The side is about as combative and physical as it's been for 15 years now.

If Trengove can return and we pick up a Curnow or Wiedeman as well as Parish plus the inclusion of Petracca, I'm struggling to fit the Jack Watts of 2015 in to the side.

I see his best spot as high half forward but have others rotating through there.

I normally steer clear of pencilling in draftees but for the sake of discussion I have done so.

Watts strength are his elite skills but he's no longer Robinson Crusoe on that one.

He can also make good decisions however we now hopefully have others who can do that plus provide a target with physicality.

Where do others see him in the 22?

If he is playing well then yes.

He is not a physical player but then again nor is Gunston, Bruest, Suckling or Smith. You can't have a team of vineys.

I was watching the cats game again and he plays very well and if that became the norm then yes, he is easily best 22.

If he is playing well then yes.

He is not a physical player but then again nor is Gunston, Bruest, Suckling or Smith. You can't have a team of vineys.

I was watching the cats game again and he plays very well and if that became the norm then yes, he is easily best 22.

Yes good points. I reckon 2016 is the first year that he will be constantly under pressure to retain his spot. And that is a good place for us to be.

Absolutely , Will be big year for Jack with the team improvement and a focus on competitive efforts each game. I reckon he is getting there. Snapshots last season of his best and worst. after the first 10 rounds last year people were saying in the media he had overtaken Nic nat and then the form slump.

JW is a microcosm of the MFC . his best has become pretty good but his worst is terrible and his consistency is so far not good enough.

Omg.

Omg.

come on...dont feign surprise

I believe the main thing holding JW back from taking the next step is his lack of endurance. He is not a gut runner. If, and it's a big IF, they can improve this aspect of his game he can easily be a Gunston. His defensive skills will improve also.

He would know that there was not much interest in him during trade week and that he is on his last chance. Because of this I'm sticking my neck out and say that he will be one of the real improvers next season. Fingers crossed.

I thought that we were about due for a new Jack Watts thread!

Watts is absolutely in my best 22. I'd have him rotating from the wing through the forward line as a third tall option.

He must earn his place and our newer players have just as much skill but seem far more aggressive than him. He will really struggle to make our best side in 2016. Unless he flicks the switch....................he is done! A good prospect to lead Casey and perhaps guide the brand new recruits into the AFL system. Nice bloke but seriously lacks commitment to the hard ball and that wont change now. He has had a very disappointing career so far.

Yes, by the skin of his teeth. But i have the likes of Trengove, Parish*, Curnow*, Harmes, Stretch & Neal-Bullen missing out initially. So if Jack doesn't perform, he'll be on the chopping block quick smart.

*If we draft them.

Not convinced there is a spot for him anymore. I hope he proves me wrong, but his lack of physicality in this side will override his skillset.

OMG - yet another JW thread!!

Yes, if he is ahead of 21 others available on a particular day for a particular match, and no if he is not.

Simple answer.

QED

I reckon for the first time it'll be a chance to really use his weapons.

I believe the main thing holding JW back from taking the next step is his lack of endurance.

Maybe that had something to do with his interrupted pre-season?

I reckon he missed 4-6 weeks of training last summer.

I think if he can improve his core strength and become a more powerful player, then yes he should be a regular but he has to keep getting stronger and he should with age anyway.

it will be fascinating to watch him respond to not being automatic inclusion. i agree he could benefit from more talent around him but i reckon that extra talent could keep him out of the side. he's not the only bloke that can kick anymore

2016 will be his last chance to be a serious player and cement a spot in the 18.

Otherwise he is just going to be another Colin 'one more preseason' Sylvia.

2016 will be his last chance to be a serious player and cement a spot in the 18.

Otherwise he is just going to be another Colin 'one more preseason' Sylvia.

I'm so glad you're one of the coaches.

The rest of the team will end up papering over some of his issues, but he still has to perform.

Is there a spot for him in the best 22 in 2016? Absolutely.

Will he be able to coast to that spot? No.

I think everyone is aware that he can play, needs to play a season like he played 9 weeks last year, and if he does we are a better team.

Watts will play as the 3rd man up a lot this year, I expect there'll be some tinkering with the structure with the 4 man interchange and 90 rotations.

Watts will never be a forward, he cannot lead into the right space. He reads the ball much better off the boot defensively. He is also a very good decision maker when he's got the ball in space. We don't have many...

Unfortunately Jack is not a natural footballer and his development has been stunted due to the Dees debacle over last 6 years. He'd be a much better player right now at a successful club. But in saying that I think he has great scope for improvement this year with much more of the focus on the team and not individual players. Jack has shown great character to still be at AFL level after the clubs poor development of him and the constant negativity towards him from both inside and out.

He may not play every game but he must be in our 22 to start the season.

If we're having the same conversation next year though then…...

Yes. As the team improves, so will Watts. He is important to the team

Watts has an amazingly high footy IQ and knows the game.

Watch him run into space and lose his opponent.

Ffs, why am I responding?

Fin.

Definitely will look better in a better team.

Many people talk about Gunstan comparisons for a specific role for Jack and I agree and feel this should be his aim.

Jesse will roam a bit higher up this year I am sure and will command the number 1 defender.

I just want to see Jack leading and leading creating space and hopefully becoming a 30 goal a year player. He doesn't have to be physical in this role and should be able to now run all day after x years on the list. Plus his skills would see him being able to kick goals from all angles.

I'd just set him up forward and tell him to be a real greedy bastard

Watts has an amazingly high footy IQ and knows the game.

Watch him run into space and lose his opponent.

Ffs, why am I responding?

Fin.

I knew you wouldn't resist, Jumbo!