mo64

Seriously mate, you are coming across as a [censored]. There would be 100s on here that also had the privelege of seeing Robbie play. You make it sound like you are one of the rare few to have done so.

What does that mean?

I suppose you're expecting Jack Trengove to be redrafted as well, because he's another good clubman.

Exactly. Had his cards marked all year because he's too slow for a small forward role, and is an average kick.

Not sure how many years they were signed up for, but my guess would be Ben Kennedy or Pat McKenna. Unless Garland has been paid out for his final year of his contract.

That's a far cry from wanting 2 1st round picks for Gibbs last year, when the Crows 1st rounder was a lot higher last year. This seems a fair trade.

Do you fail to understand the way trades work? Clubs can no longer offload players to the highest bidder. Watts will decide where he wants to go, and we'll haggle with that club. The fact that 3 clubs are interested in him doesn't mean that he is a superstar. If we put a 1st round pick on his head, I bet all 3 clubs would lose intersest. And Spencer is a FA, so why would a club give up something unnecessarily?

No he's not. Sloane has been blanketed during games and had no impact. Martin and Dangerfield are power athletes who can do damage as a forward. And Kelly is more skillful than Sloane, and can rack up equally high possessions.

Goodwin's got every right to explain why Watts is no longer the right fit for us. He's damned if he does, and damned if he doesn't.

Heath Shaw is finished at AFL level. He'd be on big coin, so they are better off without him.

Only if they're on the market and we are their club of choice.

When a high quality young key position player expresses interest in joining your club, you jump at the chance. And which quality mids are on the market?

If Lever nominates Melbourne, the deal will get done.

In the words of Harry Who of Get Smart fame, "Amazing!'

Goodwin has already touted that T Mac will play forward, which is why Watts is exependable.

I mentioned this in an earlier post about 10 days ago. When asked about forward structures, and whether you change them to suit your players, or try to change the way players play, Goodwin said a bit of both, but you predominantly work with your assets. He specifically mentioned Petracca, Hogan and T. Mac, and I thought it was telling he left out Watts. He obviously believes that Watts isn't essential to our forward structure for a variety of reasons, so he is expendable. You also have to factor in his salary compared to some of our lesser lights like ANB and Hannan. The Tigers forward line is proof that talent alone isn't the key to success.

No he wasn't chatting for 2 hours every session, but for whatever the length of the training session, a player should have no interaction with supporters. And before anybody asks, it wasn't Saty. And it has nothing to do with what was happening during drills. It's what they're doing when they're not participating in drills. You train as you play, which means you stay focussed the whole time.

Sue, maybe Goodwin believes that Watts doesn't display elite behaviours on the training track. And I'll give you an example. In Roos' 2nd year, I went to half a dozen preseason training sessions. Watts, Vince and Howe were all in the rehab group. Vince and Howe were restricted to running laps. Watts was on the sidelines. Vince and Howe would run at a decent pace then slow to a walk. Every session, Vince would have his head down and focussed on his running, oblivious to requests from supporters over the fence. Howe would be doing the same despite supporters having a light-hearted dig at him being a snob for ignoring them. Watts was on the sidelines chatting to supporters and training staff, or lairising by trying to kick banana shots at goal. Now, on face value there is no harm in what Watts was doing as he was unable to train. But for me it was symbolic of his mindset to football. Vince always struck me as a lair, but my opinion of him changed. And his professionalism on the track is probably the reason why he's been re-signed for another year. The FD see him as a good influence on the young players. Roos probably let Watts slide because he was a talented footballer like Watts, and the game came easy to him. Goodwin on the other hand was picked up in the preseason draft, and had to work hard to make it. As supporters, we don't see everything that happens in the preseason. Goodwin, Jones and Jack Viney are all cut from the same jib, and missing the finals probably hurt them immensely. Maybe they've said enough is enough, and we won't tolerate players who don't display elite behaviours, regardless of talent and potential.

I'd love to know what your definition of "heart and soul" is? Popular with the fans because he's always accommodating for a selfie or autograph? Organizes the end of season trip or golf day? And you say that Watts is coming into his prime age for a tall. Problem is, he doesn't play as a tall. I'll say it again, Jack Watts is a talent. But there are only so many times that you can go to the well and hope that he has a good season. I can live with pick 25-30 for a player who has had 1 good season in 9.

Obviously the rumours that you've heard paint JW in a bad light. If that's the case, why would you find it a bitter pill to swallow if we traded him?

And Deledio.

Excellent post rjay. I'm the ultimate pessimist when it comes to all things MFC. But after the dust had settled post the round 23 nightmare, I didn't go into meltdown, which most people who know me thought I would. My response was that I hope we don't blow the place up. We are not far off, and just need to make some targeted trades, and tinker with our structures. A bit of luck with injuries might help. And people putting the blowtorch on the likes of Goodwin and Nathan Jones, need to get a grip. Everything that they've said post-season has all been about greater professionalism at the club. I'm all for that.

But the one non-negotiable with both Beveridge and Hardwick, is applying pressure on the man and at the contest. That's what stands up in finals.

Adequate replacement for Kirk Tippett. According to Roosy, the Swans never get things wrong.

Of course Watts brings something, but unfortunately it's not at a consistent level to outweigh his deficiencies. Personally, I don't think that Watts is essential to our forward line structure. I'd play Hogan, T Mac and Petracca plus 3 mids/smalls. In answer to your final statement, we'll never know. Because if we improve, it won't be because Watts has been traded. And if we stagnate or regress, it won't be because Watts has been traded. All I want is 22 players of AFL standard who display hardness at the contest when it's their turn to go. After 9 seasons, Jack Watts can't be trusted to provide that consistently.