20 minutes ago, The Stigga said:

I agree that he maybe should have gone on another year Ron, but he was going on 36 at the time.

How long were we going to keep him for? 2, 3 more years?

Where we failed was not having a plan to get him straight onto the coaching staff.

Agreed. Like the Watts debacle, it was the way the Club managed or did not manage Juniors departure.  He needed to be treated as a valuable asset and with respect, and given the opportunity to remain with the club in some capacity. 

Regardless of where he ends up, it's good to see Jack has stayed in Melbourne this whole time, and from the looks of it, working out at Rob Jackson's cage. I'm sure he probably had to stay due to the trade news, but it might be a blessing in disguise for his performance in 2018. His 2016 holidays was the US (probably the worst place for your diet) and then I think Bali.

4 minutes ago, hemingway said:

Agreed. Like the Watts debacle, it was the way the Club managed or did not manage Juniors departure.  He needed to be treated as a valuable asset and with respect, and given the opportunity to remain with the club in some capacity. 

 

The difference is that Junior was one of our best players (had been for years), our captain and leader.

Jack is popular with team mates, members and sponsors as he is a good bloke.

 

1 hour ago, Ron Burgundy said:

Jnrmac - for what it's worth, I argued until I was blue in the face that letting Junior McDonald go would be an absolutely disaster for this club.

And it was.

Many here strongly disagreed at the time - 'too old, too many soft tissues, need to get games into the more talented kids' etc. Clubs don't always get these decisions right, even with the best intentions.

That said, I think we have a quality administration here now. The Watts issue has been their first big wrinkle for me. The club may ultimately prove to be absolutely right on it, although it has the hallmarks of decisioning made on the run at this point in time.

 

The difference I would argue is that Jnr was a good trainer with good habits and a club favourite. He was a positive culture for the club and it was seen as sacriligious to let him go.

Watts is popular but deep down I suspect the players know he hasn't given it his all.

4 hours ago, ChaserJ said:

A ruckman as well?

Surely not Lobbe. Frampton might be ok, but is an SA boy.

Dougal Howard is from Murray area, would be more of a fwd/ruck and came in late season for Port (including their final).

With the value, or lack thereof, that the FD has now caste upon Jack by announcing to the entire football world that he has personal issues off the track and doesn't go hard enough with pre-season training etc, we will be lucky to even get Pick 30 (as suggested by Spook) let alone a bonus player Chaser.  Maybe a free tea strainer so we we can read the tea leaves and work out how this will all play out.  Now that would be worthwhile! ?

May have already been posted... https://coupler.foxsports.com.au/api/v1/article/amp/afl/jack-watts-receives-huge-reception-at-best-and-fairest-but-departs-as-an-unfulfilled-and-frustrated-demon/news-story/ec9563b1171cad8ce6f0657f69daeaa0

6 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

With the value, or lack thereof, that the FD has now caste upon Jack by announcing to the entire football world that he has personal issues off the track and doesn't go hard enough with pre-season training etc, we will be lucky to even get Pick 30 (as suggested by Spook) let alone a bonus player Chaser.  Maybe a free tea strainer so we we can read the tea leaves and work out how this will all play out.  Now that would be worthwhile! ?

where-ever he goes , lets just say they have well and truly done their own due diligence and in no way are relying on the voracity of anything emanating from Melbourne.

Whats that language of footy again ??

4 hours ago, Redleg said:

He actually played well in the ruck, not so much in actual ruck work but in his follow up. He became another mid and that would have earned him votes and credit from the coaches. It did not hinder his votes playing in the ruck it helped him.

Yes but the Jack haters don't see it that way Red, they like to just paint a picture of an under performer who wasn't really very good at anything or didn't perform up to the levels expected most of the time.

Whilst he may not have, he certainly did perform to a level that meant he was easily in our best 22.

By focusing so much on JW, too much emphasis is placed on HIS output vs what's expected and too many others who have severely under performed and in my opinion should have been looked at and moved on before JW, are still there and in many cases have gone under the radar of scrutiny.  Scrutiny of a similar level that's been applied to JW, and rightly so.  For if you aren't going to apply the same principles to all as you did to Jack then good luck getting the best out of the entire playing list and winning a premiership (under the present coach and FD team).

46 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

City we don't need more meat and potatoe types to replace Jack.  He was the finish, the icing on the outside if you like.  We have an abundance of these types and you only need so many in finals.  He was inneffective and shown up badly in his last match anyway.  A solid player but not what we need more of.

I do agree we need to add outside run and finish  but more of the caliber of player We would need to swap for - maybe a lachie witfield type with some pics exchanging, I know im dreaming  but so far the club seems to be demanding somthing good . 

1 hour ago, GawnWithTheWind said:

I follow a few of the fitness staff on instagram, more so for training tips and to get an insight into how AFL athletes prepare than to peer into what the dees players are doing.

However, this morning one of them had Spencer, Trengove and watts in the Instagram story.

Good to see Watts in there working in his off-season, bad to see him just doing bicep curls. Curls will only help him look better in his shorts rather than becoming a better AFL athlete. Maybe I missed all of the functional stuff he did prior... but he looked pretty keen on making the guns bigger.

I seriously hope this isn't true.  If it is then this club has serious underlying issues that go way beyond Watts and his off field antics and WILL NOT be resolved with the departure of JW.

If it is true I can only hope PJ gets hold of the fitness guy and tells him to shut the hell up and keep his personal views to himself or between himself and JW.

41 minutes ago, PaulRB said:

May have already been posted... https://coupler.foxsports.com.au/api/v1/article/amp/afl/jack-watts-receives-huge-reception-at-best-and-fairest-but-departs-as-an-unfulfilled-and-frustrated-demon/news-story/ec9563b1171cad8ce6f0657f69daeaa0

Not a bad article, and sums up what most here would be feeling, .... one way or the other.

2 hours ago, PaulRB said:

Let’s assume Jack sees the light and decides to stay and, to paraphrase Roos, decides to be great, what does he need to do immediately to start earning back the respect and trust of the coach, FD and LG? 

Prepare and train like a professional athlete and clean up all the little lazy aspects to his game (one-handed attempted marks, one-handed attempted tackles, and going to ground easily) would be a start.

Also stop bleaching his hair.

1 hour ago, ChewyOnMyBoot said:

Can we set up a market for the number of pages this thread is going to get to if he goes?

Well Chewy it will be twice as many if he stays!

37 minutes ago, Rusty Nails said:

I seriously hope this isn't true.  If it is then this club has serious underlying issues that go way beyond Watts and his off field antics and WILL NOT be resolved with the departure of JW.

If he says or goes,there will always be a Jack Watts thread.

4 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

Well Chewy it will be twice as many if he stays!

And three times as many if he goes?

So if Watts is going and is traded for pick 29, we are going for:

Hogan CHF/FF, TMac CHF/FF, Cam Pederson Link man/Back up ruck.

With Weiderman pushing for either Cam’s spot or TMacs forward spot.

Now I foresee a number of problems with this:

Cam Pederson is 30 approaching 31, having played 1 good season in the role he has to play. The end could come quickly or one bad injury could have him gone.

2: Weiderman does not play well as a link up man, he doesn’t get off his opponent and take marks off a lead and his field kicking and decision making at afl level are suspect, watch his kick to the forward line after his first possession against Brisbane late in the season if you need reminding. His skills are more in line with what Hogan and TMac do and at this stage it will be awhile before he is doing enough to surpass them at afl level. If he gets games through injury and is still playing like this year we are in trouble.

3. One or two injuries and we’re stuffed. If Hogan has another horrible year you will have TMac, Pederson and Weiderman. Lose two and we’re finding ourselves with no credible KPF and no back-up ruck. 

4. Our backline fails to fire and needs TMac or TMac’s KPF skills turn out to be a flash in the pan. Again you are relying on either Weiderman stepping up or a hear-to not on the list backup ruckman.

So who are we going to get to play 3rd forward and/or back up ruck for pick 29?

 

10 minutes ago, deejammin' said:

So if Watts is going and is traded for pick 29, we are going for:

Hogan CHF/FF, TMac CHF/FF, Cam Pederson Link man/Back up ruck.

With Weiderman pushing for either Cam’s spot or TMacs forward spot.

Now I foresee a number of problems with this:

Cam Pederson is 30 approaching 31, having played 1 good season in the role he has to play. The end could come quickly or one bad injury could have him gone.

2: Weiderman does not play well as a link up man, he doesn’t get off his opponent and take marks off a lead and his field kicking and decision making at afl level are suspect, watch his kick to the forward line after his first possession against Brisbane late in the season if you need reminding. His skills are more in line with what Hogan and TMac do and at this stage it will be awhile before he is doing enough to surpass them at afl level. If he gets games through injury and is still playing like this year we are in trouble.

3. One or two injuries and we’re stuffed. If Hogan has another horrible year you will have TMac, Pederson and Weiderman. Lose two and we’re finding ourselves with no credible KPF and no back-up ruck. 

4. Our backline fails to fire and needs TMac or TMac’s KPF skills turn out to be a flash in the pan. Again you are relying on either Weiderman stepping up or a hear-to not on the list backup ruckman.

So who are we going to get to play 3rd forward and/or back up ruck for pick 29?

 

Bring back Dawes!

1 hour ago, PaulRB said:

May have already been posted... https://coupler.foxsports.com.au/api/v1/article/amp/afl/jack-watts-receives-huge-reception-at-best-and-fairest-but-departs-as-an-unfulfilled-and-frustrated-demon/news-story/ec9563b1171cad8ce6f0657f69daeaa0

“It is going to take giving to the team like never before. It will take unconditionally competing at every contest. It will take sacrifices you have not thought about before or thought were too great to take … And it will take a mindset that every day matters.”

 

Couldnt agree more Goody.

 

2 hours ago, Rusty Nails said:

Thanks nsfm.  I don't defend or take sides with any player/s i just call it as I see it. In the past, up until about 2 years ago, I was a big doubter and critic of Watts and was copping it from everyone who were more Pro or completely sold so go figure.

I look forward to your Posts.

32 minutes ago, DSP said:

“It is going to take giving to the team like never before. It will take unconditionally competing at every contest. It will take sacrifices you have not thought about before or thought were too great to take … And it will take a mindset that every day matters.”

 

Couldnt agree more Goody.

 

Yawn

1 hour ago, jnrmac said:

The difference I would argue is that Jnr was a good trainer with good habits and a club favourite. He was a positive culture for the club and it was seen as sacriligious to let him go.

Watts is popular but deep down I suspect the players know he hasn't given it his all.

And we also let go a whole raft of loved and senior players at the same time.

It is a completely different scenario! It's like comparing us letting Jones go before his time is up in the game. It's got nothing to do with the Watts scenario.

We got over Woewodin and Farmer leaving, and they were much better players. We will get over this too.

2 minutes ago, jumbo returns said:

Yawn

I take it your not a Goodwin fan?

 

 

9 minutes ago, The Stigga said:

I take it your not a Goodwin fan?

 

 

or perhaps bored with sports cliches

8 minutes ago, The Stigga said:

I take it your not a Goodwin fan?

 

 

I'm uncomfortable about how this has been handled

Further, you need complexity and diversity in a team to reach success - each plays a role

The HooHah RahRah bs doesn't wash with me

Might work for some, but not all