grazman

Whether accidentally or deliberately I think you've hit at least one of the principal nails on the head here Junior. Will Jack Watts ever be great? I think if you look at the truly great players they help shape and drive the culture of the clubs that they are in. There are some notable exceptions, but most of them do. For me, Jack won't be 'great' and I'm not afraid to trade him on that basis.

Thanks Spook, Many on here won't like it, but I don't think it's the worst deal in the world particularly as I think all our late picks will be earmarked for rookie upgrades anyway.

There are a lot of opinions on here, to paraphrase an old saying I doubt Jack is as good or bad as many on here are making him out to be. It tends to remind me of the current US President - people aren't interested in the truth as much as they are in confirmation bias. It's why Fake News keeps getting a run. It's the most simplistic form of counter-narrative*. You don't need to worry about tiresome tasks like researching or thinking to refute arguments based on evidence and logic. You simply label something as being incompatible with what you choose to believe. It will usually strike a chord with a certain number of people who I'd like to think are the vocal minority, because fear is a greater driver than hope. * other than the age old 'I know you are, but what am I?' rebuttal.

Is that what someone has told you or what you think will happen? News today that we're one of the clubs circling Zac Clarke so it would make sense we're after a back up ruck.

Pffft...is that your best Trump impersonation?

not really

I carried a grudge against one of my employees at work. She wasn't performing. I had a performance meeting with her and directed her to do some things.... she didn't do them. Now she works somewhere else. Good result for me and my other employees and maybe for her as well (though I really don't care much).

Obviously that stat doesn't include tackles then.

Not as surprised as others were in regards to Viney finishing 2nd. He's one of our most influential players. When he doesn't play we simply aren't as good. His finish is also somewhat indicative of how he polled in the Brownlow. 1. Clayton Oliver (12 votes) =2. Tom McDonald (9) =2. Jack Viney (9) =4. Michael Hibberd (7) =4. Nathan Jones (7)

Potential is such a dirty word. Whatever merits others may think that the pre-season commando courses might have, the aim of such things isn't just about bonding - its about getting individuals to understand their physical and mental limits. Will any individual reach their 'potential' if they just don't care enough. How did Watts go during preseason? We know he came back in less than ideal condition (not uncommon in clubs, but for a bloke entering his 9th season its not that common). One poster has already alluded to their being issues about Watts and his attitude on the preseason camp. I think his potential is more perception than reality. He may very well have a good season next year, but he has two years to run on his contract, not one.

Agreed. What made that delivery so special was the impact that it had. Day two of the first test and Australia hadn't batted that well on Day 1 to be all out for under 300. England appeared to be batting alright, but when Warne bowled Gatting everyone including the Poms knew that we had a weapon that was going to win us the Ashes. The previous Ashes tour of England Trevor Hohns had bowled well, but was really just doing what most spinners do in providing a cut out to the fast bowlers. Warne changed that with one delivery and signalled the resurgence of leg spin and a challenge to the quicks as a legitimate strike weapon capable of ripping the heart out of any middle order batting lineup.

Yeah- Nah. Gatting was a very good player of spin. He played for a normal leg spinner and thrust his pad outside the line of leg stump to nullify the spin as the ball pitched outside leg, he just wasn't prepared for the amount of spin and was beaten all ends up.

3rd in their B&F, he was runner up in 2014 after debuting in 2013. Top ten in the other two years as well. I would think he'd be close to being one of their untouchables or as you say we pay way over the odds.... unless he asks to be traded. Don't know if he is OOC, but I suspect not. There's upheaval in the kennel ATM and that maybe some leverage McCrae can use if he really wants out.

Not saying he didn't - just questioning the logic of the comparison that was being made.

I reckon I have more chance of winning Tattslotto than the the odds of Adelaide making a 'statement' by forcing Jake Leaver into the draft.

Word I have heard is that the end of season drop off wasn't that unexpected by the FD. Same as the previous year. Until we get enough miles in the legs of our younger players they will tire in the second half of the season. Not sure when the tipping point will be, but I have a feeling it isn't that far away before we have seasoned campaigners who can push through the second half of the fixture. Then it will simply be getting a good run in terms of injuries from the footy Gods.

I doubt that is the metric they're using to make their decision... so I doubt that the comparison is valid.

From the AFL site... What Stringer wants: "A strong coach," his manager Robbie D'Orazio told NAB AFL Trade Radio. Leadership on and off the field and mentors are important to the 23-year-old after a troubled period off-field. Because the Bulldogs didn't have that right...have to laugh if he picks Essendon - a match made in heaven.

Here's my take on it RPFC. 1. This is the first year Goodwin has had full and unfettered control of the list. Last year while the coaching transition from Roos (who is an unabashed Jack Watts fan), to Goodwin was in play would have been too soon for Goodwin to make such a call. 2. We know there were issues pre-season with Jack's preparation (this is true of every club) and according to at least one poster on DL there were issues with Jack and his attitude on the Pre-season Commando course. 3. Jack signed a good contract last year and again according to sources - Goodwin and Co. believe if you are going to take your slice of the pie then your performance needs to warrant that slice. Jack was dropped this year. There are clearly issues that the coaching group were unhappy with. 4. Goodwin is building a game plan and style around a very physical and contested ball winning model. This is not and never has been Jack's go. While I appreciate he is a sublimely talented player, I also think he is completely unsuited to this type of game plan that demands the same standard from every player. Jack just doesn't enjoy the contact element of football. His inability to keep his feet in a contest and failure to create second and third efforts as a natural part of his game are a liability where this needs to be a non-negotiable element of every player on the list. 5. I have no doubt that the club has given Jack clear instructions and direction during the pre-season and the season proper about what he needed to do in terms of his preparation and playing. I doubt he's on his Pat Malone there, but comments from the club indicate that they were worried about the influence this was having on others in the playing group. There are issues that clearly the club doesn't want or can't elaborate on further. I have my doubts that the penny dropped for Jack, hence some of his comments during the last week or so. 6. Given his comments at the TAB luncheon yesterday it was obvious to the club, that Jack was thinking there might be a chance the door might still be open of him remaining at the club. Though clearly Paul Connors had a better grasp of the situation. 7. The club was left with little option to publicly hose down Jack's expectations (well at least his publicly stated expectations) that there maybe a reconciliation with the FD and he would now be left with little doubt that he needs to accept his footballing future is not with the MFC. I know the club has not always treated Jack that well in the past and he has been loyal and I get that some supporters are upset, but my litmus test here is his manager. When you read between the lines this isn't really a surprise to Paul Connors and he can't fault Melbourne's approach. What this indicates to me is Jack should have been paying attention more closely to the change in management and taking more seriously the expectations the club had of him as one of its more experienced and better paid players.

Its all just empty posturing. I doubt its for oppo clubs, more for the nuphy supporters. The same ones that demand line in the sand coaches statements and plan Bs.

Won't get to the point of Leaver going to the draft. Both clubs are actually pretty close now in terms of what they want and what's being offered. The passage of time will bring them closer tohether The irony of the situation is the comparison with Scotty Thompson. We drated him with pock 16 and thtee years later when he was homesick we got pick 12, which many of us thought eas unders considering where his talent was taking him. Adelaide used pick 14 for lLeaver, but three years later no way is pick 10 on its own enough.

You mean like Leaver - and by aggressive and ruthless do you mean trading a popular player (at least with the fans - not so much with the FD apparently)?

Goes to ground far too easily in a contest. Rarely wins one on one battles Rarely has a second or third effort. I could add that he's not a great contested mark, but I came to grips with the fact he wasn't a true KPF years ago. and I'm not a Jack Watts hater. ... but he's not on the table for those things but because of his preparation - which is not the same as not turning up to play.

No contest. Not sure if it was deliberate, but it made me smile. I'd like the last 11 years of my football life back please.

Sorry, a case of premature posting on my behalf, my system locked up before I could get out what I was trying to say.