There are 47 players on an AFL list, only 22 of those can play in the seniors any given week.  I'm not one for shaming a player who is 'dropped' to the seconds to work on an element or elements of their game- that's what it's there for.  Good coaches use the lower leagues for teaching and development, not as a punishment.

I wish Watts well, he loved the club as much as we all do and fought to stay.  I had hoped that the new environment would work out for him, but to this stage it hasn't.  As posters have mentioned above, he's looked lost on the field in recent weeks and his heart doesn't seem to be in it anymore.  

For all of his shortcomings as a player, he did play to a much higher standard in his final couple of year for Melbourne and his current form doesn't detract from an excellent 2016 and half of '17.  Unfortunately for him, he's got the skills, but not the personality for professional football and perhaps it's not as easy as 'flicking a switch' to play to the tempo, aggression and desperation of league footy.

He didn't ask to be drafted pick one, didn't ask to debut Queens Birthday with the 'Welcome number one draft pick Jack Watts!!' blaring over the speakers, didn't ask to play on Glass, Rutten, Merrett and Scarlett in his first 10 games as an 18yo CHF and didn't ask to leave our club when we were at our absolute worst.

 

He plays for Port Adelaide now anyway...

Normally I’d ignore posts like yours DrD, but not this time.  While most people here would find it sad that JW’s form has warranted his dismissal from the team, you seem to take pleasure from the fact that this justifies some supposed statement you made about him. Feel good now? Jack has played over 150 AFL games - how many have you played? Sure we wanted so much more from Jack, but he couldn’t give it consistently, for whatever reason. So what? That’s life. Jack has had to take shite like this for way too long - from people who’s only claim to fame is that they are able to post a blog on demonland. Jack has accepted all this with complete dignity. I’m sure most of us here only wish him success. 

Perhaps if Jack had been drafted at pick 20 none of this bs about his ability and expectations would have transpired. Perhaps it’s the fault of the recruiters who simply misread his capabilities, and us supporters who needed a hero and simply wanted it too much.  

Good luck Jack - hope you make it back to the ones soon.

20 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

I liked him for his boyish good looks. 

I like him because he's a good bloke. Sue me.

I really dislike Leigh Matthews, still, because despite being the best footballer i have ever seen he was a malicious thug whose violence had a disturbing element of premeditation to it.

Unlike some players from his era who 'just snapped' (eg Robbie Muir, Carman) 'Lethal' hit opponents (often behind the play) who were beating him. No better example being the day he king hit Steve Smith at Princess Park after Smith was giving him a bath.

You would think after dropping yourself during an underwhelming career that a new standard would be set for his own pride and team. 

Jack just can’t chase and tackle, it’s not in him

YOU CANNOT TEACH  ATTITUDE

It’s either in you or not

1 hour ago, Dr.D said:

i think all of the watts lovers on this board need to fess up. There were hundreds of you. He has been soft as butter since he first came to the club and that's been his downfall. Not only did I say that Watts would be dropped at some point during his season with Port, I said that our recruiters would find a better player at pick 31 (Bailey Fritsch). Geez, how correct can one individual be and how deluded are the watts fans here. He is a fringe player at the very very best

When Jack was at MFC he had my full support as do all MFC players, once he left he just became another afl player but their is no need to sink the boots in when things are not happening for him. People that question the courage of any sportsperson or person in general on social media I have found to be wanting badly in that area themselves.

34 minutes ago, binman said:

I like him because he's a good bloke. Sue me.

I really dislike Leigh Matthews, still, because despite being the best footballer i have ever seen he was a malicious thug whose violence had a disturbing element of premeditation to it.

Unlike some players from his era who 'just snapped' (eg Robbie Muir, Carman) 'Lethal' hit opponents (often behind the play) who were beating him. No better example being the day he king hit Steve Smith at Princess Park after Smith was giving him a bath.

I had the opportunity to tell Leigh Matthews to his face, that he was a malicious thug and that Stephen Smith still gets headaches 

he didn’t say anything... His Grand kids were with him, but to young to understand and i didn’t hold back

Matthews should have done prison time

35 minutes ago, Neil Crompton said:

Normally I’d ignore posts like yours DrD, but not this time.  While most people here would find it sad that JW’s form has warranted his dismissal from the team, you seem to take pleasure from the fact that this justifies some supposed statement you made about him. Feel good now? Jack has played over 150 AFL games - how many have you played? Sure we wanted so much more from Jack, but he couldn’t give it consistently, for whatever reason. So what? That’s life. Jack has had to take shite like this for way too long - from people who’s only claim to fame is that they are able to post a blog on demonland. Jack has accepted all this with complete dignity. I’m sure most of us here only wish him success. 

Perhaps if Jack had been drafted at pick 20 none of this bs about his ability and expectations would have transpired. Perhaps it’s the fault of the recruiters who simply misread his capabilities, and us supporters who needed a hero and simply wanted it too much.  

Good luck Jack - hope you make it back to the ones soon.

Why do you feel sad for players getting dropped? They still get paid hundreds of thousands to play and train.  I don't feel too sorry for them. If it wasn't for melbourne having several coaches in jacks time then he would've been out the door 5 years ago but each coach wanted a chance to get something out of him. So whether he was pick 20 I don't think it would change anything. Are people here less critical of oscar mcdonald or harmes etc. because they were low picks? Nope.

I don't care how many games he has played, he was gifted most of them and it was during a time when we were struggling.  Each time he put on the red and blue jumper and didn't go hard at the contest, i took it personally. I'm a passionate dees supporter and when you see players play bruise free footy for years, that's a choice. And now we can enjoy the fruits of Bailey Fritsch and we can all learn a big lesson about being complacent.

And of course it's the recruiters fault. It was quite a strong draft in the end with the likes of Sidebottom, Ziebell, Hurley, T.Lynch, Shuey, Sloane, Hanneberry, Zaharakis, Beams, Naitanui, Hill, Walters, etc.  

6 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

I had the opportunity to tell Leigh Matthews to his face, that he was a malicious thug and that Stephen Smith still gets headaches 

he didn’t say anything... His Grand kids were with him, but to young to understand and i didn’t hold back

Matthews should have done prison time

Why would you say anything to him in front of his grandkids. I also think that he committed some questionable acts on the ground and would let him know face to face if I came across him, but not in front of grandkids, no wonder he didn't say anything.

2 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

Why do you feel sad for players getting dropped? They still get paid hundreds of thousands to play and train.  I don't feel too sorry for them. If it wasn't for melbourne having several coaches in jacks time then he would've been out the door 5 years ago but each coach wanted a chance to get something out of him. So whether he was pick 20 I don't think it would change anything. Are people here less critical of oscar mcdonald or harmes etc. because they were low picks? Nope.

I don't care how many games he has played, he was gifted most of them and it was during a time when we were struggling.  Each time he put on the red and blue jumper and didn't go hard at the contest, i took it personally. I'm a passionate dees supporter and when you see players play bruise free footy for years, that's a choice. And now we can enjoy the fruits of Bailey Fritsch and we can all learn a big lesson about being complacent.

And of course it's the recruiters fault. It was quite a strong draft in the end with the likes of Sidebottom, Ziebell, Hurley, T.Lynch, Shuey, Sloane, Hanneberry, Zaharakis, Beams, Naitanui, Hill, Walters, etc.  

Um... what?

Can you imagine for one second the criticisms O'Mac and Harmes would get if either of them was taken at pick one?? 

So yes, people are infinitely more forgiving of players who were not first round, let alone first picks.

 

 

1 hour ago, Dee Zephyr said:

Seriously...do you want a bozo badge? You were  one of the most vocal during the trade period with your repetitive posting about how useless he is. I notice you only jump on here with constant negativity. Good for you for feeling vindicated. They guy has left the MFC but you wait for moments like this to gloat. Well done.

Moderators should intervene here

Abuse is unnecessary 

Yeah dropped against the Dogs and will come out like a house on fire against us. You honesty think they will keep him out against his former club of 9 years. He's the reason why this game is on a friday night.

5 minutes ago, drysdale demon said:

Why would you say anything to him in front of his grandkids. I also think that he committed some questionable acts on the ground and would let him know face to face if I came across him, but not in front of grandkids, no wonder he didn't say anything.

They were no more than 3 years old

they were playing with the salt shakers in a cafe. 

Matthews is thought of as an AFL Hero

It is a disgrace

I surprised he wasn't dropped a few weeks back.  He has been poor.  He played a lot better for us over the past 2 years.

Hopefully he does well at SANFL and plays against us the next week.  Be good to see him play against us

I heard a scary story about Lethal after the 1st game he coached when Pies were soundly thrashed by Bombers. After the 1st training he walked into the showers and slammed a still showering new player into the wall and in front of everyone slapped bullied and harrased the player into tears. Telling him to hit back. Player was a smallish rover,  In front of all the players who were shocked. It was witnessed by a player who is a mate of my brothers and thats the story I heard. The player never really got a game Im told. Pies began to not like the losing feeling. 

I wouldnt have the "heart" to say those things to Leigh Matthews. 

No need to sink the boots in nor beat a dead horse.

 

He's gone. It doesnt appear much has changed and im not suprised at all.

 

He has and it appears always will be happy being a "good" player.

NoN committed, 'self'

 

they're trying to sharpen him up for our game.

Edited June 13, 20186 yr by DV8

30 minutes ago, Damo said:

I heard a scary story about Lethal after the 1st game he coached when Pies were soundly thrashed by Bombers. After the 1st training he walked into the showers and slammed a still showering new player into the wall and in front of everyone slapped bullied and harrased the player into tears. Telling him to hit back. Player was a smallish rover,  In front of all the players who were shocked. It was witnessed by a player who is a mate of my brothers and thats the story I heard. The player never really got a game Im told. Pies began to not like the losing feeling. 

I wouldnt have the "heart" to say those things to Leigh Matthews. 

Mike Shehan’s interview with Stephan Smith is quite revealing

It's time to admit that if you carried on like a pork chop when he was traded you're a footballing dunce.

3 hours ago, Wiseblood said:

All I get from this is, as you say, the vindication that the club made the right decision.  Even in a new environment, in a new state, he is still doing the same things that frustrated us for so many years.  There have been flashes of brilliance but too much of the inconsistency that has plagued his career.

It also means he may not be playing the following Friday night against us.

Or they want him in against us and this is the wake up call, to play well in the SANFL this week and earn a recall.

Most clubs try and play former players against their old club, because of the added motivation.

1 hour ago, Damo said:

I heard a scary story about Lethal after the 1st game he coached when Pies were soundly thrashed by Bombers. After the 1st training he walked into the showers and slammed a still showering new player into the wall and in front of everyone slapped bullied and harrased the player into tears. Telling him to hit back. Player was a smallish rover,  In front of all the players who were shocked. It was witnessed by a player who is a mate of my brothers and thats the story I heard. The player never really got a game Im told. Pies began to not like the losing feeling. 

I wouldnt have the "heart" to say those things to Leigh Matthews. 

I find that hard to believe.

Jack Watts one of my favourites leave the guy alone he has been knocked pillar to post by many and the so called who know that , are the one's that put there own team down once it loses a game.  NFI RATBAGS.  Some of you have to do some growing.

Why do we care if a Port player has been dropped for a game? Give the bloke a break. 

15 minutes ago, ProDee said:

It's time to admit that if you carried on like a pork chop when he was traded you're a footballing dunce.

No just folk with a different opinion. Would you prefer unanimity? Make for a boring site. And you would have no one to criticise for a taking a contrary view from your own. 

1 hour ago, dino rover said:

Moderators should intervene here

Abuse is unnecessary 

Not sure that is abuse (subjective though)

I got told I was a lefty and had mental issues (half right) but whatevs.