I'll go with a perennial favourite/whipping boy. I'm hoping Jack Watts will be our surprise packet this year. And it's not just wishful thinking. With more grunt in the midfield, we can stop worrying that Watts isn't getting the hardball and be grateful that he can be used as the distributor of the ball dug out of packs for him by players like Viney and others.

I've been thinking that as well. We have a lot more inside ball winning midfielders than we have ever had. The more Watts gets fed the ball the better he will be.

The surprise packet will be the competition remembering again how good Jeff Garlett is! 30+ goals and plenty of spark up front.

Also think that Matt Jones has another level and will remain best 22 despite the critics

Same for me on Matt Jones. Wildly underrated on here.

I think Watts will be alot better this season. When Melbourne are winning games, he is firing. He kicked most of his goals when Melbourne had won. With Melbourne winning more games this year I think he will do quite well.

Edited January 4, 201510 yr by Barra17

Jack Grimes

Max Gawn.

A full pre season could see this giant of a man take over from Jamar and make it his own.

Also really really hope Toumpas has a great year. I dont expect him to have a Dom Tyson like year I just want a year where we see glimpse ofnwhat he can do.

Great call. I have a feeling Max is ready to take some big steps this year and become a genuine A grade ruck. This would be huge for the club if he can

Jack Grimes

I hope that he does surprise everyone. Free of the burden of captaincy and with a full preseason behind him, perhaps he can put together a better season.

I hope that he does surprise everyone. Free of the burden of captaincy and with a full preseason behind him, perhaps he can put together a better season.

Not sure what to make of "the burden of captaincy", does it affect your ability to kick the footy?

I think Watts will be alot better this season. When Melbourne are winning games, he is firing. He kicked most of his goals when Melbourne had won. With Melbourne winning more games this year I think he will do quite well.

What areas do you think Watts will improve in?

Newton

Salem

Jamar

What areas do you think Watts will improve in?

Difficult to answer, given the oval shape of the ground then I think he will improve over most areas of the ground, except perhaps the full forward area

What areas do you think Watts will improve in?

What areas do you think Watts will improve in?Difficult to answer, given the oval shape of the ground then I think he will improve over most areas of the ground, except perhaps the full forward area

What areas do you think Watts will improve in?

Well you [censored] that one up didn't you

stop following me you toss

What areas do you think Watts will improve in?Difficult to answer, given the oval shape of the ground then I think he will improve over most areas of the ground, except perhaps the full forward area

What areas do you think Watts will improve in?

??

I suspect a few people will be surprised when Dom Tyson wins this year's Brownlow ...

(shut up, let me dream!)

Forget the Brownlow, I want him winning a Norm Smith.

Need to set McKenzie loose, away from defensive roles, reckon he will surprise, if I recall his first few games were quite good before he was sentenced as a tagger.

Jordie is actually pretty good at winning inside ball. He could be used in a Luke Ball sort of role where he wins the contested ball and hand passes out. His hand passing is actually pretty good, it's just that we can't let him kick it.

stop following me you toss

You are quite a succinct fellow HEMLOCK.

Max Gawn.

Will breakout this year.

If he gives up the smokes

Stunted his growth up till now??

Salem for me. Will benefit from another premiership season and will have added some conditioning in preparation for more senior footy.

Salem for mine.

Though I'm impressed by the welcome return of Toump's running ability, based on the training reports.

Not sure what to make of "the burden of captaincy", does it affect your ability to kick the footy?

I often wonder about this

Same with 'the pressure of being a high draft pick'

What areas do you think Watts will improve in?

It's obvious he is not a huge defensive player which is what most of last year was about. This year will obviously be the same but with a burst of an offensive play from the backline here and there to break the game. Thats where I think he will come into his own. I enjoy seeing him get the hands from around 50 and unloads for goal. Thats the Jack Watts we need, an offensive machine. He won't be there all the time which will make his games look up and down, but I think you'll find he will be in alot of those offensive plays.

Forget the Brownlow, I want him winning a Norm Smith.

Jordie is actually pretty good at winning inside ball. He could be used in a Luke Ball sort of role where he wins the contested ball and hand passes out. His hand passing is actually pretty good, it's just that we can't let him kick it.

Only problem with that, is we have Jones and Viney taking the inside roles already.

What areas do you think Watts will improve in?

Getting the footy. Not actually his improvement but more of an improvement in our ability to get it out to him with more ball winning midfielders.

Once he has it in his hands he is an elite user of the ball.

Not sure what to make of "the burden of captaincy", does it affect your ability to kick the footy?

I can see how it would if you're too young for the captaincy and you're still trying to prove to yourself and others that you are a top-drawer AFL player. I can imagine that the ensuing mental strain would affect your physical performance. I can imagine that the pressure he would've put on himself to perform and set an example while he was captain would have been huge, and basic skill errors would be more likely in that situation. Grimes was never and will never be the best kick in the comp and he will still cough up the footy from time to time, but I'd expect some improvement in his overall performance this year now that he is free of the added mental pressure that the captaincy would've imposed.

Salem for mine.

Though I'm impressed by the welcome return of Toump's running ability, based on the training reports.

Salem would be a safer bet, he has a more rounded game, will get to more contests, be at the bottom of them, land more tackles, hit more targets, find more of the football.

Toumpas is a good track worker, but I'd like to see him transfer that to actual games.

Both these players are key to an improved year, if they can improve dramatically - and be the players we thought when we drafted them - then we could see finals.

I've tempered my expectations a bit this year myself, but I understand if some have us making finals, I'd be pleasently surprised - but not shocked.

The real surprise Packet, would be if the team stood up as one and played good winning consistent football

That would really be a surprise packet for us all.

Remember 1 player, does not a team make.