6 minutes ago, Stinger said:

Jack was immense yesterday. Loved how he backed himself on the wing in the first quarter, but by far my favourite part of the day (aside from winning) was his mark/goal/celebration in the 4th. He was seriously fired up after he converted - the casual, lackluster, high five was replaced by screaming and sprinting, forcing his energy into teammates and ultimately kickstarting a 4th quarter comeback. I've never seen him so pumped in his entire career - love it.

Leadership

time for a massive call, if Jack holds his early form all year, and we win 10 plus games, he will be in the All Australian team and right in the mix for the Bluey

The only difference this season is that Jack Watts has 21 mates playing their role    and yesterday we won  so no need for a whipping boy   although Dom Tyson seemed to go close

9 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

Leadership

Oh Dazzle you are wonderful your posts always cheer me up     I thought Tom McDonald led the defence superbly as well yesterday   your thougths?

 

Two things have changed in Jack Watts game as far as I can tell.

1) He is fitter, much fitter. The allows him to produce a much greater effort and has eliminated those moments where it appears he isn't trying just because he's completely spent.

2) He believes in himself now. I credit the current coaching staff with this. I'll never forget Neeld putting Watts down in his very first press conference, before he'd even taken over as coach. What a difference coaching makes.

He also has a pretty decent frame now too, which is helping him hold his own in contests.

Just watched last quarter again. My favourite bit of play was when he led and marked strongly and then kicked to Hogan on the lead, who converted for his second. The G was absolutely going off at this stage.

34 minutes ago, Satyriconhome said:

Oh Dazzle you are wonderful your posts always cheer me up     I thought Tom McDonald led the defence superbly as well yesterday   your thougths?

 

Best game he has played in a long time. Tommy did exactly what we have been pleading him for and thats just keep things simple and know your limitations.

Lets hope he keeps this form up all year.

Bernie Vince said maybe 1 or 2 years ago that Jack reminded him a lot of Tex Walker in regards to how his teammates looked up to him. That is quite a hold to have over a group. If Jack himself realizes the influence he has on his teammates and uses it to the advantage of the team then look out.
Jack needs to put a patch of games together like that for 8 weeks or so and then we can definitively say the corner has well and truly been turned. That's not to detract from what happened yesterday. Don't get me wrong, he was sensational. However,  I have been burnt on making predictions about Jack and the penny dropping before so I will reserve judgement.
Excellent performance nonetheless.

Edited March 27, 20169 yr by Colin B. Flaubert
Incorrect use of word,

And about bloody time too. I have often led the charge against Watts and was hoping he was traded last year. Having said that I have always maintained he has elite disposal and reads the play better than most but his reluctance to attack the contest meant that it all counted for nothing. He's had a great pre season and yesterday was a break out game for him in his 7th season. Now compare that to Weitering's game on Thursday night playing in a side that resemble the Demons of years ago. Yesterday is now the minimum standard, yes he'll have the odd bad game but we need more of what we saw in the last qtr. Would love to know what clicked for him, considering this is his 3 year under Roos I'm starting to think maybe McCartney or Goodwin.

Jack being dropped for the final game last year may have saved his career. 

He was a different player yesterday

Like the kid i saw play for BGS years ago...

2 hours ago, Peter Griffen said:

Jacks always had talent, but it seems the penny has finally dropped about how hard he has to work and how hard he has to attack the ball to do anything with that talent.

 

well done Jack!

Penny has finally dropped with the recruiting department more like it.  I've been a fan since day one and proud of it yesterday.

3 hours ago, Dee Dee said:

And this is one of his many strengths FD, he has a cool head and the more he plays in a team that's on the improve the better I think he will become.

Watts won us the game yesterday.

I think he was pivotal, but Viney, Oliver and Kennedy got it up to him. It was a real team performance. Fantastic to see.

6 hours ago, CBDees said:

Also at 100% disposal efficiency yesterday. If his team mates could match that then we will start winning matches by twenty goals!

See, I'm confused. A couple of people have mentioned this 100% DE and then another mentioned he had 5 clangers. Well, what is it?

Jack has always been an icing player, we just never had the cake.

Now the pressure is off and hes going to shine.  He was incredible yesterday.

2 hours ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

And about bloody time too. I have often led the charge against Watts and was hoping he was traded last year. Having said that I have always maintained he has elite disposal and reads the play better than most but his reluctance to attack the contest meant that it all counted for nothing. He's had a great pre season and yesterday was a break out game for him in his 7th season. Now compare that to Weitering's game on Thursday night playing in a side that resemble the Demons of years ago. Yesterday is now the minimum standard, yes he'll have the odd bad game but we need more of what we saw in the last qtr. Would love to know what clicked for him, considering this is his 3 year under Roos I'm starting to think maybe McCartney or Goodwin.

Answered your own question, BA.

Elite coaching and sensational recruiting.

Stop comparing him....just enjoy his form.

1 hour ago, Petraccattack said:

Jack has always been an icing player, we just never had the cake.

Now the pressure is off and hes going to shine.  He was incredible yesterday.

Incorrect ananolgy, he was more than the icing yesterday.

1 minute ago, Bombay Airconditioning said:

Incorrect ananolgy, he was more than the icing yesterday.

Yes fair call.  He was willing the team to victory.

Nobody could have ever saw that coming from JW.

His Handball to AVB whilst under savage pressure spinning 360 was brilliant

He kept his feet. That can only come from extra fitness and weight training ..

His reaction after kicking that first goal of the last quarter says to me he now wants to win a Flag for the MFC. Being an AFL player is now not enough. 

Look at all the positive press today. Kids will go to school on tuesday and practise like Jack Watts on the oval...

he has sorted his attitude out. I think he will now be filthy after a loss..

Yesterday he was sensational but he's been in the system for 7-8 years. He's had the body he has now for at least the last 2 years. Most have agreed he's always had the talent but it's been his mental application that's held him back, I don't think it is Roos that has turned him around, I'm blooding hoping it was Goodwin, because that holds us in good stead. As for comments "players x, y or a delivered the ball to him. He's had numerous opportunities in years gone by all be it the delivery not as good but in pressure games that will/may always be the case, he now fully believes in himself and understands he can influence the results of games by his action. He imposed himself on that game and was the difference. And yes Jumbo I'm bloody enjoying it, just cant have a drink as I'm on call all weekend.

4 hours ago, Stinger said:

Jack was immense yesterday. Loved how he backed himself on the wing in the first quarter, but by far my favourite part of the day (aside from winning) was his mark/goal/celebration in the 4th. He was seriously fired up after he converted - the casual, lackluster, high five was replaced by screaming and sprinting, forcing his energy into teammates and ultimately kickstarting a 4th quarter comeback. I've never seen him so pumped in his entire career - love it.

This was a standout moment for me as well. You can't help but feel his passionate reaction after that goal was a one percenter that contributed to the continuation of momentum afterward.

Whatever mine or anyone else's thoughts on Watts, he's one that the other players look up to inside club walls. We've heard that countless times. It hasn't translated into official leadership duties because frankly his performance onfield hasn't warranted it. If however he is able to produce performances like the one yesterday on a consistent basis, that could change.

And the OP is right. We all love Wattsy. I reckon even PD loves the bloke. Deep down. Very deep down.

Edited March 27, 20169 yr by P-man

Jack took a step in 2015.  That was when he started to be more aggressive in contests and learned to dispose of the ball effectively when being tackled.   He had a very good patch of form for about 10 to 12 games before falling away.

He just needs to learn to play like yesterday week in week out.

 

Every year he has been lauded over pre-season and picked as one who will stand up, I feel that there is something different about him this year. He just seems to be walking taller and with leadership, it's still early days but this could be his year (and by extension ours!). 

My favourite moment was when Jack got (slightly) injured in a genuine contested marking crunch.  Leigh Matthews enjoyed the taste of his own blood.

5 hours ago, Satyriconhome said:

The only difference this season is that Jack Watts has 21 mates playing their role    and yesterday we won  so no need for a whipping boy   although Dom Tyson seemed to go close

Jack Watts has been a good player with excellent disposal. The difference is that we have better players around him. add Bugg, Frost, Kennedy and Clarry Oliver. He can't carry the team all on his own, he needs team mates, he now has them.

Can't wait for Petracca, Gus and Trengove to get in the team.

Jack has made the leap from potential to producing match changing output. A champion in the making,  he is walking taller and using the ball with purpose. hats off to jack and the coaching team to strengthen jack's composure  and confidence.