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What rubbish. Outright rubbish. Saying a player isn't up to standard, or is not playing consistently, or is not where the club thought he would be after 9 seasons (!!!!) is not disrespecting him. This is common place in the league and happens all the time during the season. Why can't it happen during the off-season? Is Watts really that precious that he can't be criticised? People asked Goodwin and co. why he was being shopped. They were honest. Let's take a look at this history of this kid. 1. He's drafted in as the messiah and is absolutely hounded and mismanaged as a result. 2. Part of arguably the club's worst ever period. 3. Given absolutely every chance to succeed and grow as a player, nurtured by Roos with positive reinforcement for three years (!!!). 4. Club changes, grows, evolves, gives players all the resources they need to succeed and improve as players. 5. At the start of the 2017 season, Watts is dropped ahead of pre-season games. Mahoney at the time: The club came out to bat for him -- AGAIN -- because he was hosting Skwosh events and taking party buses to Portsea Polo right in the business end of pre-season training. This is well-known and digging deep enough into Instagram and Twitter will bring about photos of this. That's not to say these players aren't allowed to party but there is a clear correlation between the sudden amplification of these images and him being dropped from pre-season games. 6. He is dropped after coming back from an injury, rumours of him not committing to rehab circulating. Again, a quick glance at Instagram show him having a "Sunny dayzz with my boyzz" in Byron Bay right in the midst of his time off for injury. 7. The club encourages him to explore his options, and STILL manages to find upside. It might be a backhanded compliment but it's essentially a "You're super talented, mate, but we're kind of over this [censored]". That was all that was said. It's about reasonable expectations of what's expected from a nine-year player with leadership aspirations. Stringer's issue was less about performance, more about his personal issues, which is why the club didn't come out swinging, because they know there's more to his training and performance issues. Watts decisions to get loaded on a weekday during pre-season, or go to Byron Bay for partyz wif da boyz mid-season while injured, is totally, 100%, unequivocally on him. We have spent the past 4-5 years trying to nurture and guide this kid after ruining the first 4 years of his career. What else can we possibly do? I really like Watts, I think we got unders for him, but if you take a moment to really consider this and look at this history, it is absolutely no surprise that he was moved on. He was in a comfort zone and may very well excel at Port. It was never going to happen at Melbourne.

Just thought I'd add these points on Brendan McCartney's influence. I've heard him speak twice and the two things he values above all else are elite preparation and commitment to the contest. Jack Watts' deficiencies are in both these areas. We've seen what can happen when a player devotes himself to elite preparation - Clayton Oliver. We've seen that the last two flags were won by teams with greater commitment to the contest than their more skillful opponents. Jake Lever is renowned for his preparation and commitment to the contest. There's a clear plan that makes sense to me.

Jack isn't a contested beast or clearance king, so he relies on his kicking skills to provide maximum value. But in reality, his finishing skills are a luxury that won't be difficult to replace. Jack averages about 10 kicks per game and kicks inside 50 would be a lot less than that. The average disposals in a game are about 750, which means Jack's kicking is occurring about 1.33% of the time. Put simply, in an average game of footy Jack isn't kicking it 98.7% of game time. It's nice when he does, but his tiny cameos will be one of the easier things to replace. His affect on games is minimal. And it's not like he won't be replaced. We will still choose 22 players.

Bobby, let it go. For your sake and ours mate. It's over. Jack's gone.

From the Falcons, just made a post about him in the "Jack Petruccelle" thread. Reported on him under instruction from a club so he'll be considered if available I imagine. Is a very good player and despite the fact that he looks to be predominantly outside, he possess an aggressive and competitive edge which stood out to me. Would love him.

One thing we should have learned by now is that there are times when the football industry is not always up front about things that happen within its ranks - Truth not always the main goal. Perhaps, the full story of Jack's departure will come out one day. However, I doubt it will in the immediate future and, in the meantime, it feels almost voyeuristic to read all of the speculation.

Mate, we are all in the pub across the road. There are a few still out on the ground falling over in the dark. Let them be.

No. He gets in on merit.

Well there is another view. The leadership group were tired of Jack and his habits both on and off the field. They want players who are going to buy in and burn for this club. They are sick of being mediocre. They saw what Richmond and what the Bulldogs have done and want Melbourne to do the same. It takes a unified purpose and Jack was never prepared to buy in to the levels that the playing group believe is required. So some here can put a halo around jack but the club has been more than fair and patient given his limited output over 9 years. If the above is true and I have been told by several sources that it is then I am very happy that this club will leave no stone unturned in the quest to be better and compete for a flag. I am happy they are burning about the loss to Collingwood and missing the finals because us fans are.

He did mention Demonland Podcast. I've tweeted to him to ask if they can at least mention Demonland.com. I'm not looking for personal fame and in any event Jako is/was the star. We were just facilitators. Tomorrow they are running a story about the correlation with Jesse.

That seems like more work for me.

I was about to write the same thing. Nev gets on the banner on merit and because he’s a solid contributor week in week out, not because he is Aboriginal.

I'm happy with the trade period. On the face of it we over paid for Lever and got unders for Watts. But Lever is a gun. Number one intercept player in the league and only 21yo. Can understand crows wanting a lot for him. You can talk about stringing things out and walking players to the draft but we just want to get deals done. Our list is young and right in the frame for finals and even a Premiership push. Bringing in a quality 21yo works. Watts I would have hoped for more. But the club wanted him out and Port couldn't really give anything higher. Realistically we wouldn't have got much more than 25ish. Balic for nothing. Can't go wrong.

Jack has left the locker room, building, ground, home and shortly the State. Time to close the book and find a new one to read.

Steven and Wise in another edition of "Representing other people's arguments as stupid and pointless for easy dismissal." As 'talking head' debate shows go - this is actually one of the better ones...

@praha - the above is easily the best summation of the situation in 267 pages. Couldn't have put it any better.

Funny with some of those names you mentioned Chaser. Was talking to a few of my Meth Coast supportingmates over a beer last night and I said to them about there being a core group of good WA boys this year. Not stars but good footballers with strong work ethic which could work out well long term. I think they wont take Naughton with their first rounder their defence isn't really an issue outside of struggling with pace and at ground level which he doesn't really help. They really need a lot of work through their midfield with a long standing lack of pace and now with Priddis and Mitchell gone they are going to need some help on the inside. They also seriously lack depth through the middle. Another long term issue has been a small hard working forward with some nouse I think their 1st pick at 13 and their second at around 20 if one is still available will be used to shore up those issues The three players I think they would target are all Vic boys in Andrew Brayshaw, Jack Higgins and maybe Jayden Stephenson. I believe they will take whichever of those boys is available and I expect they'll all be gone by their second pick From there I believe they will target the WA boys in Oscar Allen - really like this kid and one of our boys from the Northern suburbs hard worker and smart footballer who is capable of building a tank and turning into a big midfielder. Brandon Starcevich - solid hard working good size player who will work his arse off to get the best out of himself can play mid Jake Patmore - another hard worker and big time accumulator. Jake is a standout at colts and good ball user Sam Taylor - cheaper in terms of pick required than Naughton and like Barrass they will play the older citizen (McKenzie) and allow the kid to take time to develop in the WAFL Brayden Ainsworth - country kid who moved to Perth late to get serious and has flourished. Another mid but just something about this kid who knows how to find and use the ball. This kid is a footballer Liam Baker- overlooked last season but been really good at Subiaco this year. May go as a rookie but good smart footballer and unlike Cripps and Hill he can run through the middle

Do the umpires screw us every week whilst shitting in the woods?

YOUR OPINION IS FINE CF

Another one for the dummies. Melbourne Demons In: Jake Lever, Harley Balic, pick 31, pick 36, Adelaide’s 2018 third-round pick. Out: Jack Watts, pick 10, pick 66, Melbourne’s 2018 first-round pick, Melbourne’s 2018 fourth-round pick. Melbourne paid a lot to recruit Jake Lever but he will prove to be worth every penny – there’s no other player his age who is anything like him, and the Demons will find themselves a with a unique, elite player in their backline for ten years to come. Harley Balic I like too and he came cheap. No complaints. Unlike most I am guessing, I reckon trading out Jack Watts was a good call. He’s been little other than a headache for near on ten years and there’s a point where it’s just not worth the effort anymore. Melbourne will have a quiet few years at the draft table but have assembled more than enough talent to take them to the pointy end of the ladder over the next decade. The Crowd’s grade: B (52 per cent)My grade: A http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/10/20/roars-2017-afl-trade-period-report-card-every-club-graded-voted/

I would have said a first round and a second round.

The club achieved all its goals, I just wish one of those was not kicking Watts out for whatever they could get.

Jake Nail made the comment last night on Fox. You don't aim to win trades you trade to win games. I think while we may have paid overs for Lever and got under's for Watts. Lever will help us win games.

We'd be stiff not to get Bonar.

I have a huge soft spot for Col personally, so I'm glad the club has found him a suitable role. His journey from kid in Tassie who nearly had to give up footy because he couldn't get a lift to training, to the handy, gutsy defender he was during the Bailey era, to almost the posterboy for the down trodden during the Neeld era - it's been quite the ride. At his best he was quick, desperate, always put his body on the line and could play on tall or small. All the best Col, hopefully this is the start of great things.

After round 23 last season, I’d leave it empty.

Q & A - Harley Balic

This didn’t get enough love, so I’m reposting it. nice work Moonie, I laughed my ass off

Race should have zero to do with it. Same as Gender.

Embrace his memory: Jakovich's advice for Jesse

A big yes. Watched his games and has that X factor. Will adjust without doubt. Think wce will be chasing him but could sneak through.

Says the guy posting private information about a player, information received in confidence, on a public forum. Respect?

What a [censored] view of Watts in that he was carried by Hogan ANB and Garlett. Many of the goals scored by that trio were results of Watts setting them up. Jeffy and Hogan are going to miss Jack VERY much. Fancy the word [censored] being censored, It does have other meanings you know. WTF it has been censored again. I will try quere and see if that passes the censor. Talk about political correctness. Funny how WTF passes.

Whatever happens....Shouldn't be as many sniffles around the locker room next year anyway...

Get the man we wanted and the best player available in the draft: tick Move on someone we no longer wanted for what he was worth (2nd rounder): tick Pick up a depth player for a (very) low pick: tick Hard to find fault.

From what I've read Sydney, Collingwood, Geelong and Port were interested in Jack. Jack decided in week one of trade week that he wanted to go to Port but couldn't announce it as lose ends were being tied up. I took this to mean the trade picks and the portion of salary to be paid by Port. So I for one believe you that Jack had other offers. I heard WB's Football Manager, Chris Grant yesterday talk about Stringer and why he was being let go. Unlike mfc he made it clear the issues were best kept in-house as they wanted to treat Jake with dignity and respect. The same cannot be said of mfc's coach, captain and football manager. Their public critique of Jack was constant; a very harsh way to treat a loyal albeit imperfect employee who is being exited. People say everyone knew Jack's deficiencies. Probably true but our club didn't need to keep reminding everyone of them and certainly not after the deal was done, which Mahoney did. Not sure what was going on inside mfc but deliberately devaluing one's asset isn't very smart in my book. Despite all that, our Jack held his head high and did not once comment on what mfc was putting out to the public. He took it on the chin. He was gracious, respectful and showed goodwill to the end. You must be a very proud uncle, Chewy.

We're in real need of another new Jack following the great 'Jack purge' between 2015 and 2017. Grimes, Fitzpatrick, Trengove and now Watts We desperately lack depth in this area.

A real coin toss between uh oh and fair. I really don't know the Watts scenario but we seemed to have thrown him out with the bath water. Also think we paid a bit too much for Lever but I do think he is a great player. Balic is unknown and if he somehow turns out to be good then my uh oh turns out to be wrong. Just thaught we were a bit weak.

Just saw the article. Well done to you and all the staff here on Demonland, getting media recognition is pretty handy. Another thanks for all that you do, it can't be easy trying to maintain and control all the madness that happens on these forums. You do a massive effort and I hope it doesn't go unappreciated

The club had an ageda and fulfilled it. Now make it work.

@jnrmac is right - there is no vacuum. The worst deals were for the players that clubs wanted to get rid of.

Really interesting question. Of course I'll follow Jack at PA but I feel very attached to, and excited by, the playing group at MFC. I would love to see them be successful and would love to be a part of that. The young men i have met at MFC are undoubtedly ripping young blokes. And i happily admit to having a pretty severe mancrush on Petracca. He could be anything. His lower body strength reminds me of some of the absolute greats - Matthews, Ablett Snr & Jnr, Voss. His ability to keep his feet while he's ripping the ball out of the scrums our game has become infected with is unmatched by anyone in todays game. So my attachment to the team is f#*%ing hard to let go off. But there's one more bit of information that i should disclose that makes it a little difficult for me to maintain the level of support i have given over the last 9 years. You see my son, who lives with Jack, is actually Jack's cousin. And you know what that means. At the very least i will barrack for the Dees whoever they are playing (excluding PA of course). Even against 'my' club prior to my conversion to the Dees (the Saints). And when he plays against the Dees, if Viney, TMac or Jonesy happen to give Jack a good whack around the ear I'll be there cheering them on and encouraging them to do it again. Hahaha. Little 6astard deserves it every now and again.

Petruccelle would want to improve his kicking. Looks worse than John Butcher.

Describing a bloke who weighs 73kgs as "powerful" is an interesting juxtaposition.

“I would like to point out that this decision has been some time in the making –myself and Josh have been having conversations for a while now. In the end, the well was dry. I couldn’t live the trademark anymore as a player. I didn’t want to waste a year remaining on the list, both personally and for the team. One H. Lumumba would have done well to take this one out of Colin's playbook.

Very true, I do have a soft spot for the Casey boys, and I have watched a lot of VFL footy over the last 3 years. But so far my track record is pretty good. I said Bull would be playing AFL in his first season, I'd written off Hulett as going nowhere before anyone else, I said Neal-Bullen will become a good player after most had given up on him after his first season. Numerous times, most of my posts and predictions have been correct. I've spoken to coaches, players, staff, scouts, Media and basically anyone who knows anything about football. Watching Fritsch, after only 1 pre season and still with a huge amount of body and footy development in him, play the way he did this season, and easily out mark experienced AFL level players, I can pretty confidentially say this kid will be a star. But I might be wrong, and maybe I don't know as much as I think I do, only time will tell but I honestly believe this bloke has got what it takes.

Agree I thought it was a hugely successful trade period for us. To the whingers, a coupla things: 1 - Jake Lever. You clearly have NFI how good this kid is and how big a coup it is for our club to land him at 21 years of age. Some of the lack of opposition player knowledge is genuinely embarrassing. 2 - The reason next year's draft is predicted to be a 'super' draft is purely because of how many potential quality top 10 picks there'll be vs this year. There will be many more potential number 1 picks next year. This year there are still plenty of players who are hard to separate from picks 15 -35. The club obviously believe there will be some quality remaining at 29, 31 and 36 and that it'd be smarter to take three second-round picks to the draft vs one late first round and later picks. Our chances of landing some good players at those three are very good. Our development program, the coaches and leaders we have mean that any new talent coming through will be given every chance to shine. I think we're in a very strong position. Our 'core' now comprises of: Hogan (51 games) Weideman (10) Salem (46) Petracca (39) Viney (88) Brayshaw (36) Oliver (35) Hunt (41) Lever (56) That's a beautiful spread of talent across all lines and that group coming through together have the potential to really take this club to the top. There are plenty of great support players underneath this group who I haven't named. But I think people forget how young and inexperienced these guys are. Look at what Viney is doing at game 88 and now imagine what Petracca, Lever, Hogan, Oliver etc will be like when they reach that point.. Or 100 games.. We just need to keep adding smartly in and around this group. Looking forward to the draft.

Did they get Lever? No, that was us. Ports trade period is overrated.