Farewell Jack Watts

[DeeSpencer 23,509]

11 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

) See my comments about playing with a straight bat.

2) Could be explained in the light of Mahoney 'hypotetical text' I suggested

3) It was hypothetical text to demonstrate a point, not intended to be exact wording.

That's fair but any hypothetical reasons to trade someone will get spun in to negatives I think. Short of Jack wanting to set up a surf shop in Glenelg there's always going to be a challenge from the media and fans. Attitude, role, salary cap, injuries, age, future form. I'd have stuck with the truth but played it a bit softer and nicer.

[jnrmac 19,328]

2 hours ago, jumbo returns said:

Member

In the swirling dervish of all your posts, your constant bleating had you allude to the B and F as being a 'guide'

Can't be bother trawling

All the best

So you make an allegation and can't back it up. Classy mate. Pretty obvious who has a credibility issue I would have thought. 

 

[jnrmac 19,328]

2 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

1) Post Season Jones and Goodwin say nothing.  Yes they were asked questions about Watts.  Standard answer should have been a straight bat eg

Our List Management Team, like those of other clubs are looking to review and to improve our playing list.  When any information is available about any player we will let you know. 

Instead they carried on with: not meeting expectations, Jack had been in a rut for 9 years,  off-field behaviours, setting example for young players etc etc etc.  Of course, the media jumped all over those comments which fueled more and more questions.

They should have stuck with straight bat, straight bat, straight bat.  Better still not put them on them on air.  Post round 23 Mahoney should be our only spokesperson.

2) After the GF Mahoney should have come out and said something like: 

Our List Management Team has met and we have asked Jack Watts to explore his options with other clubs.  We believe that other list opportunities will result in changes to the structure of our forward line and it is in both parties interests to take this path.  If no suitable trade is found, Jack can remain at mfc. 

Instead he came over real heavy echoing Goodwin's and Jones criticisms and added a few more about being tired of having these conversations with Jack.  

Everything in itallics is factual.  The dirty laundry wasn't necessary.  The media could say what it wanted there was no reason for the club to validate it.

The WB had a similar problem.  Cutting Stringer was swift and brutal.  Thereafter, no one at the club made a single solitary comment.  They let the rumours float around but did not give them validity because they said nothing.  Result:  Supporters were shocked and upset at the decision but were accepting of the process.

Instead MFC made it a death of a thousand cuts for Jack by having coach, captain and football manager give a regular commentary on Jack's deficiencies over a 5/6 week period.   Result:  Supporters were upset at the decision and the process. 

On this thread even most the ardent fans of the decision lamented how it was handled by the club.

As if anyone thinks you could just quietly sneak Watts out the back door!

If the club was about making a statement on expectations then they made it.  Good. They are on the hook as much as anyone for the decision. Great. I want everyone at the club to be burning to win a flag.

[Skuit 9,382]

3 hours ago, SFebey said:

 

I'm so relieved to hear that the AFL will only be paying 0.75% of our salary cap space to Port rather than the obscene 1.5% first reported, and can rest a bit easier that we'll be allotted 99.25% rather than the disastrous 98.75% for the next two years. I think overall this news perhaps just about tips Trade Week in our favour - despite paying overs for Balic when we could have probably picked him up as a delisted free agent anyway. 

[Mazer Rackham 14,970]

2 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

1) Post Season Jones and Goodwin say nothing.  Yes they were asked questions about Watts.  Standard answer should have been a straight bat eg

Our List Management Team, like those of other clubs are looking to review and to improve our playing list.  When any information is available about any player we will let you know. 

Instead they carried on with:

etc
etc

 

Assuming the club had followed your hypotheticals to the letter: how would the outcome be materially different?

[jumbo returns 6,547]

1 hour ago, faultydet said:

Please don't speak for me LH

 

Goodwin wants us to win a premiership, and doesn't believe Watts can help us with this aim.

I'm grateful that we have a coach who can make the hard calls.

It isn't a popularity contest, it's a race to the flag.

Yes!

Amen brother!

[beelzebub 22,373]

41 minutes ago, Skuit said:

I'm so relieved to hear that the AFL will only be paying 0.75% of our salary cap space to Port rather than the obscene 1.5% first reported, and can rest a bit easier that we'll be allotted 99.25% rather than the disastrous 98.75% for the next two years. I think overall this news perhaps just about tips Trade Week in our favour - despite paying overs for Balic when we could have probably picked him up as a delisted free agent anyway. 

you do realise its OUR salary cap though...so it by effect has influence over how much we can actually spend on OUR players

[Skuit 9,382]

2 minutes ago, beelzebub said:

you do realise its OUR salary cap though...so it by effect has influence over how much we can actually spend on OUR players

I do BB. Jack Watts staying would have also had an influence on how much we could spend on our players. But in this climate of outrage people are filthy about the perception that we are digging into OUR own pockets and forking over OUR hard-earned cash to pay for Jack to play for Port. 

 

[Queanbeyan Demon 6,136]

On 10/17/2017 at 4:58 PM, ucanchoose said:

Am I the only one thrilled here??

Nope. Anyone that knows footy understand we have done extremely well during the trade period. 

[Demon Dynasty 16,032]

8 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Jack Watts:  "Reading the comments and the messages I've been getting, it's been extremely humbling, but at the same time, Melbourne are on the right track and hopefully the supporters can see past this and jump back on board and support the club through what hopefully is a really successful time for them."

After all the public critique of him by our leaders, to find the goodwill to give the above message to fans - well it just doesn't get any classier!   

Go well, young man. 

Well said Lucifer and well spoken by Jack.

I was never a huge fan on the field other than his classy ball use and some of his work in the last few seasons, but very disappointed with how this was handled in the press.  The trade outcome reflected this big time, in Ports favour unfortunately.  There was going to be no other outcome after he was dumped on so no one to blame but the FD itself and the players who went public.

WATT goes around comes around as they say in the classics.  I wish Jack all the best and will never forget his winning run and goal around the southern stand flank to finish off the Pies on QB 2017 and the reaction of the Pies supporters around us afterwards!  Priceless and worth every cent of the $200k a year for the next two years!

A better bloke you could not wish to meet even if he never quite lived up to his potential on the field.  I wish he had and that he could have stayed to (hopefully) play finals in 2018.  Thanks mate and good luck.

[rpfc 27,646]

He can frustrate as a footy player, but, my god, he was brought up well. All class.

Yes, I am at the age where I say things like that.

Cant wait to shout him a beer after we win the flag and he is supporting his mates while still at Port. Can you imagine the Leoncell36 equivalent at Port when those photos come out?! lol

[iv'a worn smith 1,979]

A total disgrace. If we win a flag I'll eat my words gladly. IF. Never, ever eat your own. 

[beelzebub 22,373]

7 minutes ago, rpfc said:

He can frustrate as a footy player, but, my god, he was brought up well. All class.

Yes, I am at the age where I say things like that.

Cant wait to shout him a beer after we win the flag and he is supporting his mates while still at Port. Can you imagine the Leoncell36 equivalent at Port when those photos come out?! lol

Ill buy the next round

[Skuit 9,382]

This has been a divisive episode no doubt. This is a board for passionate supporters and it's not unusual for heated back-n-forths among ourselves. And it's clear that many people are deeply and genuinely upset. But if any of you here are the ones polluting the MFC's social media feeds and flinging rubbish directly at our club in public then you ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

[beelzebub 22,373]

21 minutes ago, Skuit said:

I do BB. Jack Watts staying would have also had an influence on how much we could spend on our players. But in this climate of outrage people are filthy about the perception that we are digging into OUR own pockets and forking over OUR hard-earned cash to pay for Jack to play for Port. 

 

I actually understand your view. Id just rather pay all of our money on our players. I also understand the situation its not a unique situation. I would counter though it is also an probably unnecessary one.

Also one that must certainly cast any suggestions of salary cap pressure to the bin.

[daisycutter 28,704]

1 hour ago, Skuit said:

I'm so relieved to hear that the AFL will only be paying 0.75% of our salary cap space to Port rather than the obscene 1.5% first reported, and can rest a bit easier that we'll be allotted 99.25% rather than the disastrous 98.75% for the next two years. I think overall this news perhaps just about tips Trade Week in our favour - despite paying overs for Balic when we could have probably picked him up as a delisted free agent anyway. 

.75% of $12m (can't be bothered looking up exact sc figure) equates to $90,000

If this is accurate, then not bad. certainly better than the $200k someone quoted earlier

Edited October 18, 2017 by daisycutter

[Skuit 9,382]

1 minute ago, daisycutter said:

.75% of $2m (can't be bothered looking up exact sc figure) equates to $90,000

If this is accurate, then not bad. certainly better than the $200k someone quoted earlier

I probably should have made it clearer that I pulled those figures from my hat. #Demonlandtruthandreconciliationcommission

[London Demon 256]

Terribly disappointed to see JW leave like this, but it's done, if that's the club decision we should accept it, move on, make it work.

As for jack's final message, all class. He is clearly pretty devasted but refused to show any negativity or bitterness. Best wishes  to him.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,208]

5 hours ago, Rogue said:

Watts was contracted for another two years, so getting him to another Club was a win - we didn't want him anymore.

Pick 31? Pick 21? Pick 41? Pretty irrelevant, I reckon.

As an aside, classy comments from Watts as he heads to Port, but also pretty irrelevant to this debate - no one was kicking him out because he was a [censored] bloke.

PS. I know footy players don't need to be smart, but I worry if it's true that Weid can't see why we're shipping Watts out...

Not WE wanted him out just YOU Rogue and the other members of the Minority group. I and a very large majority did not.

[brendan 3,418]

Watts today said “footy is not my life”

says it all really and that’s fine if he wants to think that, but the club needs 100% buy in and if you can’t do that then go else where fairly simple philosophy 

[Bobby McKenzie 2,208]

52 minutes ago, Skuit said:

This has been a divisive episode no doubt. This is a board for passionate supporters and it's not unusual for heated back-n-forths among ourselves. And it's clear that many people are deeply and genuinely upset. But if any of you here are the ones polluting the MFC's social media feeds and flinging rubbish directly at our club in public then you ought to be ashamed of yourselves.

I have written to the club condemning Goodwin's actions. I'm not a bit ashamed and why should I be?

[Cheap Seats 3,303]

1 hour ago, beelzebub said:

you do realise its OUR salary cap though...so it by effect has influence over how much we can actually spend on OUR players

Correct it's a valid point

 

Just like when we were really crap we had to pay crap player big salaries because no one wanted to play for us and the AFL rules demanded you pay a % of the salary cap.

You really need to look at the big picture.

[Cheap Seats 3,303]

2 minutes ago, brendan said:

Watts today said “footy is not my life”

says it all really and that’s fine if he wants to think that, but the club needs 100% buy in and if you can’t do that then go else where fairly simple philosophy 

I heard it as well and thought the exact same thing.

Kinda vindicated the decision from Goodwin IMO. There is zero doubt in my mind JW is a super bloke... But I'm more then happy to back the FD on this decision

[Axis of Bob 10,391]

2 minutes ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

I have written to the club condemning Goodwin's actions. I'm not a bit ashamed and why should I be?

The club will definitely care about your email. They will probably take it into account when making future decisions.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,208]

1 hour ago, Queanbeyan Demon said:

Nope. Anyone that knows footy understand we have done extremely well during the trade period. 

Lever in Watts out for pick 31. And losing first round pick for Lever. Yeah, we did extremely well Not. Explain how we did extremely well please.