2017 Player Reviews: # 4 Jack Watts

[Demonland 72,205]

WATTS UP?

One of the big questions at the club is whether Jack Watts has lost faith with coach Simon Goodwin.

The former #1 draft pick weathered the pre season storm concerning perceived attitude issues and was playing some good football both as a forward and as a secondary ruck option in the absence of Max Gawn before tearing his own hamstring against the Western Bulldogs in Round 13. His form on return after missing four weeks was poor, leading to his demotion to Casey. He played in the last game against Collingwood and managed only one goal.

With the Goodwin style based on contested ball and a gritty attitude, there are some who question whether Watts' style and approach to the game really complies with the demands of his coach.

Time will tell.

Date of Birth: 26 March, 1991

Height: 196cm

Weight: 93kg

Games MFC 2017: 16

Career Total: 153

Goals MFC 2017: 22

Career Total: 143

Games 2017 CDFC: 2

Goals 2017 CDFC: 2

 

Season 2017 AFL Statistics

Kicks: 129

Handballs: 122

Disposals: 251

Marks: 77

Scores: 12 goals 9 behinds

Goal Assists: 9

Tackles: 42

Hitouts: 53

Clearances: 11

Clangers: 25

Inside 50s: 35

Rebound 50s: 6

Frees For: 10

Frees Against: 9

[Red and Blue realist 2,051]

Don't think he's lost the faith of Goody, otherwise he wouldn't have played the last game. I think he just came back to soon from his hammy - he took 2 kicks from outside 50 against GWS of only 2 steps, so had no confidence in himself. This just meant he had a poor couple of games, after a very good first half of the season. His efforts against Geelong and then Richmond were fantastic, he played himself into the ground those games. 

Would love to see him continue as the second ruck, just to make sure he's involved all the time, and when not doing the relieve ruck play similar to Tom Lynch from Adelaide, making the connection between Def50 and Fwd50, while if feeling he has a mismatch run further forward and see if he can pick up a couple of quick goals. I don't think tying him to a forward pocket or half forward flank is the best option for Watts, he's smart enough uses the ball well enough to let him roam with a view to create as many scoring opportunities as possible. 

[DemonOX 8,791]

Ha ha another Watts thread. 

He would have to have the most threads on DL. 

Go Wattsy. 

[hemingway 7,627]

I'm not a fan of censorship of any form but I reckon it's called for regarding Watts. It has become tired and pointless. Let's leave it to the coach and FD or Jack himself. I have got to the stage where I don't want to read anything or talk about Jack Watts.  Almost don't care any more. 

[jackaub 1,402]

So Ernest

Who do we whip now then?

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

I'm just waiting for the Oscar McDonald review thread.

Edited September 13, 2017 by stevethemanjordan

[Jibroni 5,004]

11 minutes ago, jackaub said:

So Ernest

Who do we whip now then?

I think Dom Tyson will take his place.

[poita 3,902]

I thought Jack's form prior to injury was pretty solid, particularly given that he was asked to play a significantly different role.

Sure he dropped off a little on his return, but the whole team was struggling at that point.

I'm not sure why Jack always seems to cop the brunt of supporter and coach abuse, when the end of season problems were far more attributable to the midfield. 

I see Jack as a crucial part of the team going forward, and hopefully the coach give him some love over the pre season.

[beelzebub 23,377]

Who

[Diamond_Jim 12,589]

1 hour ago, poita said:

I thought Jack's form prior to injury was pretty solid, particularly given that he was asked to play a significantly different role.

Sure he dropped off a little on his return, but the whole team was struggling at that point.

I'm not sure why Jack always seems to cop the brunt of supporter and coach abuse, when the end of season problems were far more attributable to the midfield. 

I see Jack as a crucial part of the team going forward, and hopefully the coach give him some love over the pre season.

second all of that

Good luck Jack ... if he can give us 17 or so good games next year including finals I will be very happy.

Playing him on the ball is a great idea... wouldn't mind him being trialled in the pre-season as a relieving outside mid given the accuracy of his disposal

[jnrmac 20,079]

3 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

I'm just waiting for the Oscar McDonald review thread.

We have one already. Its called the "Glaring weakness in our defence" thread.....

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,829]

For anyone who questions Jacks intestinal fortitude, there were a few games this year that demonstrated to me that he has what it takes:

Rds 3 and 5 Vs Geelong and Richmond, where Jack almost single handedly rucked out the games against far bigger opponents.  By the end of both games he was absolutely shattered, but kept on trying;

Rd 12 Vs Collingwood - stood up and delivered when it counted.  His 3 goals 2 behinds and 5 tackles played a pretty big part of the win that day.

Rd 13 Vs the Bulldogs he was pretty good from memory, but then again, so was most of the team that day.

 

Rest of the season was a bit of a write off through injury and poor form, but that would also apply to many of the team, not just Wattsy.

Edited September 13, 2017 by Rodney (Balls) Grinter

[Rodney (Balls) Grinter 10,829]

5 hours ago, hemingway said:

I'm not a fan of censorship of any form but I reckon it's called for regarding Watts. It has become tired and pointless. Let's leave it to the coach and FD or Jack himself. I have got to the stage where I don't want to read anything or talk about Jack Watts.  Almost don't care any more. 

Know what you are saying, but I think this thread has some purpose in so far as it provides an opportunity to look back over Jack's season in its entirety and with some detachment from the emotion of his and the teams imidiate form.  

...of course some will just use it to find fault and reasons why he should be tradded, but they should really be directed to (many) other threads that exist on those topics.

[jnrmac 20,079]

1 hour ago, Rodney (Balls) Grinter said:

For anyone who questions Jacks intestinal fortitude, there were a few games this year that demonstrated to me that he has what it takes:

Rds 3 and 5 Vs Geelong and Richmond, where Jack almost single handedly rucked out the games against far bigger opponents.  By the end of both games he was absolutely shattered, but kept on trying;

Rd 12 Vs Collingwood - stood up and delivered when it counted.  His 3 goals 2 behinds and 5 tackles played a pretty big part of the win that day.

Rd 13 Vs the Bulldogs he was pretty good from memory, but then again, so was most of the team that day.

 

Rest of the season was a bit of a write off through injury and poor form, but that would also apply to many of the team, not just Wattsy.

Look this is where the frustration is. His best is elite. We just don't see it often enough. It is compounded by the fact he looks like a lazy arse most of the time ambling around the field laying limp tackles. This belies the fact his GPS stats would often be off the charts. He can and does does run repeat sprints when he is 'on' but then his tackling is not great.

He is a conundrum wrapped up in a riddle wrapped up in an enigma....

 

[Adzman 2,154]

People bang on about Wattsy being this or that. At the end of the day he is a player who is trying his best. If he were drafted at pick #43 then people would be singing his praises. The fact he went #1 means he is never going to be good enough for most people. Not ever.

For me, as far as #1 picks go he shits all over Clive Waterhouse. And I think his 2017 is better than Clive Waterhouse could have ever produced so I'm happy enough with Jack Watts this season.

[Return to Glory 8,441]

7 hours ago, beelzebub said:

Who

Jack Watts Beelzebub. Quite a low profile around these parts so you may not have heard much about him. Apparently there's some criticism of him in Demonland's Dark Web.

[Engorged Onion 10,215]

1 hour ago, Adzman said:

People bang on about Wattsy being this or that. At the end of the day he is a player who is trying his best. If he were drafted at pick #43 then people would be singing his praises. The fact he went #1 means he is never going to be good enough for most people. Not ever.

For me, as far as #1 picks go he shits all over Clive Waterhouse. And I think his 2017 is better than Clive Waterhouse could have ever produced so I'm happy enough with Jack Watts this season.

About a sane as comment as I have ever seen on here. Clive is the benchmark of #1's.

[Wrecker45 3,378]

9 hours ago, stevethemanjordan said:

I'm just waiting for the Oscar McDonald review thread.

I'm waiting for Lamumba's.

[Willmoy1947 4,089]

Jack is a very different cat and like most of these blokes are under their first year with Simon.....

[Larry 1]

His skills are second to none, but we rarely see them. He's either hot or cold and it's difficult to know why. I have almost given up supporting him. 

[Deemented Are Go! 3,677]

1 hour ago, Danelska said:

About a sane as comment as I have ever seen on here. Clive is the benchmark of #1's.

 

[Jibroni 5,004]

His gap from his best to worst is the reason I am losing my hair.

[Deemented Are Go! 3,677]

5 minutes ago, Jibroni said:

His gap from his best to worst is the reason I am losing my hair.

Not Clive ??

[whatwhat say what 22,763]

His best was very, very good and his worst is still borderline pathetic

He has incredible skill but he purely and simply doesn't contribute with anything like enough intensity in each and every moment - he doesn't stay involved and he has a tendency to coast

I still like him most as a forward who goes into the ruck a bit - he was most useful in 2017 playing that role in the first part of the season before the hammy robbed him of his second half of the year

The fact that coaches and players were questioning his attitude and commitment to the cause in the preseason is a massive concern, as is the fact that the rumours abound that he came back in less than optimal levels of fitness

I rate his as easily one of our most skilful players but he remains a frustrating and enigmatic player

We need consistency across all facets of the side's football going forward and I still am uncertain as to whether he can bring that some nine seasons into his career

Good bloke from all reports, but needs to restore my faith in him as a a committed contributor across a full season - most of his 2016 was good and his first half of 2017 was good, but can he do it across a full season in a finals-bound team? Jury is out

[mike green 0]

Very poor I believe he should be traded ! I think a new start may bring out his full potential. Keeping him on will be just more of the same.