Past #36: Shannon Watt - drafted at #14 in '97 ND - 155 games - 0 Brownlow votes - original whipping boy

[chris86]

Just close my eyes when the ball goes near him. Otherwise I'd end up replacing my TV every week.

 

[The Teflon Dean]

He couldn't hide behind Brown or Sansbury this week.

Needs to be sold for scientific experiments.

 

[CrazyQ]

Cant wait for the day Brown and Watt play no part in our team.

 

[Kangalicious]

The Obligatory Kangalicious Defends Watt Post.

Ok - didn't see last night's game, so will have to take your word(s) that he was unbelievably awful.

But - he has not been bad this season.

He will never be great.

Journeyman - and solid contributor.

Spot waiting to be taken - but so far no-one seems interested in stepping up and claiming it.

(sighs and waits patiently to be pilloried).

 

[bellzy]

Spot waiting to be taken - but so far no-one seems interested in stepping up and claiming it.

I'll do it this afternoon...

 

[j flex roo]

The Obligatory Kangalicious Defends Watt Post.

Ok - didn't see last night's game, so will have to take your word(s) that he was unbelievably awful.

But - he has not been bad this season.

He will never be great.

Journeyman - and solid contributor.

Spot waiting to be taken - but so far no-one seems interested in stepping up and claiming it.

(sighs and waits patiently to be pilloried).

My thoughts exactly.

 

[The Teflon Dean]

Cruize Garlett is waiting to be promoted off the rookie list.

 

[CrazyQ]

I think we need be harsh on some players to move forward.

With Gibson Petrie and Firrito, I dont think we need a Watt in the side. Replace him with Sinclair so we add more run to the side.

Urquhart too, but apparently wasnt that good.

 

[Kangalicious]

I think we need be harsh on some players to move forward.

With Gibson Petrie and Firrito, I dont think we need a Watt in the side. Replace him with Sinclair so we add more run to the side.

Urquhart too, but apparently wasnt that good.

Except Sinclair plays a very different role. Harding and Power should both be worried about Sinclair. Longer term, he isn't the answer either.

 

[CrazyQ]

Except Sinclair plays a very different role. Harding and Power should both be worried about Sinclair. Longer term, he isn't the answer either.

I dont think any players we've mentioned are players for the future.

However, Watt's position can be used as an attacking one. If W was ready, he would take Watt's spot I think, and it would be a good move.

Watt doesnt offer much, not bagging him out because there are 4-5 players I can name who arent offering anything atm too, but I reckon if we bring in an Urquhart or Sinclair for Watt, we wouldnt lose much.

Scotty Thompson, fire up son.

 

[The Teflon Dean]

Spot waiting to be taken - but so far no-one seems interested in stepping up and claiming it.

Dean has apparently been holding secret auditions:

[youtube]k5ba1OKY7Xc[/youtube]

 

[Kangalicious]

I dont think any players we've mentioned are players for the future.

However, Watt's position can be used as an attacking one. If W was ready, he would take Watt's spot I think, and it would be a good move.

Watt doesnt offer much, not bagging him out because there are 4-5 players I can name who arent offering anything atm too, but I reckon if we bring in an Urquhart or Sinclair for Watt, we wouldnt lose much.

Scotty Thompson, fire up son.

I would have thought that if Scotty T was serious, there's a spot there for the taking.

Watt will never be a champion, but he's a pretty solid and tireless contributor. Yes he fumbles and yes occasionally he is out of position, but I would argue the majority of his play is good and dependable - and not noticed on television coverage which is based around focus on the ball-carrier. As a defender, 90% of his value is off the ball. And I still think the bagging he gets is disproportionate.

Watt always has an opponent and a role. He is never the loose man. He does a pretty decent job on the whole.

And again - I reiterate - he is not, and never will be, a champion. But neither are most of them.

 

[The Teflon Dean]

I would argue the majority of his play is good and dependable

Just hold that thought.

Do you actually realise that this bloke is being paid to be an AFL footballer?

 

[Kangalicious]

Just hold that thought.

Do you actually realise that this bloke is being paid to be an AFL footballer?

I do. And I would be willing to bet that he's not on a glamour wage.

(He certainly isn't a glamour player.)

I'm at a disadvantage, not having seen last night's game, but again I would say for the rest of this season he has been pretty good.

(someone will now bring up the fourth quarter goals scored by Melbourne).

 

[The Teflon Dean]

I find your blind loyalty an admirable trait KL, however this bloke simply isn't worthy of it.

 

[ArjenTheGreat]

He's actually not so bad its that there are a few times during a game and i mean every game where he is made to look stupid by smaller, weaker opponents.

If he could eradicate the outright *******ity from his game he'd be handy, But personally i wouldn't risk him this week on Johnson or Welsh or a resting Minson.

We have Firitto, Gibson and Drew with Pratt, Harding and probably Brady as the smaller defenders, surely thats enough?

 

[budge11]

Last night he was basically the guy Woosha would look for on his players and say 'kick it to him'. Watt was on Staker for 5mins - Staker got 6 touches and kicked 1.2. I mean... Staker? Really?

I know Scott Thompson hasn't been in the bests' when he played with us, but goddamn I'd much prefer his pretty face in the side rather than Wattage

 

[DJ Dupree]

Hold all thoughts.

Shannon Watt embodies the Shinboner Spirit more than anyone. He has survived, out-classed, against the odds, with his back against the wall, for years now.

His battle of one man holding his spot against adversity, is symbolic of the NMFC holding their own in Melbourne and not being shifted to the GC.

Lay off.

 

[gokangas]

I do. And I would be willing to bet that he's not on a glamour wage.

(He certainly isn't a glamour player.)

I'm at a disadvantage, not having seen last night's game, but again I would say for the rest of this season he has been pretty good.

(someone will now bring up the fourth quarter goals scored by Melbourne).

I agree with KL a bit. The problem as I see it is he can be ok in the tight contests spoiling but is useless when he has to think or make a quick decision. Hasn't been too bad over all this season but his fumbles and bumbles on Saturday night were ordinary.
The other thing is that we all note them more because we are waiting for it - every time he grabs the ball I hold my breath waiting for a stuff up (a bit like Simmo kicking) but you tend to over look the good stuff.
Watt frustrates me but maybe we are being a bit harsh in the context of his season.

 

[see see]

Man, this guy baffles me to no end. The fundamental errors/fumblings he makes week in, week out for a guy of his experience just leave me agog. It just staggers me that the coaching/selection committee tolerate it. There are not many NM games I watch where he doesn't cause me to blow a gasket at least 3-4 times, whether it be a costly fumble, or being out-marked, or panicking, or being out-run by an opponent, or not following his opponent or simply getting lost in a contest.

Add to the list an uncanny knack to lose his feet at crucial times - how many goals has that cost us over the years? Drives me nuts.

Also, it never ceases to amaze me that a player of Watt's experience still craps himself everytime he gets the pill in his hands. If we were to ever get a primetime game on channel 10 (unlikely, I know), I'd love them to hook him up to a heart rate monitor in order to watch his pulse go through the roof everytime he gets a touch.

The days of the underskilled, close-checking defender are long past. Watt isn't going to be a member of a Kangas premiership team. Play a kid.

 

[The Teflon Dean]

The problem as I see it is he can be ok in the tight contests spoiling but is useless when he has to think or make a quick decision. Hasn't been too bad over all this season but his fumbles and bumbles on Saturday night were ordinary.

Surely that must rank him as "incompetent" as an AFL footballer? Surely that is enough to have him excluded from the NMFC defensive six? Why do we have so many supporters willing to accept mediocrity (at best)?

The bloke isn't up to it, and it's time something was done about it. Something that should have been done at least three years ago.

 

[rooboy_90]

As someone who does not look to be critical of him all week. I barely noticed him on Saturday night, which generally is a good thing.

 

[franjon]

Was shown up badly by Worsfold putting Staker in the square, a place where Watt is absolutely hopeless!
Result GOAL!!!
I dont know where Watt could play but he is NOT a backman
He has ability but I am not sure there is enough for AFL level
Still the Gods have smiled on him again with the injuries to
Nathan Grima , Alan Obst, Lachlan Hansen, Robbie Tarrant, and Jesse Smith.
We need a tall defender and anyone who could be one is falling arseover.
As the old saying goes"You cant pull up your socks if you have none on"

 

[Moti]

S Thompson looks pretty darn unexciting to me so not sure why everyone thinks he is the answer.

Watt isn't a star but has played pretty well this year. Firitto, Gibson and Petrie looked silly at times too but we aren't getting into them.

Still has a role and particuarly this week where Drew is likely to play forward.

 

[Devil Fish]

I'm a fan. have been for a while now, will get better as he develops.

Develops into a what? The shape of an ice-berg? Maybe he should take on the form of a tornado. SHEZZAMMMM!!!!