Jack Watts in 2016?

[Bitter but optimistic 21,402]

Jack Watts - always raises questions! I started off as a staunch supporter and them dropped away as Jack put in some soft hearted shockers. However, I have regained some warm and fuzzy for Jack because he has shown such tantalising glimpses of his abilities.He always seems to have time to make a decision (surely the sign of a top player) and disposes beautifully. However, he often disposes too quickly - hot potato style. I'd like to see him use his agility and pace to take the game on more.

Best 22? At his best for sure. How often will he produce his best ? That is another question altogether.

[picket fence 15,408]

People seem to be offended by opinions that differ from their own, so I'm pleased to oblige.

Watts was dropped twice in 2015, so he's certainly no lay down misere to be a staple in the best 22.

Roos said in his B&F speech that we'd have a team of 22 competitors in 2016. So Watts is certainly no lay down misere to be a staple in the best 22.

Jack Viney is the epitome of a player with urgency on the football field. Jack Watts is the antithesis of a player with urgency on the football field.

The club would have traded Watts this exchange period if there'd been a suitor. No-one was interested. Hardly surprising.

Watts is definitely not in my best 22 and I'll be surprised if he plays 10 senior games next year.

My best 22 is fluid, but as it currently stands:

Jetta Dunn Garland

Melksham McDonald Salem

Vince Jones Brayshaw

Petracca Hogan vandenBerg

Garlett Pedersen Kent

Gawn Tyson Viney

Frost Trengove Stretch Bugg

E: Harmes ANB Lumumba

Depth: Grimes Kennedy Mitchie McDonald White Dawes JKH Jones King Spencer Watts

You'd have Trengove instead of Watts?? Nup never. Trengove is a long way back in my estimation for a call up, I believe any pace he had will now be gone due to injury, and I would much rather give Jack Watts first opportunity playing as a dangerous forward in an improved line up.

If Jack Watts clicks early, being such a very good ball user and accurate goal kicker watch out!! Many on here to eat their words and opposition coaches to have to put some time into him. I hope so!

Edited November 2, 2015 by picket fence

[Lucifers Hero 37,227]

Jack was adamant he wanted to remain a Demon and not be traded so it may have deterred clubs and if they did ask, Jack's manager probably said 'no thanks'. Yes, that is an hypothesis but it is just as plausible as posters who assumed there were no takers.

To be successful (in any activity) it pays to play to one's strengths to neutralise weaknesses. For Jack this could mean a link-man role (like crow's Tom Lynch whom we chased) as it is acknowledged Jack reads the play and distributes the ball beautifully.

We don't have a link-man which is why we tried to recruit Lynch and Jack's 'smarts' would make him very damaging in this role.

He will be even more damaging when his team mates are smart enough to also read the play and get to the right position to receive the ball from him.

Yes, he also has to improve his contested game and that is not negotiable. He knows it. It is up to him to show how desperately he wants to remain a Demon.

He is in my starting 22 and if takes a leaf from Jesse's book who said: 'once in the team his goal was to not be dropped', Jack will be there every week

I hope the coaches haven't given up on him, I haven't!

Edited November 2, 2015 by Lucifer's Hero

[Grapeviney 8,883]

our best player for goal assists.

No he's not.

Can't be bothered looking up the whole squad but Gus, Jesse and Jeffy are all ahead of him, and Dawes is on par.

[stuie 7,374]

No he's not.

Can't be bothered looking up the whole squad but Gus, Jesse and Jeffy are all ahead of him, and Dawes is on par.

Not talking about clearances and inside 50s, but actually setting up goals. He's by far our best player for that. Not sure of the stats, but if you watch him play you would notice it. His vision, skills and instinct are great when playing that kind of role.

Edit - He's actually our leading player for goal assists this year as far as players who don't play solely forward, and 5th overall.

Edited November 2, 2015 by stuie

[Grapeviney 8,883]

Not talking about clearances and inside 50s, but actually setting up goals. He's by far our best player for that. Not sure of the stats, but if you watch him play you would notice it. His vision, skills and instinct are great when playing that kind of role.

You realise they keep stats on these kinds of things, yeh?

I'm not talking about clearances or inside 50's either, but goal assists - "actually setting up goals" as you put it.

Watts: 0.48

Hogan: 0.60

Garlett: 0.58

Brayshaw: 0.81

Dawes: 0.48

Only 1 of Jesse's 44 goals came from Jack...

[old dee 22,951]

YES

[jumbo returns 6,515]

YES

WHACK!

od has spoken!

[stuie 7,374]

You realise they keep stats on these kinds of things, yeh?

I'm not talking about clearances or inside 50's either, but goal assists - "actually setting up goals" as you put it.

Watts: 0.48

Hogan: 0.60

Garlett: 0.58

Brayshaw: 0.81

Dawes: 0.48

Only 1 of Jesse's 44 goals came from Jack...

Yes I do, and if you see the edit I added to my post before you replied, you'd see that.

And just FYI, here's the correct stats:

Brayshaw - .81

Michie - .64

JKH - .62

Hogan - .60

Watts - .55

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/tr-melbourne-demons?year=2015&rt=TA&st=GA

Out of those 5 players, Watts played the least time forward by a LONG way.

Edited November 2, 2015 by stuie

[Gator 16,909]

You'd have Trengove instead of Watts?? Nup never. Trengove is a long way back in my estimation for a call up, I believe any pace he had will now be gone due to injury, and I would much rather give Jack Watts first opportunity playing as a dangerous forward in an improved line up.

If Jack Watts clicks early, being such a very good ball user and accurate goal kicker watch out!! Many on here to eat their words and opposition coaches to have to put some time into him. I hope so!

I admit I have a bias towards Trenners. I love the bloke and remember how good his first couple of years were when he didn't look like he was running in concrete.

I hope he makes a full physical recovery. IF he does, he's unquestionably best 22 based on talent levels. Like tiptoes, it's his last hurrah.

[rpfc 27,591]

Score and goal assists are stolen from basketball where the spaces are so small that the 'assist' holds far more importance and significance than it does in AFL.

Getting 'involved' in scoring play is far more important IMO and the numbers for those are:

Sportsmate app has score involvements.

Hogan 6.2 a game

Jones 5.4

Garlett 5.2

Tyson 4.8

Gawn 4.8

Vince 4.4

Viney 4.4

Dawes 4.4

Watts 4.4

Pedersen 4.3

Everyone else is 4.0 or under.

[stuie 7,374]

Score and goal assists are stolen from basketball where the spaces are so small that the 'assist' holds far more importance and significance than it does in AFL.

Getting 'involved' in scoring play is far more important IMO and the numbers for those are:

The difference being we're talking about Watts setting up other players for goals using his superior disposal. Score involvements includes goals you kick yourself, which is a different scenario.

[Grapeviney 8,883]

Yes I do, and if you see the edit I added to my post before you replied, you'd see that.

And just FYI, here's the correct stats:

Brayshaw - .81

Michie - .64

JKH - .62

Hogan - .60

Watts - .55

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/tr-melbourne-demons?year=2015&rt=TA&st=GA

Out of those 5 players, Watts played the least time forward by a LONG way.

Yes I saw, not so much an edit as a bunch of qualifiers when your initial statement was absolute and unequivocal.

I see you're using 2015 stats, rather than career averages; whichever way you carve the cake, he's not our best player for goal assists.

Anyway, I'm done here, I should have known how this would pan out.

[rpfc 27,591]

The difference being we're talking about Watts setting up other players for goals using his superior disposal. Score involvements includes goals you kick yourself, which is a different scenario.

It also would include the kick that set up an easy handpass to someone running into goal.

The point you are bashing people over the head with clumsily is that Watts has helped us score.

That would be self evident in the score involvements stat.

You're welcome.

[barneymfc 152]

six foot five player has played 100 games smart footy brain ,runs like the wind kicks like a dream ,just entering his prime ,age wise,who would not want him in the 22.If he was at a top club such as hawthorn or freo nobody would notice he is a tad soft at times,but great teams have players like jack to add the finnese

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

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

Agree. Will be easier for Watts to shine in a decent, hard, combative team than the piece of tard that he's had around him since he was drafted.

He's not a Jack Viney. Nor is he a prolific ball winner. He has other qualities.

[stuie 7,374]

It also would include the kick that set up an easy handpass to someone running into goal.

The point you are bashing people over the head with clumsily is that Watts has helped us score.

That would be self evident in the score involvements stat.

You're welcome.

What I'm saying, is that based on his skill set and what he does best during games, I think a good position for him would be permanently in the forward line where he can utilize those skills to our best advantage. As I said in my initial post, his spot in the 22 would then be dependent on his application of forward pressure.

[old dee 22,951]

WHACK!

od has spoken!

YEP!

[stuie 7,374]

Yes I saw, not so much an edit as a bunch of qualifiers when your initial statement was absolute and unequivocal.

I see you're using 2015 stats, rather than career averages; whichever way you carve the cake, he's not our best player for goal assists.

Anyway, I'm done here, I should have known how this would pan out.

Why would I use the career stats of someone who for most of his career has been played in the backline of the worst inside 50 and scoring team going around? At least use a bit of logic.

And look, if you want me to start all my posts with "In my opinion...." then I'll set up a template just for you, but I think it's a given on an internet discussion board most posts are going to be based on opinion, especially about something as objective as footy.

[ILLDieADemon 804]

Untill there's a player with better foot skills then him there will always be a spot for Watts.

[Gator 16,909]

Didn't know he was delisted.

[rpfc 27,591]

Some have got the meme game down. They know what they're doing.

Others...don't...

[Gator 16,909]

Some have got the meme game down. They know what they're doing.

Others...don't...

Oh, I know what I'm doing, pal.

[jumbo returns 6,515]

Oh, I know what I'm doing, pal.

Thought you were a luddite, PD?

[ManDee 7,091]

Oh, I know what I'm doing, pal.

That's what this guy said.

Edited November 2, 2015 by ManDee