Dr. Gonzo

The thing that disappointed me about his game on the weekend wasn't the fact that he's not crunching players with tackles or putting his head down and barging through a pack like Jones or Viney. I don't expect that of him and it's not his role. The thing that made me think he should be dropped were his efforts on a couple of occasions in 1:1 marking contests I think against Prestia. He has the height advantage but on more than one occasion didn't fight hard enough (or at all) for front position and then was pathetic in the marking contest losing without a whimper to a guy 20cm shorter. This is unacceptable and is why he should be dropped because he showed no fight to win the contest, no intensity to work to front position. There are other examples as well where he stands off packs like a seagull but these marking contests are what did it for me. Standards have to be set for this team and he needs to prove his worth in a stretch of games at Casey before coming back. 1 or 2 games won't cut it he needs to prove it over 4-6 games consistently til it is drummed into him.

One bad game? Please, his efforts are something that has been an issue his entire career. We can either set standards for our players and try and rectify Watts' deficiencies now or we can just let him and the team coast along for another 5-10 years of mediocrity.

Oh boo f'ing hoo. He got subbed off then dropped? Who gives a crap this is a pro sport not a bloody under 10's where everyone gets a participation award and criticism is not allowed. No one wants to crucify the guy we all wan him to succeed and he has talent to be a contributor to our team but at the moment that talent is being wasted because he won't play with any intensity for whatever reason. He needs to go back to Casey to learn how to do that consistently before coming back to the seniors. Once he proves he can do that and he realises what the benchmark is for senior footy he will be a good player for us but until that happens he'll just end up another Morton.

So what either you support the club or you don't. No one can claim to support the club unless they take out a membership and/or attend games regularly. The lack of support is what is killing the club not the clubs onfield performances - look at Richmond. This goes for those who are MCC but don't take out at least a joint membership which is what $55? I mean come on that's $5/month.

That's a ridiculous argument. Send him back and tell him the things he needs to focus on are the physical aspects, tackles, contested possessions, contested marks, shepherds etc not just racking up cheap possessions.

He should be made to work it out at Casey. Why should Watts get a free pass when guys like Toumpas and Trengove were sent back to sort their games out?

I wonder if losing still doesn't bother him that much.

It's not just us, every club has the same supporters yelling out the same stuff. "Just kick it!" / "Kick it long" Often followed shortly after by "Who was that to?" / "No-one there!"

Talent only gets you so far at this level. Watts has to go back to Casey until he proves he has the desire to attack the contest and not just be rag dolled. One match won't cut it either he has to go back for at least 3 or 4 weeks and then be evaluated; if it takes longer than that for him to learn the non-negotiables so be it but you can't build a good culture without setting standards for every single player, not just those who weren't number 1 picks.

Everything's been tried it's not up to the coaches anymore it's up to Jack. He can sort it out at Casey and come back once he has otherwise his career will be over before it begins.

I'm having Morton déjàvu on multiple fronts now!

Out: Watts, Terlich In: Kent, Garland Evans lucky, Jetta needs another run can't drop him after one game.

Why doesn't he have a tank? From memory he hasn't had problems with interrupted preseasons and he's had 5 of them now.

He doesn't have the will to succeed at this level unfortunately. I've given him time but he's now in his sixth year; all's not lost but he has to prove himself at Casey for a period of time before coming back to senior footy. The most skillful talented player is useless at this level if they don't play with intensity and a desire to impose their will on the game. This world/game is a will to power and nothing more and Watts just doesn't have the will to win.

There's a difference between not playing well and embarrassing the jumper. Today the efforts he put in disgraced the jumper he wore. To get outbustled by a guy 20cm shorter in a marking contest, firstly losing front position and secondly losing the contest is inexcusable. That was just one example. The fact is he just doesn't put in enough effort and it doesn't even come down to putting his body on the line. It's just the way he attacks the footy with half hearted limp wristedness like he is having a kick in the park which drives me insane. You can't help it if you're not as skilled or talented as others but you can help not having the workrate and intensity any the contest. Imagine if Watts had just half the will of Nick Riewoldt who busts his guts until he spews.

A few posts here have said Viney got 0 tackles today yet this example seems to contradict that?

How many were effective tackles and how many were hugs?

This is [censored]. Pendlebury still puts his head over the ball when he has to, doesn't hesitate when he senses contact coming, doesn't get pushed off the ball and give up the contest, gets good position in marking contests etc etc. Watts' game today was what was pathetic I can't believe anyone could think that level of effort is acceptable in senior footy.

I saw most of the game in between doing the family duties for Easter - can't comment on the umpiring as wasn't able to watch closely enough but will have a look at the replay. I thought we did enough to win just couldn't convert our chances in the second half after dominating general play. Again it was about 15-20 mins which killed us, same as the Saints and Giants game. Overall I'm pretty positive about it though because it is a stark improvement on last year me later this year/early next I think we'll start taking our opportunities. We still make too many stupid errors which hurt us particularly in the second quarter. The Suns missed their chances early and we missed ours late so overall it probably evens out. Dawes' two misses in the second hurt though and when we did start kicking goals late they were able to respond with enough to keep us at arms length. One player I will comment on is Watts he was a disgrace today. No intensity whatsoever, always behind in the marking contests and is bullied out of the contests too easily. He can go back to Casey for at least a month until he grows a spine. McDonald was poor early also which I though carried on from his first half last week. Terlich makes too many clambers, Dunn should've been playing forward, Jones should've been moved from Ablett earlier and Howe is still too one dimensional and unaccountable. Disappointed with the result because this is one we could've/should've won but happy with the overall effort and the fact we fought back after half time instead of rolling over like we have in the past. Edit - although again our effort could've been better especially our tackling too many ineffectual tackles, unless we prevent them from disposing of the footy might as well not record it as a tackle.

Last years game was also on Mothers Day which would have affected the crowd figure. I look forward to the day where we don't get scheduled to play the franchises on day's and in timeslots when no one wants to go.

Spewing I can't go today, I think it will be closer than some expect. Had a look through the Suns team and the only guys that really worry me are Ablett, O'Meara and Prestia. They have some others who go alright but if we can match them in the middle it should be a 50/50 contest.

This is exactly what I was about to post (minus the Neeld reference). I thought he was doing OK til he got rubbed out and never got back into the side. Interested to see how he goes with Roos giving him a defined role to play.

I don't think it's just me when I say the state of commentary on TV these days is appalling. McAvaney and Cometti are characitures of their former selves, Basil & Hamish are like two preppy morons who think their being clever and are "in" with the jocks, BT & Darcy do I even need to say anything? Dwayne and Tony Shaw? These guys are all meant to be professional commentators but if they're not making snide condescending remarks they're waffling on about who is dating who or how some player is having a Mexican themed birthday party (was on tonight's Essendon/Saints game). I mean geezus is it to much to ask that we get some commentators who commentate the games and provide us with some real analysis instead of trying to play up their "personalities" and appeal to the female demographic, both of which I am in no doubt they are told to do by the TV execs.

Haha, modern version of Rex's "he was higher than Joe Cocker".

I've been collecting games over the last couple of years. Started off just wanting some stuff from the Northey era and has turned into a pretty decent collection including State of Origin games, finals not including Melbourne and games from the early 80's to today. I'll email you shortly with my list and see if there's anything you're keen on. Also ex52k2 you should probably contact the club about those collectible items, they may want to get their hands on some of that stuff they've neglected over the years. Otherwise PM me before you decide to just chuck it away.