2015 Player Review - # 4 Jack Watts

[Wadda We Sing 10,685]

Use the Force Luke....

[Dee Gee 148]

I agree dees189227, but its hard to read. On one hand - he seems almost naieve that he may very well be moved on.. yet on the other, he may realize that he's down to his last chip and therefore he simply HAS to improve, otherwise he's gone. That in itself could be the kind of pushing he needs to finally be consistent.

On a similar note, has there been any other notable players that have taken as long as or longer than Watts to reach their true potential - or is Jack the only player ever in the AFL/VFL to play for 8 seasons without being dropped/delisted/traded due to not being of an acceptable standard

Edited September 16, 2015 by Dee Gee

[FarNorthernD 5,839]

He is a riddle wrapped in Jack Viney tackle inside a Jesse Hogan contested mark. Nothing will work him out of there.

The singularly most frustrating thing about him is he should be easy to fix. A small change of attitude that makes him to want his tackles to stick, to see ball and desperately want to get ball. A tiny bit more desire and he goes from our 18th most valuable player to easily in our top half dozen.

Personally I can't see him going. Is any Club going to value him high enough to offer a worthwhile return on him? Will any Club want to take over what is, no doubt, a fairly handsome contract?

I hope he stays and I'm guessing he will

[whatwhat say what 18,918]

ultimately if he doesn't go in a trade in this time period then he is an rfa at the end of next season - no doubt he'll explore his options.

compensation may not exist in any form.

[hemingway 7,589]

Most people like Jack. The coach, players and most supporters. I like his loyalty, an underrated value in today's world. Everyone recognizes his talent & skills but has the same level of frustration about contested ball. With an improving group of players he could still be a great asset. On the other hand, if the club wants to make a statement about it's new culture and its hard headed attitude toward the non negotiable team attributes then a trade makes sense. Successful leaders and businesses make hard headed decisions based on the business rather than decisions influenced by sentiment or loyalty. Employees are not kept on the payroll because they have talent. They have to perform all the time, year after year. I suspect that this is where Roos, Jackson and the club are at with Jack. He is lovely guy with great talent but they have to make the best football/business decision for the club.

[Sir Why You Little 34,438]

My view on this is that Jack has been put on notice prior to the trade period.

His reaction that i read last night is that he fully accepts this

He knows it is now entirely up to him

Good on him. We all want Jack to be playing next year. But he has to be the one who applies the pressure.

No more easy games

Your choice Wattsy.

[beelzebub 22,225]

Most people like Jack. The coach, players and most supporters. I like his loyalty, an underrated value in today's world. Everyone recognizes his talent & skills but has the same level of frustration about contested ball. With an improving group of players he could still be a great asset. On the other hand, if the club wants to make a statement about it's new culture and its hard headed attitude toward the non negotiable team attributes then a trade makes sense. Successful leaders and businesses make hard headed decisions based on the business rather than decisions influenced by sentiment or loyalty. Employees are not kept on the payroll because they have talent. They have to perform all the time, year after year. I suspect that this is where Roos, Jackson and the club are at with Jack. He is lovely guy with great talent but they have to make the best football/business decision for the club.

id like this twice if I could.. Well summed up EH

[chook fowler 18,226]

I think Jack really struggles with his own placid nature. Hard to change something like that, no matter how good your intentions.

It's clear he really loves the club and wants to be a part of it. By all accounts he is good around the club and well liked by the other players.

I personally would like him to stay and have a lot of input over preseason from Goodwin and McCartney.

[Sir Why You Little 34,438]

Send Jack up to Rampaging Roy Slaven's Boxing Academy for a few months.

He will come home "Swinging.."

[deespicable me 1,427]

I think he has gradually improved almost each year and I don't think he has reached the peak of his potential, so I don't mind if the club holds on to him.

I don't think he has the ability to make us a better side when we are losing but I do think he can make us a better side when we are winning. If Roos and co can get the side winning more often then Jack will be a lot better player.

[Bombay Airconditioning 5,875]

Jon Ralph....no interest from other clubs....

Ralph may be as credible as the next clown but has anyone heard anything linking Watts to another club? Remembering many think he will become a star upon changing.

[jumbo returns 6,488]

Send Jack up to Rampaging Roy Slaven's Boxing Academy for a few months.

He will come home "Swinging.."

Brent Moloney really helped there.....

[Sir Why You Little 34,438]

Brent Moloney really helped there.....

Roy has the credentials...

[beelzebub 22,225]

Jon Ralph....no interest from other clubs....

Ralph may be as credible as the next clown but has anyone heard anything linking Watts to another club? Remembering many think he will become a star upon changing.

Its always been my impression of the silly season, that time when some clubs have finished up and when the real circus of trade starts in earnest ( after the GF ) is that whilst there may be a handful of pre-emptive moves by some players etc that in the main the real game won't ( and can't ) start til the wheeling and dealing gets under way. There are areas where things would look for all the world to be rock solid with no room for movement until........a catalyst . Sometimes when a player suddenly changes their mind or an opportunity appears it causes the cohesion that was binding all things together to lose its potency a bit.

The Dees havent pared their list ( officially ) , nor have some other clubs...and some are a bit of both..they've started.

Where as in years past trade my stall with the advent of FA etc things are far more fluid. SOme players/managers might just be keeping their powder dry for the moment and watching to see how things pan out.

Should Jack ended up moving on I dont think it will come from a particularly obvious deal.

just my humble thoughts

[jnrmac 18,953]

Out of interest, the following is Buckenara's comment on Matt Suckling but could equally apply to Jack....

He was always an elite kick, even as an under-18 playing for NSW, and I guess it’s no secret Matt probably has been told by our coaches that he had to become a harder competitor and that’s probably what held him back for a long, long time.

He played very much on his own terms and pretty outside — getting the footy and hurting the opposition but you can only do that for so long before they work you out. So you have to win your share of ball and when it’s your turn to go you have to go and it took Matty a while to work that one out

[hardtack 10,126]

Watching the Bomber Diaries on AFL360 tonight and Bomber mentioned that Brendan McCartney had told him he believes there is a lot of upside to Jack Watts. Bomber was of the opinion that he should stay with the MFC... he made a fair comment in that you don't need every player to be combative (can't recall exact words) and that Watts has the skills that make him worthwhile persisting with.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

I genuinely hope Watts is a Demon in 2016.

[Henrietta Lumbago 331]

I genuinely hope Watts is a Demon in 2016.

Do you think he is in our best 22??

[Barney Rubble 1,576]

Do you think he is in our best 22??

I have never thought he is was in our best 22 apart from say 10 games.

When He walked past me at at AAMI PARK with the thumbs up from a guy I have never met..

I just wonder that his No. 1 has really sunk in?

[Vagg 2,422]

The initial question to Bomber was to the effect of whether he, as coach, would keep Jack on the list. Bomber's response was an emphatic "YES!" Said he's seen a lot of Melbourne's games this year, and is convinced there is a lot of up-side to Jack -- reinforced by comments to him by Brendan McCartney. He said there was a reason why he was taken at #1 in the draft, and that he definitely has the talent.

Based on the above, as well as Jack's own comments that he wants to stay, and have a really big 2016, I'm looking forward to seeing Jack hopefully become an important part of Melbourne's rise up the ladder.

[stuie 7,374]

Do you think he is in our best 22??

Finished 18th in the Bluey, so that would mean yes right?

[Bombay Airconditioning 5,875]

Finished 18th in the Bluey, so that would mean yes right?

Thats like winning $13 on powerball.

[stuie 7,374]

Thats like winning $13 on powerball.

Not saying it's a great result for a talented player, but the question was "is he in our best 22?" and currently he's our 18th best player, so yes, he is.

[beelzebub 22,225]

I suspect where Watts plays in 2016 will be more determined by any other club's interest in the lad as opposed Melbourne's

He will remain a Demon by default is nothing sufficient is placed on the trade table.

Jack needs to embrace that and do something or 2016 will be his LAST season..anywhere

[Bombay Airconditioning 5,875]

Watching the Bomber Diaries on AFL360 tonight and Bomber mentioned that Brendan McCartney had told him he believes there is a lot of upside to Jack Watts. Bomber was of the opinion that he should stay with the MFC... he made a fair comment in that you don't need every player to be combative (can't recall exact words) and that Watts has the skills that make him worthwhile persisting with.

I read between the lines with comments like those. He's up for trade, what else would he say.

As for "you don't need every player to be combative", that may work until you reach the finals. But then again Nathan Ablett is a premiership player. With regards to where our list is we can't afford any passengers.