Jack Watts signs for three years (21/7/16)

[dazzledavey36 54,865]

Jack Watts to sign soon.

[Clayton van Oliver 1,823]

So stoked for this bloke! Good onya Wattsy! Keep going mate

[DemonLad5 1,642]

Couldn't be happier for Jack!

[buck_nekkid 5,858]

When he signs, it will be great news

[The Backyard Charizard 1,202]

In the words of the great Tony Greig...

"This news makes me hord"

[spirit of norm smith 16,443]

Jack is repaying the faith that MFC has had in him.

A loyal young man. 100% character. 

[DeeSpencer 25,680]

Who wrote that article. It's yuck. 

But good stuff Wattsy. I wonder what the years will be? Price won't be cheap either! 4 years 650k maybe?

[What 18,810]

Cant believe how good of a player he has become. Not just how good but they type of player. Hes taking contested marks and he is hitting the contest hard.  Amazing really.  Such a gun now.

[Canplay 634]

Sensational bloke is our Jack

[chook fowler 19,458]

16 minutes ago, DemonLad5 said:

Couldn't be happier for Jack!

Couldn't be happier for us. Arguably as important a signing as Hoges.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,209]

6 minutes ago, Petraccattack said:

Cant believe how good of a player he has become. Not just how good but they type of player. Hes taking contested marks and he is hitting the contest hard.  Amazing really.  Such a gun now.

He still has his moments but overall it's just "clicked" for him this year. He gets it now.

[Spirit of 26 261]

Whoever decided he'd should be swung into the ruck this year is a goddamn genius.

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,388]

Was this before or after touring Collingwood's facilities?

[Deeoldfart 8,016]

I love Jack's loyalty.  I hope its rewarded with a drink from a Premiership Cup. 

[Bang Bang Bang 5,825]

Great news.

Jay Clark once again delivers with a Dees scoop. It's clear he has a close contact at the club and thus I'm buoyed by the fact he thinks Hogan's a 98% chance to stay (from earlier in the year).

[Bombay Airconditioning 6,388]

Watts is now the complete player and a genuine game changer after addressing the one part of his game that was missing. 

12 months ago I didn't think this would be the case.

[FarNorthernD 5,861]

Jack, the poor bastard has had to endure more ridicule and derision than anyone in the history of the game for not being able to be that No.1 pick and saviour he was supposed to be. Through all that he has remained loyal to the MFC when nearly all others would have left. 

He is Melbourne to his core and I am very happy he will remain with us for the good times. 

[DeeSpencer 25,680]

9 minutes ago, Spirit of 26 said:

Whoever decided he'd should be swung into the ruck this year is a goddamn genius.

Neil Craig decided it in 2013 and it took 3 years for someone to remember it again. Then again in just his 3rd year in 2011 Watts was a handy forward. Took a long time for that to come back. A lot of his 2014 on a wing was handy as well. 

Long term I think getting him up the ground to play 3rd man up more than rucking, giving him some time on a wing to find space on tight grounds as well as a mixture of playing deep or half forward will be Watts' go. And the loose backman when required. Finding the balance where he has 1 set position to master (ie. forward) and feel confident in and then rotating him to other spots when it will benefit him and the team not just randomly will have him at his best.

[Akum 2,660]

I think it's as simple as he's finally grown into his body. Has a much stronger core now, and much stronger in the contest.

[Uncle Fester 2,848]

Wanted him gone for whatever we could get a couple of years ago. Thought he was talented, but a talented bust that we'd probably ruined.

I am so happy to eat humble pie. So very happy. When the ball is in his hands I know that he will find the best option or kick the goal, he goes in when it is his turn, and players look for him when he calls for it. He is going to be the icing on the cake over the next couple of years.

 

(oh and PS... to that drunk Collingwood 'supporter' that kept yelling out that Watts was the worst #1 pick ever until I kept yelling Josh Fraser back at him. Yeah, mate, Josh still owns the crown)

[Lord Travis 10,729]

He's very mentally tough individual. To have copped all the pressure and negativity hurled at him since he was thrown to the wolves in his debut through until now shows the character and toughness he has. I can't recall anyone in football having as much crap thrown at them as Watts has endured. Now he can finally flip off all the haters and stand tall as a quality player. Will be happy when the news is official, but for now I'm just wrapt for him as a person to be producing the quality he was always capable of. Good onya Jack!

[Guest]

Very happy with Jack's year.

Pre 2016, I was always leery in saying the corner had been turned. He would always put in a decent match which showed some promising signs then would go back to floating from pack to pack and falling down in contests. 

This year, you can tell his contested work has improved out of sight. If he doesn't get the ball first time, he now makes a second effort and if he doesn't get the ball back himself, he makes sure his opponent has a bloody hard time of disposing of the thing. 

If he hasn't turned the corner, he is definitely straddling it. The challenge now is to put together a body of work over a period of seasons. Not to be too dismissive but I remember Travis Johnstone had a breakout year in 2002 and went back to being a disappointment the next year in 2003. 

The next step for Jack is to become not just a star but to gain genuine respect due to his body of work.
 

Edited July 11, 2016 by Colin B. Flaubert
dates were mixed up

[Pates 9,660]

This has been a fantastic season by Jack and I couldn't be happier for him, also stoked to hear that he really only really had one thought on his contract and that was re-signing with us. 

[Cheap Seats 3,310]

I'mnot going to lie, i doubted  jack would make it.

Very happy to be proven wrong, and even happier he wants to stay.

Let's hope he hasn't peaked and the best is yet to come

[binman 42,903]

21 minutes ago, Colin B. Flaubert said:

If he hasn't turned the corner, he is definitely straddling it. The challenge now is to put together a body of work over a period of seasons. Not to be too dismissive but I remember Travis Johnstone had a breakout year in 2003 and went back to being a disappointment the next year in 2003. 

The next step for Jack is to become not just a star but to gain genuine respect due to his body of work.
 

Yep, fair call