Gator

Lever missed rounds 1 and 2 with a hamstring.

No

He may love the bloke, but he couldn't possibly look up to Watts the footballer. He's a quiet, but very smart young man. He sees what we see.

I've always found Mahoney to be very measured in his dealings with the media. He knows everything he publicly says will get back to the player in question. I find it very hard to believe he'd make such utterances without it being a genuine concern of the football department. I believe him.

Adelaide knew Lever wasn't staying before the finals started. They still chose to select him to represent the AFC on their biggest day. To say that we'll select you for a GF, even though we know you're leaving, but we'll then block you from turning up to the B&F is about as small minded as you can get. That's why it's a plastic club.

What do you expect from a club that took back Jack Gunston's Mark Bickley award after he told them he wanted a trade. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/crows-stripped-gunston-of-award/news-story/c710d976b084a311027f22c1cbd9dbf4

Jackson Trengove is netting Port pick 30 as compensation. They've been kissed on the **** OK but skill-less player, who couldn't make their team late in the year.

You're improving.

I'm told there's an anti Watts brigade. For me it's more a pro MFC brigade, as evidenced by my username. I'm drawn to Paul Roos' final speech at the MFC during the 2016 B&F. As he wound up he delivered a message to the players. He said, "Decide to be great. It's a decision and doesn't happen by accident." He went on to say that "it doesn't start on November 5 at Goody's first training session, it starts tonight". During last off-season Jack made decisions, but they didn't echo Roos' sentiments. He never decided to be great.

I didn't include Scully, because there were exemptions when GWS and Gold Coast entered the competition. Adelaide lost Davis, Footscray Ward, us the Rodent. So different circumstances, even if just as galling from a MFC point of view.

Whether it be Cameron Mooney, Leigh Matthews, or Dwayne Russell, many in the media are complaining about Jake Lever's decision to leave the Crows after just 3 years. I won't bother mentioning Scott Thompson, and I recognise there are some differences with his move, but what about Josh Caddy leaving the Suns after just two years ? He was pick 7 in the 2010 draft and wanted out after his two year contract was up. Not a word in the media. I know there will be other examples, but it appears there's selective outrage in the AFL industry.

I got to know him quite well when our boys were at primary school together and he's a good bloke, albeit with a healthy ego. He probably says more than he should on occasions, but he's most definitely a decent fellow.

The angst on the handling of this is misplaced. How do you trade a highly popular player with two years on his contract without being transparent as to the reasons why ? You may not like the actual decision, but the club had no choice but to be candid once it was made. Making up bs while Watts was touring other club facilities would have led to more derision than what's here. If some see that as Watts being thrown under the bus so be it. I'm yet to see a credible alternative posted, but it's possible I've missed it.

Never, but thanks for asking and thanks for your interest. I'd support my worst enemy against my best friend in an argument if I thought my enemy was right. Not a great trait, I suspect.

I only read the first part of your post, but I can also point out that McCartney was highly regarded at Essendon, where he was an assistant coach in 2011. That's 12 years as an assistant at two other clubs where his reputation was impeccable. He's also apparently highly regarded at Melbourne and specifically by Goodwin. Having been to a supporters forum once where he was the star attraction I found him very impressive. Could it be that he did the hard yards at the Bulldogs that helped set up Beveridge's success ? If only a small part ? Could it be with what we're now seeing with Stringer and others such as Liberatore, that there was a core group at the Dogs with an unhealthy influence over aspects of their behaviour, or disenfranchisement with McCartney ? Who knows. We do know that Peter Gordon is an autocrat who gets rid of people in the blink of an eye. A friend of mine is on the Board and Gordon is very much a control person. He may have blinked too soon with Macca, although I recognise it's hard to push that line considering they won a flag. We'll never know what McCartney may have been able to achieve. Tumultuous leadership claims another CEO at Western Bulldogs "The tumultuous leadership of Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon has appeared to have claimed another scalp with the club appointing a third chief executive since Gordon resumed the head role at the club in 2013." http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/tumultuous-leadership-claims-another-ceo-at-western-bulldogs/news-story/6877e52188f29828fbb5c06e9f25b75a I believe we're in excellent hands with Goodwin, et al. Will he be a better coach and media performer in year two or five than year one ? One would think so. Do some emotional supporters make silly conclusions from afar ? Absolutely.

It's comforting to be on the opposite side to some who post here.

People who quote the poor decisions and turnovers of other players have little clue. This is about preparation and effort. It was incredibly disrespectful to Goodwin, who he knew was trying to set standards in his first year as coach, to prepare poorly during the off-season. Word of his activities would have been getting back to the club. There aren't many secrets in a club environment. He knew it was a big year for Goodwin, he knew we were a realistic chance for finals, but it didn't matter enough to him. You nearly always get what you deserve in footy (and life), which is why he's in the position he's in.

I suspect Roos treated him like a human being in 2014 and 2015 also, but it's possible you're right and he didn't want to expose him too early. Alas, I fear you and I will remain on a different page re young Jack. As Roos alluded to in the Detales podcast, there are part-time players at most clubs, including the MFC, and clearly Jack is in that category. Mahoney made it clear that Watts hasn't been doing the extras that some others players do in order to be the best player they can be. Put simply, Watts is "half dedicated". I know Dees supporters love making excuses for him, but I'm not one of those. I'm big on "personal responsibility". Also, while others laud his 2016, it was a minimum standard for a player of his talent in my eyes. That's not to say I wasn't pleased he'd had a breakout year, but he's capable of much more. Dustin Martin isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but the effort and sacrifices he's made to become the best player in the league has clearly been immense. Does anyone think Jack has gone close to emulating such efforts ? You may respond, but I may not, as I realise discussions on Watts are futile. Thanks for the conversation.

Thanks. These stats are quite compelling. They show that in Jack's 2 best seasons he's still 20-40% below the output of a similar player in many of the metrics that matter for a tall link player who pushes forward, i.e. kicks, marks, disposals, inside 50's, CP, & UCP. They're similar in most other stats with Jack ahead in the contested marking stakes and Lynch ahead in goal assists. Also, Lynch has been performing at a consistently high level for the last 5 years, not just the two quoted above. Jack has most definitely progressed, but your table shows how much room there still is for improvement. It will be a shame if he never reaches the levels one suspects is commensurate with his natural ability.

What a culture they've imported. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4717020/Teenager-freezer-honour-killing.html

Never forget that this is the level of left-wing intellect (oxymoron). http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/green-party-leader-natalie-bennett-says-it-should-not-be-a-crime-to-belong-to-al-qaeda-or-isis-10001999.html

It's funny how two people can have polar opposite "gut feels".