jnrmac

Yep. You're right. They got rid of Jack because he dyed his hair blue.

I like Jack Watts. His best football is elite. We just never saw enough of it. He has been treated respectfully by the MFC. He was told in no uncertain terms that he would be best looking outside the club and he did. Once the club decided he wasn't in their plans they did the right thing. He has received possibly more counselling and support than any other player at the MFC -- I am guessing here - because of his talent and draft status. I do know that the club has been extremely blunt with Jack over a number of years about what he has to do. That they ran out of patience with him is in my view a reflection on Jack. Even he has admitted that footy is not his life. That's fine. But its also fine that the MFC says 'enough'. I didn't mean to disrespect in my post Jack but the reality is that in time - despite being a ripping bloke - he will go down as another in a long line of unfulfilled talent. I barrack for the club. Players come and go. Go Dees.

You are really being pathetic and biased now. He has been treated very well for an average player.

Salem played the same number of games as Watts and beat him in the B&F. Pederson played one less and beat Watts. Get over it - he's just not that good.

You are obsessed with "winning" the trade period. My humble suggestion is you focus on Melbourne winning games and don't worry about what other clubs do or don't do.

Your quote: "Personally, I think that the FD should shut up and get on with it" The FD has. And you still want to argue about it? You should seek help.

Well they have. PJ is not the footy dept. Everyone else has moved on.....except a few on here and SEN...

We don't know the details. Maybe its performance based? Or based on number of games played? As well as we did when Max was out of the team this year we are a better side when he is playing well. His best is pretty dominant and gives our mids good use of the pill...

Hardly a campaign, The club wanted him gone for all of the reasons that have been outlined 100 times. There was one offer because he is not very good and reliable. That is about as simplistic as it gets.

So what would you have secured for Watts?

Most likely someone from here. We gave up nothing - 9 spots in the third round and 2 spots in the fourth round of the draft - for someone who finsihed equal 3rd in our B&F and who oozes leadership. It's staggering that some supporters feel this way.

All well and good to take a shot but realistically what would you do?

they have and they are

Why? Because it ruins the narrative of the 'save Jack Watts' campaign and those trying to impugn the integrity of our footy department? Personally I think the idiot supporters ringing SEN and moaning about Jack Watts should shut up and concentrate on next year.

Do you think these keyboard heroes taking potshots know the difference between a public position and a private position when it comes to negotiating? Do you think other clubs would have thrown the kitchen sink at Lever? I do. Picks are overated compared with proven talent.

But... that guy only got 9 years because he went No 1 and our expectations were so high that he was the Mesiah.......

Kent shd heed the Watts wake up call. Lazy arrogant player who rates his skills higher than I do

In order: more midfield talent with breakaway speed and kicking skills crumbing fwd distrbutor off half back back up ruck... back up fwd shd Weid not make it

Adelaide's grand final team didn't have one top 10 pick from memory.

Well there is another view. The leadership group were tired of Jack and his habits both on and off the field. They want players who are going to buy in and burn for this club. They are sick of being mediocre. They saw what Richmond and what the Bulldogs have done and want Melbourne to do the same. It takes a unified purpose and Jack was never prepared to buy in to the levels that the playing group believe is required. So some here can put a halo around jack but the club has been more than fair and patient given his limited output over 9 years. If the above is true and I have been told by several sources that it is then I am very happy that this club will leave no stone unturned in the quest to be better and compete for a flag. I am happy they are burning about the loss to Collingwood and missing the finals because us fans are.

That is a tautology if ever I have read one Ernest.

Trading doesn't occur in a vacuum. You can only deal with the hand you have. Sometimes you give a little more sometimes you get a little more. The critical thing is shoring up the key positions and getting the players that your list needs. You can't do that in one draft. There are 17 other clubs trying to do the same thing and spoil your party. The moaning about 'we got pick 31 and it should have been pick 26' therefore we should have kept Watts or such is meaningless if you believe that Watts is not part of the future of the club. Similarly with Lever. If you believe is a key plank in the team for the next 10 years then you do what you have to in order to get him. People forget that no-one wanted to come to the Dees in the past. That's why the Lewis deal was such a meaningful statement. We now have Lever. Next year we might get another key player. I am very glad that some here aren't in charge of list management. Being a good bloke is not a requirement for being on the list. Our list management team has done an exceptional job if you want to compare it to 2008-2013. It doesn't mean they will get every decision right but our team is definitely stronger with more talent than it has been for a decade. They have made a statement with Watts rightly or wrongly. I happen to think its right. We were never going to improve with Watts after 9 years. We have all complained about the team being soft and capitulating easy games. A mindset change is required and I hope what we are seeing from the list management dept translates to on field. And as usual we won't know probably until 12 months time. Go Dees.

Strauss' mythical kicking is up there with the Yeti monster and the LochNess Monster. No-one has ever seen it......

Geez picks 6 is cursed. I have always thought pick 7 is gold because the footy dept can take a risk at that number. Much harder to go against the orthodox picks in the top 5....

Official that Garland has retired. Well played and thank you.