On 17/10/2017 at 21:34, PaulRB said:

The fact they took pick 31 and are contributing to his wage suggests that they’re in no doubt

Or stupid

  On 17/10/2017 at 21:53, TGR said:

B&F's are tainted my friend.  A tool of vindication used by coaches and the FD.

I think you deserve a prize of some sorts for this line. To stand out in such a crowded field is quite the achievement.

  On 17/10/2017 at 21:48, Diamond_Jim said:

no problem with trading Macca. It is simply that the terms of the trade whichever way you look at it simply do not make sense.

With trading,  you win some,  you lose some.

The bottom line is that we need to win-out from an overall perspective.  And winning out takes time and is always ongoing.

Tom Browne tweeting that we should trust clubs judgement. Says there is more to watts departure than has been reported 

  On 17/10/2017 at 12:09, Dr. Gonzo said:

Yeah the players are clearly shattered. Gawn on the verge of re-signing. Hogan going nowhere. Jones & Viney clearly not unhappy with the decision and looking forward to crack in to preseason.

Jog on mate.

 

  On 17/10/2017 at 12:12, Wiseblood said:

He's just here to stir up some trouble.  Others have called him out for it days ago.  He's not worth giving air time to, Doc.

Wow. Some on here are, surprisingly, pretty sensitive. Happy to dish it out but not quite able to take it? You guys need a man hug! 

Despite what you think I have little issue with Jack going. It could have been good for both the club and for Jack. A win win as they say. Sadly, Melbourne have stuffed it up badly. Good clubs, with healthy culture, do it with respect. Melbourne have butchered it worse than a Viney pass into the forward line.

Obviously time will tell. 

  On 17/10/2017 at 21:43, jnrmac said:

He even dropped himself which is unheard of in the AFL.

If it was any other player you would have said that was a  professional thing to do showing great self-awareness and maturity.  There are many good arguments in support of removing Watts, but that is not one.

Still sad

Calling all Watts' haters - keep up your same bs

9 years done nothing

Dropped himself

22nd in the BF

Not even in the top 5,000 in the AFL

Soft

Doesn't go

Half arsed efforts

Dyed his hair green

Should have presented better at rehab

Shoulda

Coulda

Fmd

  On 17/10/2017 at 21:57, Skuit said:

I think you deserve a prize of some sorts for this line. To stand out in such a crowded field is quite the achievement.

Thats a bit rough, as the Ox said the same thing on radio the Friday before our BnF.

  On 17/10/2017 at 22:04, demonoid said:

Tom Browne tweeting that we should trust clubs judgement. Says there is more to watts departure than has been reported 

Of course there is...

there has to be. The club have paid Port Adelaide to take him away

I've lost the original post but it was from one of the more enthusiastic "remove Watts" camp. The comment was that the Club was under no obligation to inform the players of the reason for Watts removal and anyway they were all on holiday and would be told when they got back.

I sincerly hope the Club is smarter than that.  Just telling players what's in the media is not enough (or worse letting them only see it in the media). They have to have an opportunity to discuss it with the FD and work through it.  Players will have more meaningful questions than us on the outside.  Leaving that discussion till they got back would be a mistake since there may be a lot of players who would have questions rattling in their heads for weeks which can't be a good thing.  

I'm hoping that the report of Sam W's comments is wrong, but it sounded less tenth-hand than most rumours posted here.  But as I said earlier, I can't believe the FD would be so stupid not to do that properly, so I'm comforted a bit that the report is wrong.

Those who support the decision most strongly should be able to see that one can support the decision and still be concerned with its implementation.

 

  On 17/10/2017 at 22:32, Demon Jack said:

 

No matter what camp you are in on this divide, all have to admit that is classy. 

  On 17/10/2017 at 22:32, Demon Jack said:

 

Class

Edit..snap

It seems many Melbourne supporters while wanting a different outcome are unwilling to pay the price of change.

Lever in, Watts out is a major cultural change at the club - Lever is what Watts is not - fanatical preparation and attack on the contest.

And all the talk is quibbling about some slightly better draft value we might have received.

I'm 100% behind this change.

As per Goodwins BnF speech, we just let go of the shore.

  On 17/10/2017 at 22:14, jumbo returns said:

Still sad

Calling all Watts' haters - keep up your same bs

9 years done nothing

Dropped himself

22nd in the BF

Not even in the top 5,000 in the AFL

Soft

Doesn't go

Half arsed efforts

Dyed his hair green

Should have presented better at rehab

Shoulda

Coulda

Fmd

Watts was never the star we hoped for but he played his role and was the best user of the ball in the team.

Watts was a scapegoat from day 1, never forgot how we pumped in up as the Messiah before his first game on QB. Maybe if his team mates shown more ticker and flew the flag instead of letting him get belted from pillar to post early on he would of turned out a different player.  We havent handled this situation well.

 

  On 17/10/2017 at 09:13, Satyriconhome said:

My 39 is safe, a guy who went to the edge and dragged himself back

Jack Watts is a natural footy talent, but rested on his laurels when he finally cracked a top 5 B&F finish, I loved it when he was in form but would have preferred it to be more than 4 or 5 times a season

All this talk about him being dragged down by the coaches, Nathan Jones and Nev have been at the Club for same time, last couple of years has been consistently good perfornances, what the Footy Dept wanted from Jack

I'm sorry to see Jack leave, but he's just the latest in a long line of badly treated players (eg, Grimes). Not badly treated by the current management but through those dark days of 2008-2013. That Jones and Jetta not only survived but have appeared to thrive is testament to their inner strength. 

Jack Watts may never have been the superstar we all pined for, but it's clear that he was given more opportunities than most of the 2008-2013 crop to show his value but for whatever reason couldn't reach whatever standard Goodwin is looking for. Whether that standard is on or off-field, or both, matters nought. 

 

I loved reading Watts' post this morning thanking everyone, and likewise I was happy to see the club put a thank you on their website.

At the end of the day this was a ruthless decision that the club felt it needed to make for the overall betterment of the club and the playing list. While it is hard to swallow when you lose a fan favourite, I truly believe it is the best thing for the club, and even for Watts.

While Watts no doubt loves the club and his mates, he could probably use a change of scenery and moving away from that fishbowl that is Melbourne. Perhaps less pressure on him and less scrutiny might help him get the best out of himself, something he never did in 9 years at our club.

We all wish him the best, but at the end of the day I want to play finals and I want to win a premiership. I am sick of our lack of success, and so is everyone else. There is no doubt we missed on finals this year because we were mentally lacking, not because we lacked talent to get there. Hell you could argue that the eventual premiers don't look much better on paper than we do.

Watts is the last of the remaining senior players from our losing era who doesn't seem to have brought in to the culture change, and the FD decided it was time to stop letting those types of half-arsed standards be set. It is hard to ask young players to go at 110% when some of the senior players don't.

Lets move on from this and look to the future. Our list is better off with Lever than it was 2 months ago, and we are in a good position to make a serious go at finals in 2018, maybe even top 4. 

I wish Jack nothing but the best, but I am a Melbourne supporter first and always. My loyalties are with the club, and I will back them on this decision, unless I see serious evidence to the contrary. 

It was a sad day for the club (well, for most supporters).

I feel it's just now or never for this football club. You [censored] off a heap of your fans by trading a favourite son, and for some people, it alludes to the fact that we got the 2008 draft wrong.

If they don't make finals next year they might as well shut the doors, because good luck preaching hope after what we've endured over the last 10 years. 

Jack Watts is gone why don't we close this post and give the guy some respect. I have followed Melbourne for 55 years and been a member for 38 consecutive years, my heart once beat true for the red and blue now the only game I will attend in 2018, wherever it will be  Melbourne vs Port Adelaide I will wear my red and blue attire barrack like hell on earth for Jack Watts hope he kicks a bag then I'll walk away. Oh, also hope this is the beginning of the end for Goodwin that I would like to see 

  On 17/10/2017 at 06:38, Jibroni said:

Cant believe he is gone. I know Jack hasnt been perfect but for Pick 31?  At his best he is easily in our Top 10.

My questions to Goody would be:

1. Why have you been unable to get the best out of him in the first place?

2. What was wrong with his form prior to his mid season injury?

I wish you all the best Jack. The last nine years have probably been hell for you and hope Port recognise what you are capable of. PS: If you need a guide to getting around Adelaide dont hesitate to ask

 

1. Big ask when Watts had 8 years of bad habits on the trot. Having to give certain players extra attention just get what is expected out of them is ridiculous in any case. If he wanted to remain at the club his actions throughout the year would've reflected that.
2. I don't think anyone has questioned his good start to the year. I think the fact he retreated into his old ways after the hammy is a far more significant than him doing his job for the first part of the year.

All these people whinging about only get pick 31 - please consider the following:

- Port was the only club who showed genuine interest in him.

- The best pick they had available was 31

To me that seems like a simple, logical equation.

  On 17/10/2017 at 23:09, Roger Bonnici said:

Jack Watts is gone why don't we close this post and give the guy some respect. I have followed Melbourne for 55 years and been a member for 38 consecutive years, my heart once beat true for the red and blue now the only game I will attend in 2018, wherever it will be  Melbourne vs Port Adelaide I will wear my red and blue attire barrack like hell on earth for Jack Watts hope he kicks a bag then I'll walk away. Oh, also hope this is the beginning of the end for Goodwin that I would like to see 

38 years of watching footy and you still think a player like Jack Watts is more important than the teams standards and aspirations of greatness.

I bet you drive a Range Rover.

Okay some perspective on trade value, it would seem:

* Multiple all Australian players still in there prime = 2 first rounders, at least one pre-teen
* Likely multiple all Australian players approaching their prime * 2 first rounders
* All Australian - 1 first rounder
* Club top 5 player - mid first rounder 
* regular top 10 player - late first rounder
* Walkup starting 18 - early second rounder
* starting 22 player - second rounder
* fringe 22 player - late second round / third round rounder
* ressie player with AFL gametime - third rounder
* Ressie player with potential - late third rounder
* Approaching retirement leadership player - fourth round rounder
* Career resurrection player - packet of chips
* Risk players - peanuts

Of course this is a generalisation as injury, game role (key position, ruck, outside/inside,), team requirements, age, etc,  can all shift things a little; but as a guide where would Watts fit in.
Also note the guide is based on current years form, with previous years normally only taken into account when injury, trauma, etc need to be considered.

Well at the end of this season you could not honestly state that Watts was a walkup starting 18 player; so that's a starting point.  Add to this his current career trajectory which has flatlined (or started going the other way); the question then gets asked how many more years are likely left in him at his best output (this would probably at best equal a "walkup starting 18 player")

Now like others I don't like getting pick 31.  As I feel, believe and even think that he is a better player; but  the reality is he is not, he might be, but history also suggest he will not be.  I also know, like Travis Johnstone at Brisbane,  he will win Port some games, and be applauded; but in all likelihood finish his onfield career in a similar pattern. I hope not, as I want to see him succeed; even if it is at Port.

Still on analysis, the reality is 31 is not wide of the mark!!!!  

A question that is not being asked though, is why after8 years of averageness; he got such a good contact.

P.s Don't judge him and this trade on his silky skills, charisma and "what could be"; Other clubs have not.  Judge this on where he currently is at,and what he has demonstrated - again it is what other clubs are doing.  This will help understand and possibly placate the trade outcome.

 

 

 

 

  On 17/10/2017 at 23:15, Smokey said:

38 years of watching footy and you still think a player like Jack Watts is more important than the teams standards and aspirations of greatness.

I bet you drive a Range Rover.

I'm surprised your aware of such a make, shows your ignorance surely Demonland can do better than your type