can make the most of the split second he wins the ball. I see far too many players right next to blokes who have won the footy. I see this at all levels of footy.

How can you possibly help? There may be a sheppard if there is one other player and your teammate is on his feet and moving, but the way you can help is to trust him to win the footy and give him options, and if all areas are already covered by teammates then you can slink back and look to work defensively.

The game is driven by outside runners and hard work offensively.

There is too much preoccupation with defence and defensively minded players.

Who dares wins.

Agreed. And too often two or more of our players go to tackle the one opposition player with the ball which inevitably frees up an opposition player who, not surprisingly, becomes the receiver.

The contests that Watts "chose" not to enter at Casey were ones that he should have been influencing. I'm specifically referring to aerial contests.

There was no "courage" to spread involved. To the contrary ...

The contests that Watts "chose" not to enter at Casey were ones that he should have been influencing. I'm specifically referring to aerial contests. There was no "courage" to spread involved. To the contrary ...

Agree, there is a difference.

For the contests where Watts NEEDS to make an impact by either winning the ball in the air or on the ground, to date he's been poor, and that's completely mental/psychological. He's got to overcome it.

For the contests where he positions himself well and in space to become the receiver, he does a great job and obviously his ball use is top notch.

Sometimes, the contests he 'chooses' not to impact are not so much a conscious choice, but a subconscious one. A pattern that I'm sure has developed throughout his footballing life because of this lack of desire to have that 'see ball, get ball' attitude. Other contests there's no doubt that he's positioned himself well and believes his team mate/mates can win the ball and get it to him.

It's definitely not so black and white though. And this will be the major challenge or hurdle for him to overcome in his footballing career. How muh can he develop and overcome this lack of urgency.

I have not found many posters that understand this - excellent point.

I talk about trust on the field and this is what I mean; Nathan Jones doesn't need someone on the ground next to him as fights for the footy. He needs a person to hand it to outside of the contest so that he can make the most of the split second he wins the ball. I see far too many players right next to blokes who have won the footy. I see this at all levels of footy.

How can you possibly help? There may be a sheppard if there is one other player and your teammate is on his feet and moving, but the way you can help is to trust him to win the footy and give him options, and if all areas are already covered by teammates then you can slink back and look to work defensively.

The game is driven by outside runners and hard work offensively.

There is too much preoccupation with defence and defensively minded players.

Who dares wins.

Sorry RP and the other poster who continues to make excuses for Watts, with regard to Jack Watts you are wrong, and you seem to equate winning contested possession with being defensively minded as you did on the other thread

Of course you don't go into a one on one all of the time. You do usually go into a 1:2 etc especially if it is a 50/50.

Anyone that cannot see that Jack Watts is not entering contests THAT HE SHOULD is not watching, is deluded (apologies deeluded) or doesn't understand the game.

If Watts was doing the things he should be doing the results would be self evident, he would be influencing games, winning footy and being of good value to his team.

If Watts turns his game around it will be because he will have changed his mindset, not solely becuase he is being used as a pure outside receiver.

Watts needs to improve, if he maintains the status quo he will become irrellevant.

Sorry RP and the other poster who continues to make excuses for Watts, with regard to Jack Watts you are wrong, and you seem to equate winning contested possession with being defensively minded as you did on the other thread

Of course you don't go into a one on one all of the time. You do usually go into a 1:2 etc especially if it is a 50/50.

Anyone that cannot see that Jack Watts is not entering contests THAT HE SHOULD is not watching, is deluded (apologies deeluded) or doesn't understand the game.

If Watts was doing the things he should be doing the results would be self evident, he would be influencing games, winning footy and being of good value to his team.

If Watts turns his game around it will be because he will have changed his mindset, not solely becuase he is being used as a pure outside receiver.

Watts needs to improve, if he maintains the status quo he will become irrellevant.

I was making a side point, that was indirectly related to Watts. I didn't even mention his name.

And providing an option for your teammate is what you should do unless, as I said, you are a chance to sheppard or block.

Offensive minded players win football games and we are all looking for Tyson or Pick 9 or Trengove to be as good (or near to) as Swan, Ablett, et al.

This is what they are going to have to do. Trust their teammate to win the footy and provide an outlet.

Watts needs work to make it in the AFL and he needs to start enjoying the physical side of the game or else it will brush him aside, but the feeling on here that some players are too offensively minded is erroneous; all I saw last year was a team full of timid people hoping their bloke didn't get the footy.

That's what I take exception to.

Its a new season, new coach, new coaching staff and a different way of going about things - that is made clear by who we have drafted. Mr PRoos has confidence in JW and that is good enough for me. Can't wait for Round 1 2014!

With a new coach in place and a player with Watts' talent, all he needs is to develop an appetite for the contest and he'll have a breakout year in 2009 2012 2014...

Oh wait, this isn't the cliches thread....

Its a new season, new coach, new coaching staff and a different way of going about things - that is made clear by who we have drafted. Mr PRoos has confidence in JW and that is good enough for me. Can't wait for Round 1 2014!

All you say is true - Mr Roos and his new regeime have a lot of work to do. Let us all give him a chance to prove just what they can achieve.

I still wish the club traded watts this last trade period,

He wasn't worth much then but after its been proven that Paul Roos can't turn this contact shy u-18 basketballer in to an afl player then he's going to be worth a lot less.

I just don't rate jack watts. He is a player without a position to call his own. To those who are trying to compare him to the dockers mids purely based on the number written next to 'height' on his drivers license, you guys are deluded. He's not an inside mid's boot lace. Too gangly, shy of contact and VERY easily pushed off the footy.

Jack watts is a KPP who just isnt quite good enough for AFL football.

I still wish the club traded watts this last trade period,

He wasn't worth much then but after its been proven that Paul Roos can't turn this contact shy u-18 basketballer in to an afl player then he's going to be worth a lot less.

I just don't rate jack watts. He is a player without a position to call his own. To those who are trying to compare him to the dockers mids purely based on the number written next to 'height' on his drivers license, you guys are deluded. He's not an inside mid's boot lace. Too gangly, shy of contact and VERY easily pushed off the footy.

Jack watts is a KPP who just isnt quite good enough for AFL football.

Bookmarked for when he wins the Bluey in 2014

Haha yes I've stuck my neck out on this one and I won't cut my nose off to spite my face by hoping he fails.. But I'm pretty comfortable with my opinion on this one

I still wish the club traded watts this last trade period,

He wasn't worth much then but after its been proven that Paul Roos can't turn this contact shy u-18 basketballer in to an afl player then he's going to be worth a lot less.

I just don't rate jack watts. He is a player without a position to call his own. To those who are trying to compare him to the dockers mids purely based on the number written next to 'height' on his drivers license, you guys are deluded. He's not an inside mid's boot lace. Too gangly, shy of contact and VERY easily pushed off the footy.

Jack watts is a KPP who just isnt quite good enough for AFL football.

Haha yes I've stuck my neck out on this one and I won't cut my nose off to spite my face by hoping he fails.. But I'm pretty comfortable with my opinion on this one

I know you must be frustrated that we didn't trade him for Pick 30 but the variables have changed, and while you and Stuie in particular can howl at the moon over the Groundhog Day of Optimism, Watts has never played under Roos.

If you rate what Roos can do then you can understand how others can see there is more benefit in letting Roos have a chance with Watts than trading him for a speculative pick - which is all we would have got for him for the reasons you outline.

You can be comfortable with your opinion, as I am comfortable with Roos' decision to back himself to make something of Jack.

I still wish the club traded watts this last trade period,

He wasn't worth much then but after its been proven that Paul Roos can't turn this contact shy u-18 basketballer in to an afl player then he's going to be worth a lot less.

I just don't rate jack watts. He is a player without a position to call his own. To those who are trying to compare him to the dockers mids purely based on the number written next to 'height' on his drivers license, you guys are deluded. He's not an inside mid's boot lace. Too gangly, shy of contact and VERY easily pushed off the footy.

Jack watts is a KPP who just isnt quite good enough for AFL football.

It was Roos who mentioned the Freo midfield, not Demonlanders! Is he deluded?

I still wish the club traded watts this last trade period,

He wasn't worth much then but after its been proven that Paul Roos can't turn this contact shy u-18 basketballer in to an afl player then he's going to be worth a lot less.

I just don't rate jack watts. He is a player without a position to call his own. To those who are trying to compare him to the dockers mids purely based on the number written next to 'height' on his drivers license, you guys are deluded. He's not an inside mid's boot lace. Too gangly, shy of contact and VERY easily pushed off the footy.

Jack watts is a KPP who just isnt quite good enough for AFL football.

I can't disagree with much of that. Good summation.

He's not a key forward, but I'd like him in the "Gunston" role, or down back, where he could learn to play third man up with a bit more courage in the air. His skills coming out of the back-line could be valuable. But yes, he's mo mid.

I can't disagree with much of that. Good summation.

He's not a key forward, but I'd like him in the "Gunston" role, or down back, where he could learn to play third man up with a bit more courage in the air. His skills coming out of the back-line could be valuable. But yes, he's mo mid.

I don't understand you, Paul Roos says he will be playing Jack as a mid and yet you adamantly say 'he is no mid'. You sure have a lot of confidence in your own abilities or lack some in our new coach.

I can't disagree with much of that. Good summation.

He's not a key forward, but I'd like him in the "Gunston" role, or down back, where he could learn to play third man up with a bit more courage in the air. His skills coming out of the back-line could be valuable. But yes, he's mo mid.

Well, if he finds (or is taught to find) the heart for a contest, then perhaps he WILL become the "little Aussie bleeder"?

Off topic, but just out of interest, who are you playing with in the Sydney comp?

I play with Mac Uni but I used to play with Maroubra (now Randwick) Saints.