Lay off Jack Watts...

[Fork 'em 6,991]

You could be right there gOLLy

See what we get....

More of the same.

After 100 games and 4 coaches, there won't be no surprises.

Cut our loses an fork 'im off.

Poor example to the young blokes having Watts prancing around in the seniors.

Edited May 3, 2015 by Fork 'em

[dazzledavey36 55,318]

Well, not right now. He's a bit down on form.

And.....Freo.

We were never, ever in the hunt with all our injuries.

We have no depth.

Oh god please don't try and use opposition as another excuse. Its games like this where Watts HAS to stand up, take the game by the scruff of the neck and repay the faith this club has shown in him and why he was a number 1 draft pick.

You are making up weak excuses for him jumbo.

Edited May 3, 2015 by dazzledavey36

[Wolfmother 182]

Always wonder what the coaches intstrustuobs are!!!

They are happy with his performance so do they have him playing a decoy role

Most people on this site haven't played the game and don't understand the structures and the work off the ball that is required which means their criticisms are ill informed.. Watts stays on this feet rather than dive on a ball in a contest to remain influential... His footy IQ his higher than anyone on here this he does benefit from sheer desperation like a Mckenzie...

All this being said he has struggled to become involved in matches this season... Changing him from a wing to fwd to huff doesn't help but he sadly will never be worth a no 1 pick

He reminds me of trav Johnstone, so laconic in style and just doesn't deliver on the God given talents

Edited May 3, 2015 by Wolfmother

[mo64 5,881]

Everything else has been tried, what would you suggest? Or maybe he just can't play.

If they have any ounce of competitiveness in them it should spur them...clearly not Jack though.

Spot on. Every year our coaches have tried to find a role for Jack, and he's failed to deliver. He just hasn't got the heart for the contest, which is what AFL football is all about.

Maybe things might have turned out differently for Watts if he went to a state school rather than a snooty private school.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Oh god please don't try and use opposition as another excuse. Its games like this where Watts HAS to stand up, take the game by the scruff of the neck and repay the faith this club has shown to him.

Really? I need to discount the opposition do I? An opposition with the strongest, biggest, fastest midfield in the comp that never gave our players a chance?

An opposition that squeezed Jones, Newton, Vince, HL and whoever we tried in there?

Freo's showing today was not about Jack Watts....it was about the falsehood of the MFC.

[Spirit of 26 261]

Playing him in the centre will prove nothing.

He has no appetite for the contest.

Watched him today jogging up an down the ground going anywhere but where the pill is.

If this is his role in the side, then stick the fork in as we are done.

No problems with outside players, but get some of the goddamn ball.

[Earl Hood 6,101]

I know we were flogged today but sitting there watching Jack basically run around chasing Freo players when it suited and being second in repeatedly but never making the play, rarely leading toward the ball carrier, rarely going up in a pack to try to mark a ball under pressure it all gets very hard to back him. I have tended to give him the benefit of the doubt because you can see the potential and we don't have much of his skill set but Its probably time to cut our losses. His 100th game reflects a player lacking all confidence but as others say a stint at Casey won't help because the media will be all over him and it only masks a basic flaw. He doesn't want the ball. I don't believe you can train that deficiency out of someone. Appetite for the contest it is called I think. When picking in the draft it is one of my non negotiables usually unless the talent quotient is huge. I wanted Hurley in that 2008 draft. Hurley has taken a while but seems to be getting there. At least he has a real crack. I may be proved correct in time as Nic Nat is still a project with potential.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Post of the year. Poor Jack, Lets give him another hundred games. I am sure I see something there....

Sound like the same conversations we used to have about Morton...

No, I think we both agreed on how bad he was.

[rpfc 28,769]

If this kid is so useless, so pathetic, and such a waste of space - then why are you bothering?

I mean, honestly, we played our third world midfield against one of the best in the comp and yet what are we stuck on? The soft HFF?

I will play out the scenario for you - he gets dropped, whipped, beheaded, and spiked and we still have a third world midfield with no hope of beating a first world midfield.

He is horribly out of form and on the cusp of being dropped - that's all that needs to be said - the rest is just gnashing teeth and snide asides.

[Nasher 33,617]

Always wonder what the coaches intstrustuobs are!!!

They are happy with his performance so do they have him playing a decoy role

Most people on this site haven't played the game and don't understand the structures and the work off the ball that is required which means their criticisms are ill informed.. Watts stays on this feet rather than dive on a ball in a contest to remain influential... His footy IQ his higher than anyone on here this he does benefit from sheer desperation like a Mckenzie...

All this being said he has struggled to become involved in matches this season... Changing him from a wing to fwd to huff doesn't help but he sadly will never be worth a no 1 pick

He reminds me of trav Johnstone, so laconic in style and just doesn't deliver on the God given talents

My favourite bit was the part where you said your opinion is invalid unless you've played football.

[beelzebub 23,383]

If this kid is so useless, so pathetic, and such a waste of space - then why are you bothering?

I mean, honestly, we played our third world midfield against one of the best in the comp and yet what are we stuck on? The soft HFF?

I will play out the scenario for you - he gets dropped, whipped, beheaded, and spiked and we still have a third world midfield with no hope of beating a first world midfield.

He is horribly out of form and on the cusp of being dropped - that's all that needs to be said - the rest is just gnashing teeth and snide asides.

and he still played like shlt... Accept

[KLV 1,768]

While this is true, I hope the morons who give him the bronx cheers at the game have a good hard look at themselves. Yeah he's not playing well, yeah he may never live up to the hype but fair dinkum you would think its his fault we were getting dismantled by Freo. I might criticise him and argue why he maybe should gt dropped but you still support your players for [censored] sake. I cant believe the guy isn't an psychological mess considering what hes had to put up with.

Absolutely, the Bronx cheers were embarrassing, sinking to the levels of essendon supporters booing their own.

We are better than that, surely

[Deestroy All 14,266]

My favourite bit was the part where you said your opinion is invalid unless you've played football.

I used Google Translate to read it.

[rpfc 28,769]

and he still played like shlt... Accept

lol

Yeah I accept - him and a few of his more important friends were horseradish...

Which one do you think concerns me more?

[jnrmac 20,185]

Always wonder what the coaches intstrustuobs are!!!

They are happy with his performance so do they have him playing a decoy role

Most people on this site haven't played the game and don't understand the structures and the work off the ball that is required which means their criticisms are ill informed.. Watts stays on this feet rather than dive on a ball in a contest to remain influential... His footy IQ his higher than anyone on here this he does benefit from sheer desperation like a Mckenzie...

All this being said he has struggled to become involved in matches this season... Changing him from a wing to fwd to huff doesn't help but he sadly will never be worth a no 1 pick

He reminds me of trav Johnstone, so laconic in style and just doesn't deliver on the God given talents

Well you nailed your colours to the wrong mast there my son. Trav won a b&F and came 3rd one year.

PLayed one of the all time great finals matches against Adelaide.

Jack should wish he could play like Travis.

Edited May 3, 2015 by jnrmac

[Demonsone 2,043]

Can't match the intensity against top quality teams......

No appetite for the contest........

Bradshaw typifies what's required & difference between the two is night & day......

I doubt if Watts will ever change & the question is how would he survive under Ross Lyon regime????

[Gator 17,449]

There's no doubt we were thrashed in the midfield. And there's no doubt Watts was inconsequential whether we won or lost. But this view that we shouldn't blame a "front runner" or "soft HFF" is rubbish.

Who are Freo's "front runners" ? Or Hawthorn's ? Or Sydney's ? There's no place for front runners or soft corks. Not if you want to build a hardened unit.

Now, I know some will say what about Jetta at Sydney, or perhaps the Hill brothers and maybe even Isaac Smith. But that's utter BS. Those players put their body on the line (there are degrees of everything) and they also regularly impact games.

I know the players love Watts. I get it. He's a great guy that everyone wants to do well. But that just doesn't cut it. FFS, make a stand as a leadership group and club and don't tolerate the half dedicated.

As long as Watts is selected in the senior 22 I'll know this club is half serious.

[Adam The God 30,407]

Thought Watts had a better game today than Jones. He attacked the man like I hadn't seen him do before. He laid a couple of great tackles, used his body well a couple of times and hip-and-shouldered opposition players off the contest. There was also one terrific shepherd. That's the base level intensity and physicality that he needs to channel from now on.

The bronx cheering in the third and fourth terms from Melbourne supporters towards Jack today was a disgrace. He annoys me sometimes too, but today he went at the contest and got a bit of the ball as well.

Edited May 3, 2015 by AdamFarr

[jumbo returns 6,741]

There's no doubt we were thrashed in the midfield. And there's no doubt Watts was inconsequential whether we won or lost. But this view that we shouldn't blame a "front runner" or "soft HFF" is rubbish.

Who are Freo's "front runners" ? Or Hawthorn's ? Or Sydney's ? There's no place for front runners or soft corks. Not if you want to build a hardened unit.

Now, I know some will say what about Jetta at Sydney, or perhaps the Hill brothers and maybe even Isaac Smith. But that's utter BS. Those players put their body on the line (there are degrees of everything) and they also regularly impact games.

I know the players love Watts. I get it. He's a great guy that everyone wants to do well. But that just doesn't cut it. FFS, make a stand as a leadership group and club and don't tolerate the half dedicated.

As long as Watts is selected in the senior 22 I'll know this club is half serious.

What about McKenzie, Grimes, M Jones, Bail, Fitz, Gawn, Pedo or Spencer?

I just wanted to gauge your tolerance level on the club if these blokes are picked.....

[beelzebub 23,383]

Lets be a nice club ...vote Watts #1 today

The players are accountable, the fd is accountable , the play is accountable .

Isn't it ?

[beelzebub 23,383]

What about McKenzie, Grimes, M Jones, Bail, Fitz, Gawn, Pedo or Spencer?

I just wanted to gauge your tolerance level on the club if these blokes are picked.....

youre missing the point surely.

Wed want NONE of them in a first 22 to be serious let alone Watts !! Bring on the scythe !!

[jumbo returns 6,741]

youre missing the point surely.

Wed want NONE of them in a first 22 to be serious let alone Watts !! Bring on the scythe !!

Three played today.....surely there were better options?

[Earl Hood 6,101]

What about McKenzie, Grimes, M Jones, Bail, Fitz, Gawn, Pedo or Spencer?

I just wanted to gauge your tolerance level on the club if these blokes are picked.....

Hey Jumbo we know those guys are limited in talent but most of them want to have a go and dare I say would love to be there. Yes they will struggle and fail but you wont die wondering. I don't think we can say the same for Jack, we could all die waiting. Edited May 3, 2015 by Earl Hood

[Dr. Gonzo 24,289]

Always wonder what the coaches intstrustuobs are!!!

They are happy with his performance so do they have him playing a decoy role

Most people on this site haven't played the game and don't understand the structures and the work off the ball that is required which means their criticisms are ill informed.. Watts stays on this feet rather than dive on a ball in a contest to remain influential... His footy IQ his higher than anyone on here this he does benefit from sheer desperation like a Mckenzie...

All this being said he has struggled to become involved in matches this season... Changing him from a wing to fwd to huff doesn't help but he sadly will never be worth a no 1 pick

He reminds me of trav Johnstone, so laconic in style and just doesn't deliver on the God given talents

If Watts gets to have even half the career TJ did I'll be amazed.

[rpfc 28,769]

There's no doubt we were thrashed in the midfield. And there's no doubt Watts was inconsequential whether we won or lost. But this view that we shouldn't blame a "front runner" or "soft HFF" is rubbish.

Who are Freo's "front runners" ? Or Hawthorn's ? Or Sydney's ? There's no place for front runners or soft corks. Not if you want to build a hardened unit.

Now, I know some will say what about Jetta at Sydney, or perhaps the Hill brothers and maybe even Isaac Smith. But that's utter BS. Those players put their body on the line (there are degrees of everything) and they also regularly impact games.

I know the players love Watts. I get it. He's a great guy that everyone wants to do well. But that just doesn't cut it. FFS, make a stand as a leadership group and club and don't tolerate the half dedicated.

As long as Watts is selected in the senior 22 I'll know this club is half serious.

How was Watts' soft, yet hard working B-grade Round 1 game? It was good enough for you I recall.

His issues of the last month, aside from a few highlighted passages, has been form related.

And my point about the preoccupation with Watts, and you are entitled to it - he obviously fascinates you - is that Dees fans are, as Ethan posted earlier, throwing their snarls and vitriol in, seemingly, one direction.

A direction that, as you constantly allude, is such a grand waste of time and internet...