Ron Burgundy

Fork 'em, Watts had a very good season last year, not an average one. Even the biggest Watts' critics accept that.

I rate Jack Watts.

Despite the views expressed in this thread, and the clear substance to the underlying 'rumour', I still reckon Watts will play in round 1 against the Saints and will, most likely, have a good game.

Strikes me as a quality young man. Another clear expression of faith in the future of this club.

As an unabashed and regular defender/supporter of Jack Watts, even I can see that there is clearly something to this 'rumour'. Watts finished 5th in the B&F last year. He was the first or second forward written down on the team sheet each week. He won a couple of games off the back of his own boot. He is a versatile and experienced player now. He is absolutely a required and important player. In short, he is plainly in our best 22, fitness and attitude permitting. That he didn't play against the Bulldogs doesn't tell us that much (in itself). That his absence wasn't due to injury or being rested, and that Goodwin didn't mention him as a 'best 22 absence' after the game (despite mentioning Tyson, Kent as players who'd definitely come back in) did say a lot. This seems to have been backed up in the interviews given by Gawn and Tom McDonald. Watts is still clearly best 22 and I expect he will play round 1 against the Saints. I have however found this 'rumour' disappointing, even surprising, to read because every indication (from afar) seemed to be that he was having a really good preseason and that he was evolving into a leader around the club - and this seems not be entirely the case. Ive no doubt he'll turn it around and will have a good season, but he shouldn't need to be kicked in the arse like this at this stage of his career.

Jeff Garlett's one of the most exciting players we've had on our list in a very long time. Thanks Mick. And thanks Alastair for Jordan Lewis. Another remarkable gift for us. It used to be the other way around for this club.

Agree. Sam Blease had speed. In spades. But he ran around like a headless chook. And he didn't want to tackle. Ever. Hence, the well known equation 'speed x 0 = 0'. Speed + footy smarts + ability to strictly adhere to a disciplined and well structured game plan. Well, that produces a different outcome.

Not sure our win/loss ratio and percentage necessarily reflected this RTG.

I genuinely can't believe this. In terms of amazing, it's on par with the moon landing.

You can't ever write off a team that plays this brand of football before the final siren, even if the other side has some momentum and is in front on the scoreboard at stages during the game. I look forward to seeing this.

Possibly. I think he'd be more concerned about vodka and coke though. Biffen aside, who drinks that?!

Exactly. Goodwin's been around professional football clubs forever and he's knows what leadership qualities a successful team requires. He also knows this list and what it requires. If he reckons Jack should be a Co-Captain, I'm happy to unreservedly back his judgement on this.

Is your mate knee deep in a slab of Carlton on his third Dominos pizza each time he cleverly yells that at the plasma screen from his bean bag in the corner of the living room?

Heart on his sleeve guy. I always liked Dunn. Hope he does well at the Pies. That said, I would have liked to see him finish his career at the Dees. A quality clubman.

What d'ya reckon Dave Misson would have to say about this game plan?

Subject to form (obviously), I see Garlett as a lock for his position each week, much like Gawn and Hogon. He has no obvious competitors on the list for his role IMO, perhaps subject only to what I'm reading about Dion Johnstone. Kent, JKH and BenKen are not natural competitors for Garlett's role. They are half forward type players (with clear midfield capabilities) who can play an important role in the forward line (in terms of their ability to contribute scoring and defensive pressure), but they are not crumbling forwards in the mould of Garlett. Johnstone will have to be pretty damn good as a first year player to dislodge Garlett in the season proper. I expect we'll see a bit of him in the JLT series though.

Middle section of the ground - Jones, Oliver, Viney and Tyson around the ball. Gawn to use any of those players to win the clearance. Spread quickly. Deliver the ball immediately to Lewis or Stretch on a wing. Those players then to deliver it precisely and quickly to a forward on the lead, or any number of high half forwards finding space in the forward 50. Simple. And, from the training reports I've read, it seems that's the style they're intending to play. If it's a stoppage near the forward 50 - same set up but with one of Hunt, Salem, Hibberd or Vince sneakily lurking behind the stoppage. Win the clearance and quick disposal out the back to one of them, they then run to the forward 50 line and have a shot on goal. Vince and Hunt specialise in this, and Hibberd used to do this in his Essendon days. Salem would eat this play for breakfast. Main thing is consistently winning the clearances though - and the good news is that seems to have been a huge focus this preseason.

Thanks to everyone who's written a report - a super enjoyable thread to read. Taylor has seemingly earnt his wage just on Hunt. What a superb selection so late in the draft. I'm really disappointed to read that Kent's still on the sidelines though - I was expecting him to go to the next level this year. JKH - really looking forward to seeing him play this season. Hope he makes the most of Kent's absence. Jordan Lewis is that rare stroke of luck that this club needed. If Max Gawn plays 22 games this year, we're playing finals. I actually reckon it's that simple. There are literally so many excitement machines on our list now. I can't remember a MFC team having so many talented players before.

Ironically, we had really wanted Melksham at pick 11 in that draft, which we used on Gysberts. Melksham was however drafted at pick 10 by Essendon. At that point, he was being compared to Lenny Hayes. He had pretty good pedigree as a junior level football player.

Agree. I seem to recall Roos saying as much in a press conference last year (i.e. their list and their development is at a very similar stage as ours). Both clubs are on the way up. I don't mind the Saints - they don't get under my skin like virtually all other clubs do.

Suspect you under-rate Melksham. He is a very good player. As is Stretch. They're both best 22. Petracca has talent to burn but he still needs to prove himself. Finally we have some genuine depth and some selection headaches each week.

Against that, remember the game in his first season in which he set up Garlett for two break away goals in about 3 minutes, and the game against Geelong (I think) in which he took a fine intercept mark/pick up off half back, bullocked through the midfield then delivered it nicely into the forward line. In short, I think he has good vision. He's a natural footballer. Last season he just looked knackered (presumably due to concussions), which probably affected his decisioning and ability to execute cleanly etc.

I think so. They have a point of difference as mids (Brayshaw - good vision and skills; Oliver - super hands and clearance ability) and, if fit, they are both absolutely AFL standard players.

Scully is disliked by many here. And with good reason. Roos is loved by many here. And with good reason. I think the threshold question is not therefore 'who lied and to what extent did they lie' etc - it is more to do with what each individual did for this club and also the degree to which they were trying to benefit the club in their actions towards it. In short, Scully and Roos are simply not on the same page in this respect. One hand a big hand in saving the club, the other appears not to have given the slightest stuff about it.

And Gysberts to win the inside ball for them.