P-man

I know what you mean. Pre-season game against Carlton with just one quarter gone but I'm big Kev levels of excited watching this

Clarry absolutely on fire

Smashing them

The unfortunate thing is that the narrative around Watts was finally turning to how good a player he is. An event like this and media frenzy that inevitably follows reverts the narrative back to "Watts the disappointment". Hopefully he takes it in his stride and picks up where he left off last season. I'm confident that he will.

Definitely an eyebrow raiser seeing him left out again. There was an opportunity to keep the wolves at bay, yet the coaches have considered his training/form issues significant enough to keep the story circulating in the media for another week. Hopefully Wattsy pulls his socks up quick smart. He's an important player now.

Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't this all arise from certain "sources" claiming there was more to the Watts omission than just player management. If so, the players would've been questioned on it regardless. I really think this entire thing is a non-issue from top to bottom. So why am I discussing it? Good question.

Right. So I'm asking what is the suggested alternative if the club is meant to deal with it? A media ban for the players?

What is the suggestion exactly? Players to avoid all media for the next week due to Watts missing a pre-season game? They were always going to be asked questions about it.

Ideally yes, although club leaders talking about such things in the media is hardly uncommon.

I think the criticism of TMac and Gawn in their responses to the media is just as dramatised as the story itself. Gawn in particular played a pretty straight bat to the questions thrown at him while re-enforcing that Watts is in a very good headspace and training well. He trotted out the line of it being a sign of stronger depth with no-one's spot being guaranteed, which is fair enough. He certainly was hesitant to suggest it was a disciplinary move. TMac did eventually succumb to the barrage of Watts related questions with reference to the importance of "doing the team things", but he was quick to emphasise that Watts is still in the best team and training strongly. Could they have poured more cold water on the story? Possibly. But under the circumstances, with the media looking for anything to latch onto, they handled it pretty well.

The only difference being, stu isn't clearly in DLand's best 22.

From Round 2 onwards, the only reminder of this will be a commentator bringing it up in passing as Watts kicks his fourth goal of the day.

Goes about his business quietly in some ways but he's a beautiful kick. I'm happy when the ball is in his hands.

Jones behind the ball provides a lot of confidence. Looks in ripping nick. Hogan will crack 50 goals this year. O Mac will be a big improver. Tommy Bugg is a far from perfect but I love having him wearing the jumper. If JKH can stay fit he could be around the mix for selection throughout the year. Likewise J Smith. Spencil and Salem the two big stories of the day with their performances. Spencer provides a selection dilemma for Round 1.

Bewildered as to why Healy hasn't corrected the great boofhead on that yet.

It's going to be fun watching the rest of the comp cotton on to how good Salem actually is. Often dismissed as steak knives in the Tyson deal. He's gonna shock a few.

Wagner down.

Wow. Great contested grab from Weeder.

Nope. No Watts, Tyson, Kent, Hibberd, Jetta.

Tackling has been terrific from the start.

Good lad Nibbler.

Great. If we are winning I look forward to hearing ad nauseum the list of Dogs players missing.

Puuuuumped.

Buggy's hair is looking more Kramer-like by the day.

Hoping JKH makes the squad. Pre-season reports have me feeling optimistic about what he can produce.