Jack Watts in 2016?

[stuie 7,374]

Very good mark and set shot for goal, and our best player for goal assists.

Should be played in the forward line every week, it's clearly the best position for his skill set. Having Watts and Garlett either side of Hogan is a great mix, would just need to make sure Watts is keeping up the other end of the bargain with his defensive pressure.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

I knew you wouldn't resist, Jumbo!

Thanks Munga - you hooked me, son!

[rpfc 28,729]

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

He is a flanker - they are never that important...

He can make us better than a replacement flanker can - especially considering he is competing against Ben Kennedy and god knows who.

But he is not important to the team.

[Gator 17,448]

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

Edited November 1, 2015 by ProDee

[dazzledavey36 55,312]

Very good mark and set shot for goal, and our best player for goal assists.

Should be played in the forward line every week, it's clearly the best position for his skill set. Having Watts and Garlett either side of Hogan is a great mix, would just need to make sure Watts is keeping up the other end of the bargain with his defensive pressure.

Dont know about the very good mark bit..

[3Dee 1,153]

Putting Petracca ahead of Watts at this stage is hillarious.

Watts 22 easy. He will continue to improve under Roos and dominate next year, stronger list helps.

If he goes backwards he is toast.

[stuie 7,374]

Dont know about the very good mark bit..

IMO he's a very good mark on the lead in the forward line.

[Gator 17,448]

Putting Petracca ahead of Watts at this stage is hillarious.

Watts 22 easy. He will continue to improve under Roos and dominate next year, stronger list helps.

If he goes backwards he is toast.

I'll have a wager with you that Petracca plays round 1.

Mentioning Watts in the same breath as Petracca is hilarious.

[Fitz Fitzpatrick 886]

IMO he's a very good mark on the lead in the forward line.

I dont rate his marking at all. Being outmarked by Jamie Bennell in a one on one against WC stands out amongst many examples. His kicking is elite and vision and decision making are very good.

[Fitz Fitzpatrick 886]

Hi thirst for the contest is 3rd rate and so many blokes on the list show him up for that now. Yes he's a cherry on top type, but i reckon Petracca as a HF can offer so much more IF he is what pundits forecast. I accept that is an IF at this stage.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Wasn't Petracca recruited as a midfielder?

[stuie 7,374]

I dont rate his marking at all. Being outmarked by Jamie Bennell in a one on one against WC stands out amongst many examples. His kicking is elite and vision and decision making are very good.

As I said, on the lead in the forward line. I didn't say he's a great contested mark.

[rpfc 28,729]

It's about what roles people can play.

We do not have a plethora of lead up HFFs to choose from - if we want that role - Watts is a huge chance to play.

Putting mids on flanks is great and a boon in the new 90 rotations world we live in, but if it ain't working, it is going to be revisited.

Some mids cannot play certain roles forward.

[dazzledavey36 55,312]

Wasn't Petracca recruited as a midfielder?

Actually more of a half forward/midfielder.. i have no doubt if he didn't do hos knee he would have stayed up forward all year.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Actually more of a half forward/midfielder.. i have no doubt if he didn't do hos knee he would have stayed up forward all year.

I know throughout his junior footy he kicked a truckload of goals every week...

[thevil1 421]

Not a given any more, his dropping for the last game of the year was telling IMO. He is an automatic selection IF he wants it badly enough, if he doesn't then we now have enough players with a competitive edge about them that he will be dropped quick smart should he continue to struggle with consistency of effort. Pretty simple really & I do think it's a make or break year for him, not because he was a number one pick but because we are apparently paying him pretty well at the moment and that $$ could go to a big fish like Prestia next year or might be needed to extend the kids coming through. Another year like 2015, even with the 'flashes', he'll be up for a pay cut at the bare minimum. I do hope he can find another few gears/levels this year because we know there is still a huge amount of untapped potential in there, but I'm still concerned how he'd hold up in a big final though.....

[FireOath 290]

Yes, and easily. As simple as that.

The whole team doesn't need to be gut busting runners and are hard at the ball.

[dazzledavey36 55,312]

I'll have a wager with you that Petracca plays round 1.

Mentioning Watts in the same breath as Petracca is hilarious.

Not really actually.. i am one of Watts biggest critics but Petracca is coming from a long way back from injury. He will be eased into pre season footy very slowly. Lets not forget Petracca has not played senior footy at any level in his career so the intensity and speed of the game will come as a real shock to him. It will take him a couple of weeks to adjust to senior footy just like Brayshaw at the start of the year.

With the sub gone and interchange rotations down to 90 Watts will hopefully become very important for us as he has the ability to gut run and create space. Infact Watts hard running doesn't get the reward he deserves from his teamates.

Now one of Petraccas biggest weakness is his not a hard running midfielder or half forward at all. Does alot of his work in close. In fact his endurance needs a bit of work.. a fair bit now considering he has had a year off. He is going to blow up big time in the first couple of games.

So to put Petracca ahead of Watts in round 1 is laughable. I am just as excited to see Trac next year no question at all but Watts is ahead of him atm.

[george_on_the_outer 7,691]

Will be de-listed at the end of 2016 when his contract runs out.

No-one else would take him during this years trade period. Couldn't make the 22 for the last game of 2015, and wasn't missed.

[Gator 17,448]

Not really actually.. i am one of Watts biggest critics but Petracca is coming from a long way back from injury. He will be eased into pre season footy very slowly. Lets not forget Petracca has not played senior footy at any level in his career so the intensity and speed of the game will come as a real shock to him. It will take him a couple of weeks to adjust to senior footy just like Brayshaw at the start of the year.

With the sub gone and interchange rotations down to 90 Watts will hopefully become very important for us as he has the ability to gut run and create space. Infact Watts hard running doesn't get the reward he deserves from his teamates.

Now one of Petraccas biggest weakness is his not a hard running midfielder or half forward at all. Does alot of his work in close. In fact his endurance needs a bit of work.. a fair bit now considering he has had a year off. He is going to blow up big time in the first couple of games.

So to put Petracca ahead of Watts in round 1 is laughable. I am just as excited to see Trac next year no question at all but Watts is ahead of him atm.

If it's so laughable we'll have a wager. Petracca will have had 15 moths to prepare for round 1. He will well and truly be ready for selection. I agree that it will be 2017 before he finds a range of consistency, but I have no doubt he'll be raring to go come the start of the season.

Watts is finished.

[rpfc 28,729]

Watts is finished.

Didn't know he was delisted.

[mordja 187]

Geez, Jack Watts sure will be happy when the new whipping boy Melksham arrives.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

Geez, Jack Watts sure will be happy when the new whipping boy Melksham arrives.

We've already got one - Chris Dawes

[McQueen 17,867]

I've been saying for years that he's too light, gets brushed off when tackling and generally doesn't have the strength to win his own footy.

I don't think Roos and Goodwins current strategy and game style is going to appeal to Jack unless he changes his whole approach to the game. Pure outside mids are a thing of the past and team rules are in place for everyone to follow. Blokes who hold back from a contest and play seagull footy won't last. Toumpas is a prime example.

Get him in the gym and put 5 or 6 kgs on him and have one last roll of the dice.

Otherwise it'll be adios.

Ed: spelling

Edited November 2, 2015 by McQueen

[faultydet 7,619]

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

Mostly agree, although I have a feeling you may be overestimating Trengoves ability to make it back to his best, and he would need to, in order to be best 22. Hope i'm wrong.

Watts does have great footy I.Q, but simply will not engage in the physical stuff, at the intensity that finals bring. I think many will be surprised, as Jack spends a large chunk of the season at Casey.

Looking at that team, and it makes me smile at the "mongrel" on most lines. About bloody time.