Jack Watts Retires

[picket fence 17,516]

39 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

A brilliant person was Jack. Just ironic that the past 3 years we've been screaming for someone who can hit up our forwards and Jack did it best.

I think what's getting lost is that Jack played 174 career games and did not taste any finals. Charlie Spargo in his first year played 3.

All the best Jack, you're bloody legend.

Hnmm I knew him briefly in another life and in all honesty a terrific bloke with great sense of humility, brevity, and LIFE  balance! From a great family, who supported him magnificently. Let's focus on the positives in a negative world, Might not have had the burning desire to play AFL but did anyway, to the tune of 170 odd games! AND had more than a touch of "Briiliance" If he had an EGO, he might well have gone down as one of the greats , but like Robby "EGO" was left far behind!

That to me says plenty! Plus a very decent and genuine human being.

Congrats mate well done  cheers PF

Edited September 24, 2020 by picket fence

[Dame Gaga 2,453]

This year has changed our world and changed our perspectives on many things.

I have been following Melbourne for a long time. As you get older and reflect on your football supporting life, you remember the highlights. Many would probably say what highlights, Melbourne has not been successful as a club, they haven't won a premiership since I began supporting them. 

Believe me, as time goes on, and especially this year, when so many enjoyments have been taken away or lost, it's the great moments you witnessed, together with fellow fans around you at the ground, that you treasure.

Jack's goal that QB game was one of those moments. My view was the same as you see on the TV clip, only us fans were all on our feet screaming when he took that run down the wing. We all knew he was going to kick the goal. The noise was deafening. It was like being at a Beatles concert. No one could hear each other. We were lost in the moment of elation and awe. For a while the outside world took a back seat. We need moments like those more than ever.

Best wishes and good health to you Jack. Thanks for the memories.

Edited September 24, 2020 by Dame Gaga
Spelling.

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

56 minutes ago, Dr.D said:

I love how everyone complains about Weideman and says that he wont make it etc but, when you compare the 2, Weideman has had a far better career than Watts already and has far more attributes. 

2 sets of standards  

LOL What a statement. Have your opinion for what its worth. You wouldn't have many agreeing with you.

 

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

1 hour ago, Dr.D said:

not sure how many fingers you have but he played 2 x vfl reserves games then 5 vfl  games before playing about 3 games then playing the rest of the year in the vfl

Casey in his first year when he was just a skinny schoolboy. What about the other years?

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

10 hours ago, Grapeviney said:

It's hard to think of a more polarising player in the modern era, and I'll never forget the 2017 B & F when large sections of the room booed when Jack's departure was mentioned.

My favourite version of the different calls of QB 2017 is from 3AW - Tim Lane nails the drama of the occasion, and I love how you can see and hear the crowd rise in expectation as the ball travels down the southern wing. 

 

This may well be one of the great finishes in the red and blue under a big game / high pressure moment spotlight.

And as an aside, for anyone doubting this bloke.  The guy who showed G&D, along with some class finish in getting to Watts under big heat....please remember who that was...Harmesy.  He's a VG player when played in the right role (for him).  Hopefully back to his usual self next season.

Edited September 24, 2020 by Rusty Nails

[John Crow Batty 8,879]

Good to see the legendary whipping boy rehabilitated. 

[Elegt 872]

I was a Watts fan until I saw those texts released, where he had a girlfriend at the time

[Return to Glory 8,448]

13 minutes ago, Elegt said:

I was a Watts fan until I saw those texts released, where he had a girlfriend at the time

Essentially, this post is [censored].

Dr D, in one of his inane, ill-conceived posts mentions (forgive me if it's not word for word) that Jack Watts 'just wasn't that good a player'. You signalled a 'like'. So if that's the case, I can't possibly see how you could have been a fan at all.

So you weren't a fan. Whoops, you were a fan. But I'll cover my bases with some holier than thou virtue signalling.

So quickly remove your 'like' and you've essentially covered your tracks.

 

 

 

 

 

[Pates 9,660]

Sad to hear he’s retiring. He gets to go in a group of top draft picks from Melbourne that showed plenty but through various reasons never reached the heights expected. I think we failed to provide the best opportunity to develop him, and there were choices made on his end that also held him back. 

Shame that he isn’t retiring as a demon, or more importantly as a Melbourne great but he gave us some fantastic moments and I can only say good luck to him for the future. 

As a random aside, if he comes back to Melbourne (the city) could a part time role as a kicking coach be something offered to him. Far and away one of the best kicks we’ve ever had. 

[Elegt 872]

4 minutes ago, Return to Glory said:

Essentially, this post is [censored].

Dr D, in one of his inane, ill-conceived posts mentions (forgive me if it's not word for word) that Jack Watts 'just wasn't that good a player'. You signalled a 'like'. So if that's the case, I can't possibly see how you could have been a fan at all.

So you weren't a fan. Whoops, you were a fan. But I'll cover my bases with some holier than thou virtue signalling.

So quickly remove your 'like' and you've essentially covered your tracks.

 

 

 

 

 

I do agree he was an inconsistent player who never reached the heights he should but I was more talking his personality. He seemed like a great guy but those texts made me think again

[Return to Glory 8,448]

1 minute ago, Elegt said:

I do agree he was an inconsistent player who never reached the heights he should but I was more talking his personality. He seemed like a great guy but those texts made me think again

Here's your problem Elegt. You have 'liked' several of Dr D's posts that go far beyond Jack Watts being an inconsistent player. I just went back and had a look. I invite you to do the same. Either you agree with these posts or you're just a little weak and easily lead. So your last post then becomes disingenuous. It's called painting yourself into a corner.

 

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

1 hour ago, robbiefrom13 said:

When in their 'wisdom' the brains trust turfed Jack aside, Roos said, "You need players like that'" and "he won half a dozen games off his own boot in the past couple of seasons."  One against Hawthorn, in the last quarter he hit Pederson on the lead with a bullet-pass, he put it 55 metres onto Tyson's chest in the pocket, and he hoovered up the ball right out of Lewis' hands in the centre and drove it forward for another goal.  Three goals in 5 minutes thanks to Watts - sheer class.   The number of times he took saving marks on the last line, at the end of quarters...  

I always thought you could judge a coach by his ability and willingness to recognise and make full use of great talent.  The two outstanding mediocrities of man-management in the past twenty years were with Watts and Jurrah.  Some people can only paint by numbers.  These guys were fabulous talents, who coaches tried to squeeze down into their petty one-size-fits-all plans.  I will always remember the QB winning goal, watching it from that forward pocket - it was a moment of vast significance, heroic and symbolic of so much - drama of the highest order.  Exhilirating beyond compare.  I remember Jack outside the boundary on the members' side, taking his shot - a huge high looping ball that just curved and curved home - and you knew, of course Wattsy would get it.  I remember Jones refusing to hpnour his leads.  

I got a phone call out of the blue one night a few years ago, and it was Max Gawn doing the phone-around.  I'd already renewed as it happened, but we had a bit of a chat anyway.  He was a young feller at the time, and out injured.    I asked how he was coming along.  I said being from Tasmania I don't get to that many games, but I'd seen Robbie Flower's first game and I'd seen Jack Watts' first game, and I tell you Max, I said, I saw your first game too, and I reckon I'll remember it too.  In the end Jack didn't achieve as highly, but boy I loved seeing him play.  Fabulous human beings all of them.  Fabulous thing, to have followed these guys, regardless of the outcome..  Jack Watts is a memorable and real part of the story of the Melbourne Footy Club, and i got wonderful pleasure from supporting him, and believing in his skills and his generosity. 

 There's more than success in being a supporter.

.

Well spoken robbie. Could agree more. Cheers .

[Cards13 9,117]

4 hours ago, Dr.D said:

im happy to but please everyone stop the 'watts was a good player' sort of talk and if you like Jack Watts it's because you like him as a person. He probably should've been cut 4 years earlier. And to me, it's no surprise that the year we got rid of him, we made a prelim. 

Sometimes it’s wise to bite ones tongue. 

[Cards13 9,117]

38 minutes ago, Elegt said:

I do agree he was an inconsistent player who never reached the heights he should but I was more talking his personality. He seemed like a great guy but those texts made me think again

An inner monologue whilst smiling at the crowd noise does pay off sometimes. 

[P-man 13,366]

On ya Wattsy ?

[Bobby McKenzie 2,385]

1 hour ago, Bobby McKenzie said:

Well spoken robbie. Could agree more. Cheers .

OF course I meant COULDN'T agree more.

[Diamond_Jim 12,628]

2 hours ago, Pates said:

Sad to hear he’s retiring. He gets to go in a group of top draft picks from Melbourne that showed plenty but through various reasons never reached the heights expected. I think we failed to provide the best opportunity to develop him, and there were choices made on his end that also held him back. 

A comparison between Jack and Travis would make for a depressing thread.

But there was real talent in them two blokes.

Looking forward to seeing them both in the stands as Yze coaches an MFC premiership in 2022

[whatwhat say what 22,948]

travis > jack, for mine

but both symptomatic of supporting the dees - two 'almost' great players

neither wanted it enough

i know jack got dropped to the vfl / sanfl by every single one of his coaches; wouldn't surprise me if trapper was the same

what could have been...

sad to see jack go out with an injury when he was - for the most part - such a durable player

funny that his last full game was probably his best game for the pear, in a role that with a bit more application he could have been a star at, against us, on the g

i can't imagine he 'enjoyed' his afl career, but i hope he valued it and looks back on it fondly

Edited September 24, 2020 by whatwhatsaywhat

[forever demons 2,232]

6 hours ago, Dr.D said:

I love how everyone complains about Weideman and says that he wont make it etc but, when you compare the 2, Weideman has had a far better career than Watts already and has far more attributes. 

2 sets of standards  

you are insane

[bing181 9,328]

Shame that Jack's career should basically be ended by injury. 

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

21 hours ago, Demon3 said:

Its so funny that a player like Jack had such an impact on me and the supporters. For me, he is up there with Jeff Farmer as my favourite Demon ever. Played in constantly bad teams under bad coaches and bad regimes.. yet smiled his way through it, was always polite and positive and when your kids love a player like you do, then you know the impact he has had.

Wish him nothing but the best, a class act on and off the field. 

Completely agree. I was very disappointed that we traded him at the time, particularly given Roos’ comments about him being the one player on the list whom he wanted with the ball in hand delivering it into the forward line in a tight game. The irony.

His trade also seemed to have been handled very poorly at the time. I hope some of the meatheads at the club now recognise this.

I’m now hoping the club shows some EQ and recognises Watts as an important and loyal former player of the club. He may not have been a great of the club, but he was certainly a well-liked and important MFC player - and he should be treated as such.

Bring him back into the fold MFC. He’s not a Port player. He’ll always be a Demon.

 

[Demonland 73,156]

 

[Elegt 872]

8 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

People on here still seem to think he is a top bloke

[Wobbly Bob 79]

Nobody makes that mistake with you.

[Elegt 872]

3 minutes ago, Wobbly Bob said:

Nobody makes that mistake with you.

Say what