DeeSpencer

He started as pretty much all round soft. Then he developed courage in the air with his marks but still liked to very much take a big chest mark and protect his ribs. Certainly never saw him attacking the ball on the ground like a Jack Viney does now or a Nathan Jones. He went from a bit of a soft crafy forward pocket to a decent outside wingman to a full forward who hit the ball hard on a lead but didn't really do a lot else hard or otherwise. Certainly wasn't an ideal career progression for a guy with lovely skills, good reading on the play and strong hands for a guy of his size. Like Bruce he was never developed properly to maximise his strengths and minimise his weaknesses

He only got 7 touches yesterday FFS!!! How did he do 10 great things! At best Watts did 4 good things yesterday, he led up and made the most of shots for goal. The one great thing he did was leading very hard after he dropped a mark in the middle of the ground and then getting on the end of a piece of play. Besides that he did nothing of not at all. He played on Mark Austin who is completely VFL and Dale Morris who just doesn't have the speed for him on the lead. I don't think he'd get a similar match up that works for him against any other side than the dogs. I don't see how he's improved at all since 2011. Still doesn't tackle, still doesn't win contested ball, still doesn't fly for the ball in the air whilst putting his body on the line.

Sorry meant on the inside. The inside midfield was what Sydney were defined for. And they used guys like Kirk and Bolton and Benny Mathews to slow the role of every other AFL team and shut down the efficiency of Judd, Cousins, Kerr and co in particular. My point was at the same time after bottling up the opposition they then got it outside to some very good half backs and wingers. They also had a big, fast and skillful guy who played all over the park who went ok. It's a pipe dream to think Watts is every one tenth as good as Goodes but I don't think Roos will see height as a reason Jack can't play up the ground if he has the desire.

I'm not sure. I don't think Roos is overly keen on special games plans he just more has a style of footy he will want to be implemented. That will start from hard running midfielders who are super strong around the stoppages. I significantly doubt he would move away from that ideal. And then again for his backline he will want dour defenders on the full back line who are very disciplined and then half backs who can use the ball similar to the way he played. And for forwards he will want guys who can run all day in both directions presenting and chasing. He would want Watts because he's at that ready made age when he's right to step it up and he has speed and skills. But how he plans to use Watts (and Howe for that matter) will be interesting. Watts hit the score board today playing at full forward with sharp goal kicking and some good fast leading, but besides that barley touched the ball. I'm thinking we could get just as much success in that role with Fitzpatrick (who also rucks), Clark or Hogan. I'm hoping Roos doesn't overrate his ability to coach and fix Watts' problems when a great trade is staring us in the face. But if we don't get that great trade then I doubt a guy like Roos would be disappointed that he still has Watts and has a versatile skilled player to develop.

Everyone talks about Roos' game plan with the in close tackling and pressure but he also has always favoured having speed and skill on the outside. I remember in the West Coast games it was guys like Kirk and Bolton on the outside but then he'd always have Fosdike and McVeigh on a wing and Malceski from half back. But the problem with that so far is that we haven't seen Watts show consistent hard running to get the handball receives and open marks no matter where he's been played. Either way with Watts if he's to be a true tall forward he has to get more physical in the air or if he's to be an outside flanker at either end or winger then his work rate has to go up by heaps. I'm not sure either of those are easy to achieve, but I do see why Roos would want to try. At least Watts has a fitness base and a few preseasons under his belt, it's probably much easier to [censored] him into hard football than to start all over again with a second round pick who you have to build up.

Why? Decent height, can run, can use the ball when not being too clever by half and likes to play on the outside. If Watts is developed as a third tall forward I'm struggling to see him getting a regular game. I'm pretty sure Roos named him on a wing when he named his mock Melbourne team. I know unless we had injuries to Clark, Dawes, Howe, Hogan or Fitz as that 3 of them were injured concurrently I wouldn't be putting Watts in the forward half. That's where my Everitt comparison comes from.

Your/our expectations of a solid year are pretty low. Watts has been awful on several occasions. What position do you see Watts playing under Roos and what aspects of his game do you see Roos magically improving? Personally I don't see how hardness at the ball and willingness to chase and tackle should have anything to do with a coach. Watts reminds me of Adreas Everett as a player and based on his experience at the swans I'd say that Watts is still 3 years away from being a consistent player with a lot of time spent in the reserves honing the physical aspects of his game.

Same with when he ran through the middle of the ground yesterday, went to play on then got caught because he didn't back his first instinct. Everyone keeps saying drop him to the 2's to help build confidence, when clearly he dominates VFL and just needs time in AFL under the right coaching and mentality and it will come together for him. If we were actually winning games his decent performances and any flaws would just go without comment and we'd all be happy.

Buddy Franklin is a front runner North Melbourne are a team of front runners Melbourne of 2004 were front runners Gosh darn it give me a team of front runners again. Or any type of runners for heavens sake

It's all about best available and it has to be. The problem with Predergast's drafting was that he went for these apparently skillful types in Blease, Strauss and Bennell (as our skills in 2008 were deplorable) and then the next year over corrected and went for Gysberts and Tapscott because they were meant to be hard ball winners and forgot best available. Our midfield mire is a complete issue both with contested and uncontested ball. We certainly need another inside guy but say we got Wines last year and then all of a sudden this years draft was full of inside mids but didn't have anyone with outside class then you'd be disappointed. We have to give our (New) recruiters some faith. After his rising star first season where he drew comparisons to Joel Selwood everyone thought Rhys Palmer was a star and certainly if they were choosing between him or Chris Masten who was drafted higher everyone would've gone for Palmer - but now look where we are at.

You want to pay the fine from the AFL?

id be keen for him to play again in 2 weeks against GWS.Also the supposed superstar Wines only had 8 touches today. These young guys are always up and down

Brereton didn't need to pick apart every move he made. Some of which were reasonable. How about we pick apart a GWS youngster for an entire game one week Derm you [censored]. In fact not a youngster lets pick Phil Davis who is a millionaire who spuds up everything and is meant to be a leader.

Rumor he's a dees fan. I'm voting him in for president. Bowled a handy over before. He's going to have some ups and downs but lets stick by him

The receivers in motion at the snap is interesting. As is the goal posts in the middle of the giant end zone. Nice new stadium though. It certainly looks like pro sport but not quite the NFL. I'm surprised they don't let NFL teams loan players to the CFL teams like in soccer.

Maybe but both teams have matches against GWS first. Including the dogs this week! That could make things interesting as well. Everyone loves a bit of tanking drama! Certainly gives our boys something to aim for though with matches against GWS and WB to come. Besides those two games our other big one is against Brisbane in Darwin. I don't expect us to win but it's an opportunity after looking pretty meek when going to Brisbane and getting Moloney steam rolled to serve them up something back. Most other games from here on are about giving us glimpses for the future. I'm glad we've got some away games so we will be a bit under the radar if things don't go to plan.

Openers Watson Cowan Batsmen Rogers Clarke Hughes Smith or Khawaja depending on form before first test Keeper Haddin - this one is all but confirmed but I don't like him but oh well. Let's hope Wade and Paine get back on track Bowlers Starc Siddle Pattinson Harris That's presuming the pitch isn't overly spin friendly. If so bring Lyon in rest Harris for a test where it's pace friendly. Also keep Faulkner open as an option for 6 or 8 but we need battling depth more than extra all rounder. The other quick who I expect will get a test is Jackson Bird. I can't have Warner in the side, no because of his behaviour (which wasn't ideal but he smacked a pom not a team mate move on) but because without any practice games at all how can he be ready for test cricket in English conditions? In fact I believe Warner should be realised from the squad and play county cricket until the first test finishes then bring him back in the fold. At least he'll have a warm up that way. If he's been scoring runs at county cricket then bring him back in for an underperforming batsman. Besides Clarke the other 5 can easily be dropped! Of course if (and I think they should) they go for Rogers or Khawaja they need some time in the team to see them play. In fact I'd like selectors to come out before the first test and say Rogers is in and he's on a two game trial at least so that the pressure is off for the first test.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1207435/5/index.htm This article about the Raiders - which in turn reportedly cause the son of the legend Mark Davis to sack his own PR guy - highlights the dysfunctional nature of the team and you can see a lot of similarities to our problems. I'm not sure though if Reggie McKenze is the Mark Neeld coming in and making things worse or the Peter Jackson who has come in to make things better. And maybe Hue Jackson was the Mark Neeld and Carson Palmer can star as David Rodan,

What? I'm saying good luck to her. I just don't imagine her career at the MFC will be a long one.

Well as bright and prosperous as a career can be in a one off game for the MFC..... Although if you mean for her local and state footy then sure good luck to her.

it helps game one then costs them as the series drag on. Heat would love to rest Wade and Bosh right now but cant

Here's my point. Lets wait and see a couple of months to see if Watts actually is best 22 or not! Right now he's just a fringe player in a bad side.

In principle I agree but it reminds me of Sir John Monash. Perhaps the greatest ever Australian who refused to command his troops like the British and send wave after wave of man over the trenches and instead planned his battles and enjoyed much greater success. Without trivialising war, I worry sometimes that Neeld is commanding our young players up over the trenches one by one to attempt his much loved game plan but instead we'd be better suited trialing a simpler game plan.

Firstly no Jurrah shaped place? What place would that be? A prison cell is the most suited place for Liam at the moment. Jurrah got his chance to play after he recovered from injury last year. Neeld couldn't save him from his community troubles. No Green shape place? I remember Brad playing most of last year and was tried both on the wing and forward pocket and found to have no agility or speed required to defend at all. He was all but certainly finished. As for Watts he started last year on the wing and did ok for a period, then play half back and did well. He'd previously played forward without great success. I'm not sure what other place there was to play. If Neeld has made any mistake (and it will likely continue this week) its playing him too much. The state of this current team is that you have to win the ball before you use the ball. So whilst we aren't expecting Watts to be a Mitch Robinson we have to see his desire to win the ball regardless of what position he plays. If he think he'll have it easier else where and just be able to rack up disposals then he should watch some footy in September. Because I've never seen a big final where you can get away without winning your own ball.

The most straight forward way to sum up the Watts situation is to say that the rest of this season will dictate whether he should be traded/wants to be traded. If he improves on his hardness for the contest and intensity then it will be obvious to me he's a player worth keeping. The upside will be too much to let go especially given he's the age and games played where he should be right on the cusp of cementing a spot (and I mean within AFL players not in the 22, anyone can cement a spot in our 22). If he still can't work out how to defend an opponent and how to attack a contest with vigor then we may as well let him go because he probably never will whilst he is wearing red and blue.