frankie_d

A small flare...

McDonald....!

Send up a flare when watts wins a one on one, will you?

Watts drives me mad. He's such a great kick...

McDonald might get found out against the really big boys

Ugh

Going with a hawthorn mate. What I really don't want to see is us being physically intimidated. The hawks and cats have done this to us for years and essendon went a long way to winning that grand final with the same approach (more blatant thuggery, actually). I never want to see a Melbourne player smashed like Pedo was without 17 men running to fly the flag.

Watts - What's Roos see?

I could not agree more. We've been physically week for a long long time. A grand final was lost, in part, 'cos we didn't strike back. Part of Hawthorn's rehabilitation from their poor pre-Clarkson period was "unsociable football" - we just aren't physical enough - we have players with courage who will put their head over the ball, and that's the most important toughness, but we also need a huge infusion of mongrel.

I've come to the conclusion that many of our players aren't good enough and if some of our better players have an off day we are hopeless. Cross is missed very badly. The fact that I have taken this long to realized it means that I am not very smart! Must of them try their guts out out. Most of them aren't good enough... All we can do is trust in PR.

just don't know what to think. grimes - very very expensive watts - invisible in the last quarter jones - crucial error we just don't have enough good footballers to win - it's going to take a long time to get the team up, and that's assuming PJ and PR stay. this is better than being belted by 100 pts / week - it would be really good to win one (remember the end of the Essendon game)

not good for the ticker this stuff!!!! Go Dees!!!!@@!#!@#!@!!!

Auugghhh I reckon that if this is close, the crowd will get them over the line - probably via the umpires If we get a good start, we'll win. Watts has played all his good games as a sweeper off half back - less pressure and more time. If Port stick with an extra back, or man Watts up?

Watts can kick - but I still don't think we can have such a complete passenger...

For the Watts defenders: pick one - Pederson or Watts.

Yep - that's when Watts is useful - no pressure and as a distributor - it happens about once a match, and NEVER in finals.

yep... already has more possessions that Watts - hopeless skills - I get that.

Not true - never put his head over it - just pirouetted into the pack with one hand up (as usual). Look, I think this guy has great skills, and was stiff to be brought to a hopeless football department and made a sacrificial lamb on Queen's Birthday. But - I would rather have two terlichs, or two mckenzie than one Watts. Plays nothing like 6'5" - so don't worry about the aerial stuff - has more skills than 10 of those, but will <never> give a contest like those two - and that's what we are all about the moment - tough footy - and Watts is just not tough enough (even for a flanker / outside mid) *edit spelling

go jack - next time, go and meet the ball

First free kick of the day against the Jones boy... Lying on the ball in the center square with 4 port players lying on top of him ... Sigh

Ross knows more about footy than all of us put together... Agreed. But he's also a good operator with the press, and won't bag his players in public. But does anyone seriously believe that the outside player doesn't have to sometimes win his own ball? I can't remember Watts winning too often in a one on one contest..Takes the odd mark... No comparison with, say, Goddard

Watching this in nouméa. Lovely day, blue sky, coral reef... And the Watts dilemma returns. I get it about the skill and setting up scoring. But he doesn't won his own ball... I can't think of another outside skill player who doesn't win his own ball. His team mates can't rely on him and it shows. Think of other basketballers - roughead,pendles. All get their own ball in one on ones. Im just glad we've got Roos to make the decision

At least the cutlery was safe and the wine good

And I have to go out tonight ... Making polite conversation while trying to check the score on my phone under the table cloth. Them by 5 goals. Jodie to have a good game, Colin to kick 2 and Watts to struggle. If we get up I might just try the old "pull the table cloth off without disturbing the cutlery" trick! Go Dees!

Understand your point, but I just can't help thinking that he's not a competitor. Compare him to Goddard (as folk have)... Goddard wins the one on ones. I can't think of a worse one on one player than Watts in our team, and I think that's a very high price to pay for skill.