Lay off Jack Watts...

[Arrow 1,257]

Yep... and I am guessing that is why Roos keeps naming him in the side?

Travis Cloke isn't getting dropped but if you think Buckley isn't constantly frustrated by his kicking you're absolutely kidding yourself.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Jack works hard both ways, but when it's time to contest in marking contests - when he can make it - he often chooses to let another contest and try take the crumb OR let it go uncontested. He still needs a bit of **** in him and an injection of will to get to the contest - which he doesnt have. He'll compete when he knows the ball is meant for him, however he is undecided when it's not meant for him, not realising he can make it - and make an impact.

Roos remains frustrated with his lack on confidence and apparent non-appetite for contact. ref: Recent marking clangers v Rich, v Adel.

Watching Jesse go about his work for a period of time, you think would rub off. Not so as yet.

He's not that sort of player.

He's a finisher...finds space....will find the mismatch....with silky skills.

Appreciate that.

[robbiefrom13 892]

Roos looks a lot calmer in the box than most.

[hardtack 10,626]

Travis Cloke isn't getting dropped but if you think Buckley isn't constantly frustrated by his kicking you're absolutely kidding yourself.

Fair point... but we do have the option of Pedersen (who has been performing well at Casey) or Gawn available if Watts is really that far off his game.

[sue 9,142]

Just been watching the replay with Watts in mind and two things stood out to me.

First, many other players dropped marks etc and it hasn't led to yet another thread groaning about that player (eg soon after Watts dropped that overhead mark and Carey was saying how he'd better not do that more than once, Cross dropped an easier mark near goal at the other end. No one noticed it seems.)

Second, several times balls came shooting out of a pack allowing our players to break free. I couldn't see who had done it so I rewound. Watts each time.

[H_T 3,049]

Yep... and I am guessing that is why Roos keeps naming him in the side?

He keeps naming him, because he's better off playing in the seniors, there are areas of his game which contribute to the team structure wise and that Jack can gain confidence from.

The contested ball is something which he can work on, to improve his game and improve the team at AFL level.

Coaches can still have frustrations with certain aspects of a players game, yet still play them.

[hardtack 10,626]

He keeps naming him, because he's better off playing in the seniors, there are areas of his game which contribute to the team structure wise and that Jack can gain confidence from.

The contested ball is something which he can work on, to improve his game and improve the team at AFL level.

Coaches can still have frustrations with certain aspects of a players game, yet still play them.

Good points... but I would say that Roos is keeping him in the seniors first and foremost, because his upside is greater than his perceived failings.

[old55 23,687]

I agree... well sort of. The comment was from Wayne Carey who went into bat for him 24 hrs previously. I've watched the incident about 6 times now (courtesy of the replay) and the issue is that Jack drops his head just as the ball hits his hands rather than watching it until the mark is completed. Yes the ball was exceptionally slippery*, and in this instance it wasn't because he was expecting any contact, but its clearly a fault in his game. He drops far too many marks and I'm not sure whether this is a 'technical' thing that can be corrected or a lack of confidence or simply a fear of physical contact. Whether people like it or not he'll be continually criticised for it until he can fix the problem.

* I'm not suggesting he should have marked it, but even on a dry day this makes marking the ball harder than it should be.

[Frosty Demon 153]

Footys pretty simple. He needs to go back to the twos and earn his spot in the ones. He has never really had to do this.

[PaulRB 6,411]

Footys pretty simple. He needs to go back to the twos and earn his spot in the ones. He has never really had to do this.

Only because he's had the misfortune of playing in a team where everyone in the twos is worse than he is.

Footy is pretty simple - you play your best 22 every week unless they are injured.

Edited April 28, 2015 by PaulRB

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

Footys pretty simple. He needs to go back to the twos and earn his spot in the ones. He has never really had to do this.

Can you lift the needle from the groove, it seems to be stuck, Watts keeps getting picked by Roos, that will do me

[old55 23,687]

There's no doubt that Jack's skill makes us a better team but there is definitely an issue with his appetite for the contest. Brad Green made significant improvement in this area and made some kamikaze plays in his latter years. I think Jack's trajectory would benefit from him being solidly cleaned up one day.

Edited April 28, 2015 by Fifty-5

[Frosty Demon 153]

Only because he's had the misfortune of playing in a team where everyone in the twos is worse than he is.

Footy is pretty simple - you play your best 22 every week unless they are injured.

Back to the twos will do him and the team good.

[daisycutter 29,737]

i agree jack is unrequited talent

i also agree he is still best 22

i hope mccartney can weave his magic

[ManDee 7,222]

How can you take a mark with your eyes closed? Oh that's right we spend about 10% of our waking hours with our eyes closed. 15-20 times per minute we blink. So it is possible with fast shutter speeds that he is blinking, I wonder if Jack Watts does that?

[Frosty Demon 153]

Travis Cloke isn't getting dropped but if you think Buckley isn't constantly frustrated by his kicking you're absolutely kidding yourself.

Travis Cloke isn't afraid. He impacts contests. Clokes also kicked 10 goals to Wattsy 4. I think Jack would do well to gain some confidence in a lower level

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

i agree jack is unrequited talent

i also agree he is still best 22

i hope mccartney can weave his magic

Some on here really do need to listen to Roos presser from yesterday, I have also spoken to Jack, he knows he has lapses, he is trying to eradicate them from his game, did a bit of extra with McCartney today

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

Travis Cloke isn't afraid. He impacts contests. Clokes also kicked 10 goals to Wattsy 4. I think Jack would do well to gain some confidence in a lower level

Watts is also not a key forward, we have Hogan and Dawes for that job, you can bang on and on, it ain't gonna happen just yet

[ManDee 7,222]

Travis Cloke isn't afraid. He impacts contests. Clokes also kicked 10 goals to Wattsy 4. I think Jack would do well to gain some confidence in a lower level

With your vast footy knowledge I am surprised you don't coach Melbourne. You could be the new Mark Neeld.

In the mean time I am glad Roos is the coach and you are just another poster.

[Frosty Demon 153]

Watts is also not a key forward, we have Hogan and Dawes for that job, you can bang on and on, it ain't gonna happen just yet

No it probably wont. I just believe it would do him good. Going back to find some confidence and form isn't the end of the world.

[Frosty Demon 153]

With your vast footy knowledge I am surprised you don't coach Melbourne. You could be the new Mark Neeld.

In the mean time I am glad Roos is the coach and you are just another poster.

Ouch! Mandy Ouch!

[dpositive 1,683]

Jack works hard both ways, but when it's time to contest in marking contests - when he can make it - he often chooses to let another contest and try take the crumb OR let it go uncontested. He still needs a bit of **** in him and an injection of will to get to the contest - which he doesnt have. He'll compete when he knows the ball is meant for him, however he is undecided when it's not meant for him, not realising he can make it - and make an impact.

Roos remains frustrated with his lack on confidence and apparent non-appetite for contact. ref: Recent marking clangers v Rich, v Adel.

Watching Jesse go about his work for a period of time, you think would rub off. Not so as yet.

Jack does contest but does so in an intelligent fashion. He does avoid contests and does seem to effect to corral a player rather than contact them. However he seems to effect turnovers and does have great release disposal usually.

More I reckon he does not throw himself around and get injured thus he is able to perform each week at a pretty high level.

Hogan has already had a serious delay in his career through back injury. I hope Jack can keep himself injury free and continue to impact on games as he does. I think his best is yet to come and his worst is better than most.

[binman 43,757]

No it probably wont. I just believe it would do him good. Going back to find some confidence and form isn't the end of the world.

We have won 2 games thus far. In the one in the conditions that best suited watts he was in our best. So what is all this palaver about being out of form?

Watts is by far our most important player in terms of our capacity to put a score on the board. By far. To win a team needs to score more than the opposition. While that remains the case watts is safe.

To be honest the blow torch should be on Tyson. He was poor against the tigers and at one point cost us what could have been a crucial goal. In that passage of play he turned the ball over twice and got caught holding the ball. Imagine if watts had done that.

Anyway I'm going to assume you're trolling and stop defending jack. As TDI says if he is good enough for roos he's good enough for me

Edited April 28, 2015 by binman

[binman 43,757]

Jack works hard both ways, but when it's time to contest in marking contests - when he can make it - he often chooses to let another contest and try take the crumb OR let it go uncontested. He still needs a bit of **** in him and an injection of will to get to the contest - which he doesnt have. He'll compete when he knows the ball is meant for him, however he is undecided when it's not meant for him, not realising he can make it - and make an impact.

i think that is a valid criticism. I made a similar point after the Crows game ie his instinct seems to be to crumb rather than fly for the mark.

This was highlighted when the ball was kicked high to our half forward line and we had a two on one, with our two being Garlett and Watts. Watts left it for Garlett who as the crumbing forward correctly left it for Watts. Neither competed for it and the crows player marked it.

It was this passage of play that would have caused most concern for Roos not the dropped mark. And it is this propensity to stay down they would have focused on before the tigers game.

I was pleased then to see Watts compete really hard i the air in the tigers game and whilst he didn't clunk many he jumped at almost every high ball and into packs. In fact i though he competed really hard in the air and again whilst he didn't clunk any halved number of important contests, one of which Hogan roved of the spill funnily enough giving it off to Newton who had a shot on goal (i think he kicked it actually). He also wet up as third man in a few rucking situations.

To me this is a good example of a bloke who takes things on board and is prepared to work at his craft. There are a number of other examples, for instance his increased tackle and contested possession numbers.

Edited April 28, 2015 by binman

[bing181 9,328]

Watts has been blessed with more talent than most and I have no respect for what he's done with it.

Let's play him as a forward, let's play him as a swingman down back, let's spend the whole pre-season with him training with the mids ... he's been thrown from pillar to post under a revolving door of failed coaches in one of the worst sides of the current era. Might have had just a little bit to do with the water that's gone under the bridge.

That he hasn't just given up and walked away from the club, if not footy, is something in itself, and has earned him my support, if not respect.