View Full Version : 4. Jobe Watson
Pawtucket Patriot
17 Jul 2007, 17:03
Developing into a gun midfielder.
windyhill
17 Jul 2007, 23:05
Elite hands.
D-grade foot skills.
thebigboy
18 Jul 2007, 10:53
Would like too see his kicking skills improve, it would take his game a hell of a lot further. Probably wouldn't spend as much time on the bench.
SydneyDon
18 Jul 2007, 11:04
Can't fault his handball vision. It reminds me of Greg Williams. We all know that with better kicking skills he will be elite.
His kicking has been quite good lately
RED AND BLACK SOLDIER
18 Jul 2007, 23:21
His kicking has been quite good lately
Better than just good, Exceptional; classy
Bomber32
18 Jul 2007, 23:44
Jobe plays his 50th game this week against Collingwood.
Well done and keep on improving!:thumbsu:
Would like too see his kicking skills improve, it would take his game a hell of a lot further. Probably wouldn't spend as much time on the bench.
His kicking has improved out of sight since the start of the year. He has shown that the weeks of kicking drills he did at training has really worked. Has been hitting targets by foot very well over the last 4 weeks or so.
Let's Fly Jetstar!
26 Jul 2007, 20:54
Love him.
Classy bloke in every regard.
After reading what Sheedy has said about him during the week i watched a few of his games again recently and i have to say im worried about Jobe. I hadnt really realised how bad he is at running both ways until i had another look. He really struggles to keep up with opponents and is often left trailing them by 10 to 15 meters when they have the ball. They get a lot of easy possessions when they play on him.
After watching todays game against Casey i have to say it didnt improve at VFL level. On big grounds he simply struggles to get anywhere near an opponent and his defencive game is ordinary at best.
He is great at the clearances. His disposal has improved but it needs to get more damaging but he has to find something as far as pace and ability to run goes.
Bombs Away
20 Aug 2007, 13:16
After reading what Sheedy has said about him during the week i watched a few of his games again recently and i have to say im worried about Jobe. I hadnt really realised how bad he is at running both ways until i had another look. He really struggles to keep up with opponents and is often left trailing them by 10 to 15 meters when they have the ball. They get a lot of easy possessions when they play on him.
After watching todays game against Casey i have to say it didnt improve at VFL level. On big grounds he simply struggles to get anywhere near an opponent and his defencive game is ordinary at best.
He is great at the clearances. His disposal has improved but it needs to get more damaging but he has to find something as far as pace and ability to run goes.
I noticed the same things yesterday at Casey. Of our "senior" players thought that only Bradley, Dempsey really showed something. Jobe looked lost at times there and wasn't reading the way we were playing.
AJ_2000
21 Aug 2007, 13:32
On SEN this morning Billy Brownless was quizzing Tim Watson about Jobes foot.
Apparently it could be broken and he is unlikely to feature again this season.
he may not have been picked again anyway
windyhill
25 Aug 2007, 22:05
Elite hands.
D-grade foot skills.
I`m not a sheedy man but agree with everything he said in regards to Jobe, he has alot of work to do.
Jonesy1987
4 Jan 2008, 00:24
Can anyone tell me how Watson is doing in his preseason work, mainly skills and speed?
his skills have improved a bit and he has trimmed down even more to enhance his running ability
BenCousins09
9 Jan 2008, 19:25
Should be a top player if he can get some more Pace.
GreaT SourcE
16 Jan 2008, 00:53
Could Ant or someone that has been going to training tell me how Jobe Watson is travelling so far this preseason...? Has he trimmed down, improved his endurance, gained any injuries ??
Schmick
16 Jan 2008, 11:14
Could Ant or someone that has been going to training tell me how Jobe Watson is travelling so far this preseason...? Has he trimmed down, improved his endurance, gained any injuries ??
Look over the training reports, it would proabably provide quite alot of info. He has trimmed down and is looking in great shape, is injury free and has improved on his skills from what ive heard. So hopefully he'll have a strong season in 08.
http://www.gspimages.com.au/images/thumbs/main/20475.jpg
GreaT SourcE
16 Jan 2008, 13:47
Look over the training reports, it would proabably provide quite alot of info. He has trimmed down and is looking in great shape, is injury free and has improved on his skills from what ive heard. So hopefully he'll have a strong season in 08.
http://www.gspimages.com.au/images/thumbs/main/20475.jpg
Thanks for that Schmick....! :thumbsu:
Bomber Billy
17 Jan 2008, 19:26
All that's stopping him from taking the next step is his kicking. If his kicking has improved to a satisfactory level which has been reported by people attending training, he will take that next step.
People seem to forget he was using it very well at the start of '07 and had good confidence in himself before injury de-railed the second half of his year
kelvin_sheedy
18 Jan 2008, 09:13
People seem to forget he was using it very well at the start of '07 and had good confidence in himself before injury de-railed the second half of his year
I'm pretty sure he was spraying them in the first 5 or so rounds before getting his act together.
I think he can be the no 1 clearance guy in the comp this year and step up another level.
Schmick
18 Jan 2008, 09:41
All that's stopping him from taking the next step is his kicking. If his kicking has improved to a satisfactory level which has been reported by people attending training, he will take that next step.
According to your theory, he woulv'e been classified as "elite" last year as his are skills better than satisfactory wouldn't he?
I think the thing that is stopping him from getting to the elite level is kicking arn't damaging enough and he doesn't hurt opposition sides when he moves the ball by foot. He made big improvement on it last year as when he got the ball he wasn't hurting our side when he moved it by foot, and it was at least effective.
I'm pretty sure he was spraying them in the first 5 or so rounds before getting his act together.
I think he can be the no 1 clearance guy in the comp this year and step up another level.
Well he was hitting them nicely at one stage, may have been a few rounds in.
We're already good at clearances and first possessions, if we improve our skill level like Knights intends, we'll surprise a lot of people.
I think he can be the no 1 clearance guy in the comp this year and step up another level.
I'd agree with you.
Watson's potential is underrated by most, he reads the play better than anyone else on our list. He's got one of the best football brains out there.
There's two areas he must work on.
He's got to find consistent penetration on his kicking. It's improved out of sight, but it's still only average.
He's got to stop the run off him. An increase in his defensive attributes would make him the complete midfielder.
He'll be complete if he's able to get on top of those aspects.
Along with Andrew Lovett, he's the key to our midfield in 2008.
Ryder Is God
20 Jan 2008, 18:45
Looking fitter. I expect him to have a big season. Great clearance player.
Underrated.
Slattery_20
20 Jan 2008, 18:51
Needs to be locked in a room with tapes and DVDs of Brett Kirk.
Jonesy1987
20 Jan 2008, 21:57
Needs to be locked in a room with tapes and DVDs of Brett Kirk.
Mitchell and Kerr aswell
Fools. If you lock him in a room he'll lose his fitness.
Slattery_20
23 Jan 2008, 10:54
Mitchell and Kerr aswell
I'm thinking more of the defensive side of his game
Kirk's a similar body shape, not as much natural talent, but sets an example
Jonesy1987
23 Jan 2008, 13:30
I'm thinking more of the defensive side of his game
Kirk's a similar body shape, not as much natural talent, but sets an example
Dont really see it much. But he does need to learn to run both ways.
If he wants to take his clearance work to the next level then Kerr and Mitchell are the best 2 atm in the comp.
Schmick
23 Feb 2008, 10:29
Played well last night :thumbsu:
Finished with 24 disposals off just 52% gametime, impessive as usual.
The way he releases players is just sublime.
Very important for us this year.
GreaT SourcE
24 Feb 2008, 11:12
Played well last night :thumbsu:
Finished with 24 disposals off just 52% gametime, impessive as usual.
Where'd you find out that Jobe only had 52% of gametime..?
BigPete38
24 Feb 2008, 11:25
Where'd you find out that Jobe only had 52% of gametime..?
Wasnt bad still puts players around him under pressure with handballs when really he should kick.
Slattery_20
24 Feb 2008, 11:28
He makes mistakes when there's not a runner going past
Even in highly clogged up packs he can find space & shoot out a brilliant handball though
I thought his decision making was OK actually
he cost us so many times today. half the time when he gets the ball he doesn't even look forward. he rarely gives the first option and he thinks he is super cleaver with his "faints" and "dummies". he puts his teamates uner pressure and he can't kick for s***. plus he is irrelevant when the other team has the ball.
Windas_Magic
25 Apr 2008, 19:15
he cost us so many times today. half the time when he gets the ball he doesn't even look forward. he rarely gives the first option and he thinks he is super cleaver with his "faints" and "dummies". he puts his teamates uner pressure and he can't kick for s***. plus he is irrelevant when the other team has the ball.
He was our best player by a mile today and is our only midfielder winning the ball. He gets clearences while being held in the centre and he is doing the right thing by handballing it but our runners aren't getting into positions to recieve the ball resulting in leaving Watson no where to go. Also, no team mates are blocking for him giving him no support
the_unit
25 Apr 2008, 19:16
he cost us so many times today. half the time when he gets the ball he doesn't even look forward. he rarely gives the first option and he thinks he is super cleaver with his "faints" and "dummies". he puts his teamates uner pressure and he can't kick for s***. plus he is irrelevant when the other team has the ball.
i called up sen after the bulldogs game and said the same thing he is the dumbest footballer on our list but everyone called up and bagged me saying "what a quality midfielder he is". Jobe always pauses and looks to give off the hands
he cost us so many times today. half the time when he gets the ball he doesn't even look forward. he rarely gives the first option and he thinks he is super cleaver with his "faints" and "dummies". he puts his teamates uner pressure and he can't kick for s***. plus he is irrelevant when the other team has the ball.
I totally disagree with you here.
He was easily our best player on the ground today. 30 odd touches with 80% efficiency and 12 clearances. Our next highest clearance winners were Stanton and Dyson with 3 a piece.
In my opinion he really stood up for us today when the going was tough, unlike others.
the_unit
25 Apr 2008, 19:43
I totally disagree with you here.
He was easily our best player on the ground today. 30 odd touches with 80% efficiency and 12 clearances. Our next highest clearance winners were Stanton and Dyson with 3 a piece.
In my opinion he really stood up for us today when the going was tough, unlike others.
all i have to say is what kind of footballer would take a mark at chf and try to handball in mid air(as he did against the bulldogs and they scored a goal from it) my answer is a dumb footballer who is only around coz of his dad. Our best midfielder is stanton but for some dumb reason knights refuse to play him there
the_unit
25 Apr 2008, 19:53
who was he playing on???
if you asked jobe that question i think he would have no idea
maybe it was swan....he was pretty poor
perhaps he held pendlebury???
davis and didak didn't hurt us in the middle
get my point santoz???
the_unit
25 Apr 2008, 20:22
maybe it was swan....he was pretty poor
perhaps he held pendlebury???
davis and didak didn't hurt us in the middle
get my point santoz???
do you and santoz have a clue...he may have had 20 clearances but were they effective???????????NO
i was being sarcastic unit. i'm on your side here.
surely you realize that swan, pendlebury, davis and didak killed us
Smyth94
26 Apr 2008, 10:34
do you and santoz have a clue...he may have had 20 clearances but were they effective???????????NO
80% efficiency from 30 disposals from a clearance winner.
Smyth94
26 Apr 2008, 10:38
maybe it was swan....he was pretty poor
perhaps he held pendlebury???
davis and didak didn't hurt us in the middle
get my point santoz???
Unbelievable!! You're blaming Watson for our midfield capitulation? You must have one large axe to grind!!
Yes it was Watson's fault Pendlebury killed us
Yes it was Watson's fault Didak killed us
Yes it was Watson's fault Davis killed us
Yes it was Watson's fault Lovett didn't touch the ball
Yes it was Watson's fault that Stanton, Lovett, Dyson don't have a defensive bone in their bodies
:rolleyes:
no, all i'm saying is that whoever jobe played on he was pretty effective for the pies. he had to have played on one of the above mentioned.
i'm not blaming jobe for a midfield getting smashed. jobe is a good player but if he was to change just a few small things in his game he would be a great player
Jobe is paying the price for having a bad start to his career. His kicking has improved tenfold. At games you can hear a huge grown when he stuffs up. He makes 1-2 mistakes a game, which has to be accepted. He isn't an A-grade midfielder. There are others in our side who will make some mistakes and it's accepted by Essendon fans, but when Jobe makes a mistake we dig into him.
Jobe deserves to be playing week in week out, he is our No.1 clearence player, and would be in the top10 for our b/f. GET OFF HIS BACK!
he would be a great player if he gave the first option everytime
Slattery_20
29 May 2008, 22:37
No he wouldn't, he'd get picked off every time. Geelong game springs to mind
windyhill
14 Jun 2008, 13:45
Elite hands.
D-grade foot skills.
Is it possible that his kicking has gone backwards ?
HULK HOGAN
14 Jun 2008, 16:49
he would be a great player if he gave the first option everytime
I think he did last night looked good fully agree with you, 1st option for Jobe makes him a better player.
forever green
16 Jun 2008, 17:20
his kicking killed us
jobe watson is finished
jobe watson is finished
I really,really hope that was a joke
Not his best game on the weekend, but he did help us out in the middle.
sure, but his turnovers resulted in 3 goals. we can't afford that against teams that are trying to win
yes his kicking was down.. it seems that after injury or a stint off it goes backwards a bit.. but I thought at the start of the year it was ok.. and his hands are fantastic.. he is one of our few in and under players..
we just have to get better at ALWAYS having someone running past for the handball.. like the doggies do for scott west.. against wce.. the only times he really turned it over by foot was when he got panicked and had no options..
Slattery_20
18 Jun 2008, 12:03
Needs to prove he can work with the other midfield guys & turn the ball over less as a unit
ie If we can provide the right options he won't be forced to stop & prop.
His kicking under pressure is below average, but if he is sizing up a good option up field, he can kick fairly well over 40 metres
made from beer
18 Jun 2008, 14:51
some of his takeaways at stoppages were gold on friday night, and thats after a few weeks on the sidelines.
people need to give this guy a break.
We're a much better team when this bloke plays. Heaps of improvement left in him which is a big plus.
danzan22
3 Jul 2008, 00:35
Watson signs new two-year contract
http://www.essendonfc.com.au/images/spacer.gif Wednesday, 2 July 2008
Craig Rowston for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1
Fresh from his 36-possession game on Sunday, the man with one of the best set of hands in the AFL, Jobe Watson, today signed a new two-year deal with Essendon. He is now contracted to the end of the 2010 season.
The rapidly improving Watson, 23, has played 64 games for the Bombers since being taken as a father/son selection with pick 40 in 2002.
Team manager, David Calthorpe, said Watson is developing into a damaging ball winner and club leader.
“In the past two-years he has improved considerably as a player and, at just 23-years-old, he will be a key part of the Essendon midfield for years to come,” Calthorpe said.
http://www.essendonfc.com.au/news/news.asp?nid=5900
Good news
The Dustbin
12 Jul 2008, 09:33
ESSENDON'S round-20 loss to Hawthorn last year was a pivotal game for Jobe Watson and David Hille, yet neither played in the match. Indeed, the fact they didn't was the point.
The pair was dropped by coach Kevin Sheedy, ostensibly for poor form, the coach said. It was a rationale both players accepted then and now.
Some at senior levels at the club, however, privately wondered if Sheedy had learnt that the board had sought the counsel of the pair — young leaders and both intelligent and articulate — on the veteran coach and the way forward for the club and, effectively, punished them.
There is persuasiveness in the arguments of both form and politics as to what motivated the decision to get tough on the players, but what it did was raise the fragility of players' tenures and their needs for change.
"I don't think it was ever a personal issue," Watson said last week, after signing a new two-year contract at the Bombers, a deal that when he was dropped last year he wondered might not have come.
"When the team is under-performing the only thing that really is the deciding factor is whether you win or lose games, and if you are part of the team that is losing games then you start to question am I part of their future? Does the club believe I am important to them and part of the side that can be successful? And if it is no then you have to accept that and go, and if it is yes you are lucky and you try to be a part of that and reward their faith in you."
The visit to the VFL re-opened Watson's eyes and ears to the message being delivered about his game.
"Obviously I was disappointed to be dropped, but I would be a fool to think I know more about the game than Sheeds and he had given me a message so it would be quite naive of me not to listen," Watson said. "And the message was, 'You are at this stage of your career I am telling you, you need to do these things better to be a better player'.
"I never took it as a personal sort of issue it was more, 'If you want to be a better player these are the things you have got to do'."
Change came in the form of a new coach, but also a new commitment by the young player such that the new contract, that he has signed, might not have materialised without that change.
"No one likes to be dropped, but I think what it did was galvanise both of us (Watson and Hille) in terms recognising that we are cruising along a little bit, we are part of an age bracket that the club is relying on to do something and if the club is going to be successful we are the ones that are going to have to do something about it," Watson said.
"So, I think it was really a good wake-up call in terms of , 'Right I have these areas of the game I have to address'. Least I knew what they were and I could try and fix those."
Regardless of what motivated it, it was the second wake-up call in Watson's career. The first came two years earlier when he realised he was too heavy and not running hard enough for a midfielder. He trimmed seven kilograms from his frame and the improvement in his running and game was almost instantaneous.
"I was able to get fit in 2006 and perhaps I relaxed on that in 2007. So it was about the defensive aspect to my game and not allowing my opponents to hurt me going the other way as much as what happened during that season," Watson said, of the message he carried from being dropped.
"I probably am a person who can tend to relax a little bit and be comfortable in my environment so I need and respond better to wake-up calls and that is what I have had in different parts of my career."
Watson's kicking has been a thorn in his game since he arrived. He worked on and improved his ground coverage while his ability to be at the ball's fall has been an enduring asset. He routinely claims first hands on the ball, but can be wasteful when he ferries it out.
He has assumed something of a Daniel Cross approach to handball (averaging nearly twice as many touches by hand as foot), but lacks his precision and is wary not to work too aggressively on a strength for fear of becoming predictable.
"You can't go into a game being one dimensional. If teams think you are only going to handball they will sit off you for your kick and that is the problem that arises. And if you do become too one dimensional you become too predictable and your output is not as effective, so there is no point saying, 'I want to be a great handballer so that is what I will do', you have to be able to kick and be effective by foot and I think a lot of times for me it is getting into the right routine and concentrating and not getting lazy on my kicking and that is something I have tried to focus with with Campo (assistant coach Scott Camporeale and Knighter (coach Matthew Knights)," Watson said.
"They are more than happy for me to go for any of my kicks, they would never be worried about my kicking, they would prefer me to back myself and go for it than stuff it up by being indecisive. Having that confidence from the coaching staff is half the battle, when you know they have confidence in you you try to do the right things and not be so worried or negative."
Watson is comfortable within the framework of a young team to accept his lot as the industrious inside type not the eye-catching player of dash.
"I think we have a lot of naturally attacking players and players who play with a lot of flair and back themselves to run and carry, so when you look at the list you say well these are all the players' strengths I would be silly not to try and embrace their strengths. But we are only going to be able to play with that kind of flair if we play with a defensive mindset first," he said.
"As young players we get confused easily and tend to over-complicate things, and Knighter and the coaching staff have said if we do the basics right everything else will give us the opportunity to win a game so we still play with the same amount of flair now but I think we do have a more defensive mindset on our opponents and that comes with playing more games."
That mindset might have shifted slightly, but Watson is worried for that his side had been "mental fragile" this year in surrendering too readily to large losses.
"All we want to do is become competitive and get better. Once players start to gain confidence the team will start to improve and hopefully become more competitive consistently," he said.
Watson realises, perhaps as a result of his dad's experience, maybe as a result of being dropped that a life in football is an ephemeral thing.
"As you mature you realise you are not going to be able to play the game for ever. There is going to be a time when my body won't let me play any more, so why would I waste the time that I have? I can't afford to be complacent any more because the game is too hard and I have only got a certain time in it, so why not be as ruthless and competitive and as hard on myself to be able to achieve success."
theage.com.au
Pawtucket Patriot
12 Jul 2008, 12:18
Good article in The Age (above). Good to see that he is conscious of the need to improve the defensive part of his game.
His kicking in the last 2 games has been excellent with him only missing 1 target by foot that i can remember anyway.
Hopefully a sign of things to come.
Not only a great game yesterday with 41 possessions but once again his kicking was spot on.
He has worked hard to fix his kicking and i think he is now getting over the mental part of it and is gaining confidence.
Good boy Jobe :thumbsu:
eth-dog
27 Jul 2008, 15:50
one of most important players in our team
Bombers Fan
1 Aug 2008, 13:31
Definitely one of the most important players in the side.
I knocked him a little earlier in the year, as his turnovers were costly, but at least he was in there getting the ball while we were down. Looks to have improved his kicking, so hopefully he gets more 40 'efficient' possession games.
see the age article this morning? good work Rohan :thumbsu:
MadBomberfan
2 Aug 2008, 21:32
His kicking is definitely a worry, but put simply any guy that racks up 30+ touches with monotonous regularity, many of which are in traffic and provide clearances, has to be considered a big asset. :thumbsu:
Ryder Is God
2 Aug 2008, 21:46
I have more worries over his defensive capabilities. He always gets hurt on the rebound because of his lack of leg speed.
Sir James
22 Nov 2008, 09:19
sure, but his turnovers resulted in 3 goals. we can't afford that against teams that are trying to win
The game against west coast at the dome this season, 4 of his turnovers resulted in 4 goals, which kept them in the game. I was over him, get rid of him.
Not long after that he turned it around and proved me wrong, and has got my vote as an important player.
To Jobe Watson.....Sorry
windyhill
23 Nov 2008, 21:19
Elite hands.
D-grade foot skills.
The song remains the same.
fishguts
23 Nov 2008, 21:21
prehaps he could get away with c+ to b- these days
windyhill
23 Nov 2008, 22:08
prehaps he could get away with c+ to b- these days
I`ll give you c- Fish...........
Ryder Is God
23 Nov 2008, 22:51
A player like Watson can't get away with his turnovers as it can destroy him on the rebound.
Skeeta Olly
24 Nov 2008, 09:19
The game against west coast at the dome this season, 4 of his turnovers resulted in 4 goals, which kept them in the game. I was over him, get rid of him.
Not long after that he turned it around and proved me wrong, and has got my vote as an important player.
To Jobe Watson.....Sorry
One thing he does need to work on is definitely his foot skills, as they have cost him dearly. He would be one of the last people i would want taking a shot on goal. It's almost as painful as handball turn overs....something he can work on improving.
Sir James
24 Nov 2008, 19:56
Your right about the foot skills...or lack of.
Noticed at training last season he had to do drills to hit the player with 15-25 metre kicks. He got better........But slightly better at that.
New season and fingers crossed????
Slattery_20
25 Nov 2008, 09:36
A player like Watson can't get away with his turnovers as it can destroy him on the rebound.
Yup
We could manage him either being on the slow side, or on the poor side for kicking, but having both kills him
You will all cringe the day he kicks the winning goal, on the run from just inside 50.
I know its a little bit improbable for you to believe becuase he isnt the best kick...or runner.
But hey, on the day, look for me, ill be the one jumping up and down laughing like a mad man and saying 'I never doubted you'.
In all seriousness though, for all the flak that they cop, Watson and Stanton are our two most important midfielders at the moment.
I remember one game last year, i think it was against Richmond, when Stanton racked up all those possessions, walking out of the ground, people were laying into Stants because of his effectivness of disposal. When i looked into it after the game it was up and around the 80% mark.
Im not really sure what people expect. 80% efficiency isnt perfect but its going to be around the mark of what you will see from most elite midfielders who gat 30 possys a game.
Kings Army
26 Nov 2008, 11:00
His kicking is definitely a worry, but put simply any guy that racks up 30+ touches with monotonous regularity, many of which are in traffic and provide clearances, has to be considered a big asset. :thumbsu:
Not sure opposition supporters can post on here but I will roll the dice.
Roos have a similar player in Harris (I rate watson higher). So frustrating as the gap between good and bad is to big for AFL. But each team needs a Watson or Harris to do a lot of the dirty work and release the runners and good ball kickers in the team.
Getting hurt the other way due to leg speed is a price to pay. I think it is worth it but it is easy for supporters to vent their anger at these players as they look like they are going up and down on the spot and not trying when the facts are they are giving their all.
I disagree on the 30+ touches he is ment to get regularly - only 3 times did Watson get 30+ touches this year. 2 of these games were against the 14th and 15th placed teams.
Jonesy1987
26 Nov 2008, 11:07
I disagree on the 30+ touches he is ment to get regularly - only 3 times did Watson get 30+ touches this year. 2 of these games were against the 14th and 15th placed teams.
Actually it was 5 times Round 1, 6, 14, 17 and 19.
I disagree on the 30+ touches he is ment to get regularly - only 3 times did Watson get 30+ touches this year. 2 of these games were against the 14th and 15th placed teams.
He got 30 or more possessions 5 times out of his 19 games so is operating at over 25% of games he got 30 or more possessions and with his injuries also spent more time forward this year.
They were in the following games
Rnd1 vs North - 30 poss - Win
Rnd6 vs Collingwood 30 poss - Loss
Rnd14 vs Freo 36 poss - Win
Rnd 17 vs Coll 41 poss - Win
Rnd 19 vs W/C 31 poss - Loss
He also amassed many games just under 30
Kings Army
26 Nov 2008, 11:28
Actually it was 5 times Round 1, 6, 14, 17 and 19.
Sorry more than 30 touches 3 times this year.
The real worry is the 12 against the Cats and the 14 against the Dogs and the 18 against the Saints. Great players play well against the good sides.
Sorry more than 30 touches 3 times this year.
The real worry is the 12 against the Cats and the 14 against the Dogs and the 18 against the Saints. Great players play well against the good sides.
Don't recall anyone here proclaiming him to be a great player.
bomberstomake8
26 Nov 2008, 11:37
tbh im not that concerned about his foot skills they are improving..
i am more worried about his defensive side. every match we play the opposition has one of their elite runners playing off him and they often tear us up...
his kicking has improved quite a lot over the past 2 seasons and it will continue to improve, if he can put more defensive pressure and run with his opponents then he would be a lot more beneficial
i am more worried about his defensive side. every match we play the opposition has one of their elite runners playing off him and they often tear us up...
A bit of help from some of the receivers he dishes the ball to in that regard wouldn't go astray either.
I think we'll see a rapid improvement in that area next year as Knights further works on our defensive actions, and Watson won't be nearly as exposed.
As for his kicking skills, it's largely a confidence thing. His ball drop isn't too bad and neither is his kicking action as a whole. When it goes wrong, for some reason he bends his back back and kicks off one step. If he can keep his focus, I don't think he's at all a lost cause.
yodellinhank
26 Nov 2008, 18:49
Agreed, i don't necessarily think it's his skill level so much as his ability to make a decision and quickly react. It is often when he is caught in two minds that he does his worst work.
Once he is surrounded by better players, his ball winning ability will be invaluable.
Ben the Gooner
29 Nov 2008, 21:54
Don't recall anyone here proclaiming him to be a great player.
I think the point there was if he wants to step up, he'll need to narrow that gap between good and bad.