Captain_Jack

Well said Big Jim, Watts has showed more in his first few years than Hawkins did and he had a big body as well as an elite team around him to take the pressure off and deliver the footy on a plate. Support the kid or shut up, some of you seem like are genuinely willing him to fail.

Unlike Morton and Cook who never showed a thing, it's not about Col's draft position. Simply a case of promising and being capable of so much more than he's ever delivered.

A few less bicep curls and a few more laps to build up his engine and learn how to force himself outside his comfort zone, wouldn't go astray this preseason. Has all the moves, we all know it, just needs to want to be more than a talented bloke, making a good living playing AFL footy and learn to compete ruthlessly for more than cheap kicks and the odd running goal from fifty out.

We desperately need some genuine, long term class in the middle. Viney and O'Rourke as a midfield combo for the 10 - 12 years should have any MFC supporter salivating, one a genuine inside gun the other pure class with loads off upside that we seriously need. Love the look of Wines and wouldn't be the disappointed in the least if we took him but O'Rourke for mine.

All comes down to desire with Col, you get the feeling he's been taking a back seat, waiting for the team to improve around him so he'll be able to float through half forward with little or no accountability. I can't help but think they've got some high expectations of him and he'll be required to win his own ball in the middle this year. At the end of the day, if he doesn't perform this year, we'll get next to nothing for him at the trade table and the second he's a free agent, he'd be a prime candidate to jump ship. The FD would be well aware of that so they'll leave no stone unturned this year in testing him mentally and physically to see whether he's up to it or just another talented spud.

While we're getting angry, let's look at all the players we could have drafted instead of Morton, Cook, Gysberts etc... WASTE OF TIME! Let's all stop analysing the Prendergast factor from the past and do what the footy department has done in accepting that serious change was needed, so you either keep looking backwards or start looking forward.

I hope the message is being drummed loud and clear into the current list, that improvement won't come from players from other clubs plugging gaps. Improvement needs to come from the blokes with upside, who have so far under performed, stepping up. Sylvia, Bail, Strauss, (Martin, Gysberts, if they stay) Watts, Trengove, Grimes, Tapscott, Frawley, Garland, even Blease, Clark and Howe who had good years but can still improve, all have upside that they need to deliver if this club is ever going to get anywhere. I think the coaching group is trying to create an environment and a culture that will give those who want to ruthlessly compete, every opportunity to do so and those that don't, nowhere to hide. 'Net Gain' will come from within, or it won't come at all.