mo64

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.

Watts was dropped because of his lack of intensity when flying for contested marks. He'd do everything to avoid contact. Weid was brought in, and even though he did sweet FA, Goodwin applauded his attack on the ball when in the air.

Trading Woey and Powell may or may not have been the right decision, but in 2002 we were stiff not to beat Adelaide, and make the Pelim. So the decision hardly set back the club. The Fork's analogy with Travis Johnstone is spot on. Thankfully clubs don't make football decisions based on fan polls. And while we're on irrational fan behaviour. Remember the "Focus On Footy" group. They're the group of Richmond people who wanted to overthrow the Richmond board, primarily so that they could sack Hardwick. I wonder if we'll see their faces at the celebrations.

Give me a spell. What a load of tripe. You're basing his importance on our club promos? How does losing a player, who has had 1 good year in 9, set the club back? You say that you are a 20 year member, but I'm curious to know how long you've been following the club? In the 45 years that I've been following the club, the only player that we let go that set back the club was James McDonald. But the club was tanking at the time, so you could understand the logic.

But none of them have been left out of the side for poor preparation, and I can't recall them being dropped for poor form lately. Keep up with your "Keep Jack Watts" campaign, but it's falling on deaf ears.

If anyone on here talks about Premiership windows or the brilliant job that Roos did in rebuilding the MFC, they can GOGF. Dogs and Tigers both won flags through manic pressure by largely no-names. It could have been us last year or this year.

Redleg, did you really need to ask? DaveyDee is a metamorphosis of Stuie, GNF and Nudge.

No it's not. This is more like Fevola and Carey getting kicked out of their respective clubs, because talent isn't the be all and end all. They had off-field issues that impacted their teammates. How did they fair at their new clubs?

You just don't get it. His ex felt let down by the club because they wouldn't listen to her warnings. But she also said that you can only help someone who wants to be helped. Stringer is the sole issue, not his ex-wife and not the club. He was the one who divided his teammates and the club with his off-field behaviour. His amazing football talent (your words, not mine) or his market value, doesn't come into it.

So all those who said that Stringer was merely a scapegoat for the Dogs poor season, out yourselves now.

Not for one minute do I believe that Hogan will request a trade, but it is fanciful to think that it would involve 4 clubs. We'll deal with the Crows on Lever as a separate trade. What we get for Watts may be part of it, but there is no way in hell should the Gibbs to Adelaide deal be part of it.

In the lead up to the GF, every analyst is talking about structures, and in particular defensive pressure within the forward lines. Jack Watts has got more talent than every Richmond forward bar Jack Riewoldt. Would the Richmond forwardline function better with Jack Watts? I doubt it, because it's all based on pressure. Last week on SEN, Goodwin was asked about ideal forward structures, and said that you have to predominantly work with the strengths you have. He mentioned Petracca, Hogan and T Mac. No mention of Watts. Watts is a skillful player, but what role does he play in our forward structure? He's not a prolific goalkicker. He's poor at creating contests because he doesn't hit packs. He's poor at defensive pressure. ANB and Hannan are less talented, but the FD obviously believe that they complement our strengths. In 9 years and under 4 coaches, Watts has never been able to cement a defined role within the team. Why wouldn't we be looking to trade him while he has some sort of currency?

It's been mentioned before, but the reaction by many is akin to the uproar at Hawthorn when they traded Trent Croad to Freo. So I thought I'd have a look to see what they got in exchange for Croad and Luke McPharlin. Well, with those picks they got a couple of plodders in Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell. If only Clarko had of listened to the supporters before trading away one of their favourite sons, which in turn destroyed the fabric of the club.

But he's the best kick on our list.

Thanks grazman, that puts it into context. It's a shame the OP couldn't do the same.

I really don't give a rats what Roos thinks. He constantly talked about changing the culture on and off the field. Goodwin is taking action and should be applauded. I seriously can't believe how much people are overrating Watts' importance to the team.

Like you I'll be disappointed if Watts is steak knives in another trade, but we won't go backwards without him. Hawthorn won a flag the year after Buddy left, as did Geelong when Ablett left. And these blokes are superstars of the game. Watts has been dropped for poor form by Roos and Goodwin. Goodwin obviously believes that the modern game is all about pressure across the board, and hardness at the contest. These are Watts' flaws. I'll back the coach on this one.

Is the OP Sam Gibson's sister Belle?

So the supporters who can see the flaws in his game are the reason why the Football Dept are looking to trade him? And I assume by your reference to Bugg that you actually rate him?