Just watching a replay of the opening game of the 2015 season and can't help but be impressed by this man's performance. I know he retired in December 2016 citing Concussion Issues but I wonder does anyone have any inside info on whether there was more to the story. I loved him as a player, he looked totally committed to his new club on this showing and I hope his post AFL life has been happy and fulfilling. Also, does anyone know what he's doing these days.

As an aside, of the team that played that day the following remain: Jetta, Brayshaw, Jones, Vandenberg - he made a mighty debut - Tom MacDonald, Viney and Salem.  Retrospection can become a disease, but I do wish Howe, Hogan, Watts and Kent were still playing for Melbourne. 

I was a huge Kent fan, but he needed a change, could hardly get on the park for us. 

Prefer Fritsch to Watts, ditto May over Hogan.

Howe was a big loss but wanted to leave & may not have reached his current heights with us if he wasn't happy staying.

Can't provide answers to your H questions, thought he started well with us but then injury struck & it was over fairly quickly.

In 2019 we could’ve done with Kent and Watts as goal kicking sources.

48 minutes ago, thevil1 said:

Prefer May over Hogan.

I prefer Hogan over May as Hogan actually provided good service to us and barely missed games (aside from 2014 and the last few weeks of 2018).

Hopefully May has a full season this year.

1 hour ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

I prefer Hogan over May as Hogan actually provided good service to us and barely missed games (aside from 2014 and the last few weeks of 2018).

Hopefully May has a full season this year.

Bit selective to suit the narrative, how many games did he play in 2017?

Edited January 10, 20205 yr by dworship
Punctuation

2 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

In 2019 we could’ve done with Kent and Watts as goal kicking sources.

2019: Watts 2 games 0 goals.  Kent 13 games 12 goals.....not much in the way of goal kicking sources.

Eyes forward.

1 hour ago, george_on_the_outer said:

2019: Watts 2 games 0 goals.  Kent 13 games 12 goals.....not much in the way of goal kicking sources.

Kent kick the goal that sealed us our finals birth in 2018, which was worth a good 20 or 30 goals in my book.  I'll be greatful for that for a long time.

Was disappointed to see him go, because I always thought he had a red hot crack when he was in the side, was unfortunately was too seldom for all concerned.  Totally understandable from all parties that he left us for the Saints and also that we let him go.

6 hours ago, dieter said:

Just watching a replay of the opening game of the 2015 season and can't help but be impressed by this man's performance. I know he retired in December 2016 citing Concussion Issues but I wonder does anyone have any inside info on whether there was more to the story. I loved him as a player, he looked totally committed to his new club on this showing and I hope his post AFL life has been happy and fulfilling. Also, does anyone know what he's doing these days.

As an aside, of the team that played that day the following remain: Jetta, Brayshaw, Jones, Vandenberg - he made a mighty debut - Tom MacDonald, Viney and Salem.  Retrospection can become a disease, but I do wish Howe, Hogan, Watts and Kent were still playing for Melbourne. 

I had high hopes for The Prince, but I think he's a bit like Rance in that he's a very different cat and footy isn't something that gave him fulfilment so he didn't reach the hights he was capable of. He was very outspoken and frankly at times a bit of a distraction so I don't think there were too many tears shed when he quit.

Still like any former Dees player that when out there in the Red and Blue I hope he's happy in his post-footy life.

Lumumba was one of the softest Melbourne players I've had the misfortune to lay my eyes on.

12 hours ago, dieter said:

I know he retired in December 2016 citing Concussion Issues but I wonder does anyone have any inside info on whether there was more to the story.

Well... For starters, he was still grieving the loss of Muhammad Ali.?

Edited January 10, 20205 yr by BAMF

Remember when he was told that he was getting number eight and he asked if he could sew it on sideways so that it resembled the symbol for infinity?   Good times.

Heritier Lumumba - the prince who was promised. Quite the character.

No idea what he is up to post footy.

10 hours ago, george_on_the_outer said:

2019: Watts 2 games 0 goals.  Kent 13 games 12 goals.....not much in the way of goal kicking sources.

Yep, Watts plainly should’ve done much more even though he suffered a badly broken leg and dislocated ankle in round 2 and was in rehab for the rest of the year.

As an aside, in 2016 and 2017 Watts was ranked #2 in the competition for effective kicks inside 50.

I reckon it’s fair to say we could’ve used a player like that last year.

 

8 minutes ago, Ron Burgundy said:

As an aside, in 2016 and 2017 Watts was ranked #2 in the competition for effective kicks inside 50.

I reckon it’s fair to say we could’ve used a player like that last year.

 

As an aside, why do you think he was dropped twice in 2017 ?

And dropped by Port in 2018 ?

He was dropped for the very reasons which are well known here and which I expect you wish to highlight.

He is not the complete player. I also suspect he’s matured since 2018 and he’s no longer taking things for granted. He had an impressive start to 2019.

In my view, if Watts is used effectively, he can be a very valuable player. He possesses skills which I think are relevant to modern day footy i.e effective disposal,  decisions with and use of the football etc.

Clearly many experts do not share my view. That said, some do - for eg, Paul Roos.

2020 will obviously be the big test for him.

 

I think we both agree that Angus Brayshaw is a very good player. He too was dropped last year on the back of poor form.

Doesn’t mean he hasn’t got an important role in this team going forward though. It just won’t be on the wing.

 

3 hours ago, ProDee said:

Lumumba was one of the softest Melbourne players I've had the misfortune to lay my eyes on.

Jurrah ate him for breakfast in the softness stakes.

Lumumbas biggest problem was his softness between the ears. A huge dose of self importance can do that to a bloke.

11 hours ago, Moonshadow said:

Eyes forward.

Good post.

52 minutes ago, Ron Burgundy said:

He was dropped for the very reasons which are well known here and which I expect you wish to highlight.

He is not the complete player. I also suspect he’s matured since 2018 and he’s no longer taking things for granted. He had an impressive start to 2019.

In my view, if Watts is used effectively, he can be a very valuable player. He possesses skills which I think are relevant to modern day footy i.e effective disposal,  decisions with and use of the football etc.

Clearly many experts do not share my view. That said, some do - for eg, Paul Roos.

2020 will obviously be the big test for him.

 

You mean he matured after 10 years in the system ?  Wow.  Good on him.

What you, and others, seemingly constantly fail to understand is that his attributes ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

weren't ''enough''.

18 minutes ago, faultydet said:

Jurrah ate him for breakfast in the softness stakes.

Lumumbas biggest problem was his softness between the ears. A huge dose of self importance can do that to a bloke.

Sure.

No-one was as soft as Jurrah.  Not even Jackie boy.

Harry was well paid for a small output

We have had so many of them. Tiresome

i am with Moon ? 

Eyes Forward 

1 hour ago, faultydet said:

Jurrah ate him for breakfast in the softness stakes.

Lumumbas biggest problem was his softness between the ears. A huge dose of self importance can do that to a bloke.

This is true. I thaught "jackie boy" was deluded to be honest.

15 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

In 2019 we could’ve done with Kent and Watts as goal kicking sources.

And Hogan!!!!

There is a podcast “Silent Waves” narrated by his sister which gives an insight into his life & possibly explains a bit more about him ...