Interesting article in today's Age on Jack Watts moving into the midfield. Given his efficiency with the ball, time in the system and improved fitness this could prove to be master stroke move by Paul Roos. Let's hope he becomes our own version of Scott Pendlebury given their basketball background and similar physiques.

Demons' Jack' Watts ready to take on the elite

He may not be the crash and bash KPF that many wanted and he may not even play mid as many want But he is really making a declaration. Roos is who he must satisfy and that will be good enough for me. Good on him

Watts was less smiley with the press and looked far more contemptuous of them as he should be after the crap they have written on him.

He looked to me like a tuck shop lady ready to serve up a big pile of SH IT sandwiches.

Talk's cheap Jack.

Action in 2014 please.

I've got a good feeling about Watts this year. I'd love nothing more than to see him become a star of the game and shove it up all his doubters.

I've got a good feeling about Watts this year. I'd love nothing more than to see him become a star of the game and shove it up all his doubters.

And to completely shut them up it would be nice if Jack could take mark of the year over Natanui.

I've got a good feeling about Watts this year. I'd love nothing more than to see him become a star of the game and shove it up all his doubters.

I had that feeling last year.

I had that feeling last year.

And the year before!

But I do feel he'll be developed the right way this time. Put in a position he can succeed in and given strict instruction by Roos. I hope we all give him some patience and I hope Watts at least has a crack. If he's doing that then he'll get our respect

With all this talk of Jack re-signing, working with the midfield, motivated under Roos, building a tank, etc, it would look incredibly stupid if he had a poor year. Not saying he will have a 'breakout season' (a phrase I cannot stand), but he definitely needs to lift again from his 2013 improvements to justify the hype.

Playing mid, all he needs to do to be successful is hard straight lines at the ball when in congestion. He has everything else, the rest will take care of itself, should be simple to just play see ball get ball kind of footy.

With all this talk of Jack re-signing, working with the midfield, motivated under Roos, building a tank, etc, it would look incredibly stupid if he had a poor year. Not saying he will have a 'breakout season' (a phrase I cannot stand), but he definitely needs to lift again from his 2013 improvements to justify the hype.

You would think he has everything in his favour now. Decent coach, more experience, some preseasons under his belt, more confidence and maturity. Jack has had plenty of chances and baring injury, he needs to produce consistent good football or the bandwagon is finally going to lose its wheels.

Edited January 19, 201411 yr by Bitter but optimistic

My only worry in all of this is that he is not a midfielder.

My only worry in all of this is that he is not a midfielder.

Well he's had a go at just about every other position, forward, back, even had a stint in the ruck!

You would think he has everything in his favour now. Decent coach, more experience, some preseasons under his belt, more confidence and maturity. Jack has had plenty of chances and baring injury, he needs to produce consistent good football or the bandwagon is finally going to lose its wheels.

Agreed. And what's with you actually talking about football Bitty? Are you unwell?

FMD. Should not be speaking to the media in my opinion. Just puts pressure on himself and the club... and as we know he struggles with the weight of expectation.

Work hard on the track, play some decent footy and earn some respect.

Agreed. And what's with you actually talking about football Bitty? Are you unwell?

Stop taking threads off topic will you Moon!!

Stop taking threads off topic will you Moon!!

The hot spell as definitely had an effect upon you. You should join Jack in the refrigerated truck on warm days.

Jack Watts has almost all the attributes to be a very good footballer. The missing piece is between his ears. IMHO Roos is just the person to help him rectify that.

The hot spell as definitely had an effect upon you. You should join Jack in the refrigerated truck on warm days.

Jack Watts has almost all the attributes to be a very good footballer. The missing piece is between his ears. IMHO Roos is just the person to help him rectify that.

I think the missing piece is between his shoulders. I'm not saying he's gutless, but I don't think Jack has ever really had to bust a gut and run himself to a standstill.

I've got a feeling he is a bit soft to play midfield, players like Selwood will make him look like a girl. Then what do we do with him, he has tried forward, back....I say play him where we drafted him......forward.

Creativity off a half back flank or wing/ high forward. I just don't see him as a mid unless its pinch hitting. Then again, what do I know.

I have a feeling that he's going to be playing basically the role Hird played. He'll sit off the packs and be the designated outlet man for guys like Viney and Cross. If they go in and get the ball out to him he has the pace, poise and skill to really hurt the opposition with it. I can't see him suddenly becoming an inside hard man with a change of coaches, but he can certainly get more of the ball and be more damaging to the opposition playing in the middle.

I've got a feeling he is a bit soft to play midfield, players like Selwood will make him look like a girl. Then what do we do with him, he has tried forward, back....I say play him where we drafted him......forward.

That is a sh it comparison. The most relative (or heard about) is Pendlebury, and I believe he has the tools to be that good.

Watts is a victim of poor development in a poor team. If he was drafted by Collingwood in '08 he'd be a vastly different player. Roos will extract everything we've seen glimpses of in Jack on a regular basis.

That is a sh it comparison. The most relative (or heard about) is Pendlebury, and I believe he has the tools to be that good.

Watts is a victim of poor development in a poor team. If he was drafted by Collingwood in '08 he'd be a vastly different player. Roos will extract everything we've seen glimpses of in Jack on a regular basis.

I'll raise that with yours being a sh it analogy. My clear understanding is that Pendlebury played a position in basketball that required significantly more peripheral awareness than the position Watts played.

I'll raise that with yours being a sh it analogy. My clear understanding is that Pendlebury played a position in basketball that required significantly more peripheral awareness than the position Watts played.

Seriously, WGAF about fob ball anyway. We're talking about Aussie Rules.

Seriously, WGAF about fob ball anyway. We're talking about Aussie Rules.

The comparison you noted has been made because of their basketball backgrounds.