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

Do you agree with the 'Watt' decision?

  • Yes

    Votes: 21 51.2%
  • No

    Votes: 20 48.8%

  • Total voters
    41

Zondor

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Melly017 said:
New Year, one intra club game and Watt bashing starts.

Yawn.
C'mon Melly, we only bash cause we feel we have a point. Laidley replaces the ageing Martyn with Watt. 2 years of having countless goals kicked on him, he is moved up to Centre Half Back. Played a good game on Pavlich and had a reasonable run during the middle of the year however by seasons end he once again looked terrible with Treadrea topping his year of by giving him a bath. Now it looks like he'll be our "Third Tall". Gee mate if he fails in this role what's next?
 

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Zondor

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BW, Watt doesn't break the lines and thus carry the ball. How often have you seen the guy take 2 or 3 bounces like a David King or a Byron Pickett from the back line and kick it deep into the forward line?

He can't take the opposition on. How often have you seen the guy balk and evade on coming opponents without getting spooked as B-Rock would attest to?

He can't read the play. How often have you seen Watt mark the incoming ball reading the play in defense? How often has he out bustled his opponent cause he has judged the flight of the ball better?

BW, you’re entitled to your opinion but in my eyes it's not based on fact but a deluded view of Shannon Watt's abilities.
 

Z_K

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I reckon he was good last year. He was better than Brown IMO. Colbert was good, but playing as a defender in name only. He was our best tall defender. Sad, but true.

I will be wrapt if he is pushed out of a position, as it means Brown has a good year, Hay does what we got him to North to do and Perry kicks on. As of right now, he deserves a shot at solidifying a position.

If he falls away and doesn't get moved aside, then we have an issue. If Perry dominates the VFL and Shannon treads water, we have an issue. Until then, can we give the bloke a shot?
 

DEVO

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Zondor said:
BW, Watt doesn't break the lines and thus carry the ball. How often have you seen the guy take 2 or 3 bounces like a David King or a Byron Pickett from the back line and kick it deep into the forward line?
Idiotic comment. He plays a different position. Turnovers down field would lead to his opponent being unmarked, and then you would bag him for giving away soft goals.

Zondor said:
He can't take the opposition on. How often have you seen the guy balk and evade on coming opponents without getting spooked as B-Rock would attest to?

He can't read the play. How often have you seen Watt mark the incoming ball reading the play in defense? How often has he out bustled his opponent cause he has judged the flight of the ball better?

BW, you’re entitled to your opinion but in my eyes it's not based on fact but a deluded view of Shannon Watt's abilities.
The game against Sydney at the SCG comes to mind immediately. I could probably think of a few other if I wasn't at work.
 

Zondor

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DEVO said:
Idiotic comment. He plays a different position. Turnovers down field would lead to his opponent being unmarked, and then you would bag him for giving away soft goals.
Hey Whip It, the question is does he break the lines. The answer is no. BW thinks it to be yes. He has never used his supposed pace to break the lines. So is it an Idiotic comment hey? I think that you have provided an Idiotic response. Watt has given away many a soft goal by being near his opponent let alone running of him.

DEVO said:
The game against Sydney at the SCG comes to mind immediately. I could probably think of a few other if I wasn't at work.
Yeah one game out of how many comes to mind. Got to really think about it hey? Work or no work there aren't many standout Watt performances.

Watt's a battler. From Full Back to Centre Half Back to Third Tall in the space of 3 years tells me that this guy can't make a position his own. Hey I hope he proves me wrong and does well this year however I don't feel that this will be the case.
 

shintemaster

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NorthBhoy said:
I reckon he was good last year. He was better than Brown IMO.QUOTE]

He was better than Brown, but only at CHB if that makes any sense. The only reason Brown was played at FB (out of position) is that Watt simply wasn't good enough. IMHO Brown was and is a better option in EITHER position, however the need for a FB was more urgent.
 

Angus1

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shintemaster said:
NorthBhoy said:
I reckon he was good last year. He was better than Brown IMO.QUOTE]

He was better than Brown, but only at CHB if that makes any sense. The only reason Brown was played at FB (out of position) is that Watt simply wasn't good enough. IMHO Brown was and is a better option in EITHER position, however the need for a FB was more urgent.
Exactly.
If Brown was able to play CHB all year then he would most likely have had a much better year then he did.
I agree with NorthBhoy though when he says Watt does deserve another crack this year. He was ok last year so unless Perry or Rawlings steps up then Watt will no doubt be playing.
Having said that i think it is safe to say that hay and Brown will be automatic selections. I mean come on no one seriously thinks Watt is better then Brown do they?
 

Melly017

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It hasn't sunk in too a few people.

THE COACH KNOWS HE WASN'T GOOD ENUFF TO PLAY FULL BACK.

WE HAD NO ONE ELSE.

THE FULL BACK STORE AT HIGHPOINT HAD RUN OUT AND THE FULL BACK TREE AT ARDEN ST WAS DESTROYED BY DENNIS ON HIS WAY OUT.

He was made to play a position that he wasn't ready for, he didn't pick himself each week, other people did.

Why do you think we have drafted Shore, Perry, Brown, Rawlings, Hay, Green.
 

shintemaster

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I think we do get that Melly, the problem for Watt is that we've now got a full back for what we'd assume would be at least 3-4 years. He played well last year, I wouldn't say he was amazing, however he was good. I think he's handy to keep around, for his sake I hope he improves again this year.
 

giantroo

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Would you guys reckon that Shannon Watt would would play either a half back flanker and a running midfield or just play centre half back? I heard that he played good as a half back flanker in the intra club match. What Do you guys reckon?
 

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Mailman

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I reckon he will be a fantastic player this year with much of the pressure off him. He was terrible at times in the past but I expect that this year he will play against the third tall, wherever that might be (HBF, BP), and run off at every opportunity.
 

spurs

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I think he will play on the 3rd tall or even on the wing but he better be consistent this year and play well otherwise he will be running out of positions to play him.
 

mark73

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spurs said:
I think he will play on the 3rd tall or even on the wing but he better be consistent this year and play well otherwise he will be running out of positions to play him.
I agree with this.Also,clubs shouldn't (and can't) be finding positions for players.Needs to make the biggest impact of his career this season otherwise will be staring down the barrel...
 
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Watt will not play CHB this year. From what I saw at the intra-club, Brown has that locked - at rightfully so.

I agree that the acquistion of Hay will really benefit Watt as he takes the third defender role. The big concern I still have is that he really has been a bad decision maker in the past. The role of running of a defensive flank is so important in today's football, and it requires precision passing and spot on decision making. No point blazing out and turning it over.

If he starts making the right decisions, a guy of his size and pace would be invaluable as a third tall/rebounding defender.
 
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I note that in the Roosnews 2006 season guide, the comments by Darren Crocker are:

Re: Leigh Brown: "Hasn't missed a beat and will enjoy playing out of centre half back, with the inclusion of Jonathon Hay to the club".

Re: Shannon Watt: "Another who should benefit from getting Hay to Arden St, which will allow him to settle into a more suitable role".
(interestingly there is no mention of what that role is)

Hope this helps answer your question? :)
 

Tas

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It will be matchups depending on the team.

Brown lacks Watt's pace. So if a side puts a speedy CHF then Brown isn't going to keep up, Watt will.

I think he will also be an option for mid-sized forwards who are very good overhead, guys like makey or sinclair go on them and can't go with them in the air. Having someone zippy with height gives us a handy defensive player.

He just needs to learn to get more of the ball and attack when he is not in a key defensive position.

Hay at FB, Brown at CHB and Watt as third tall is a very solid back 3 with Perry and Rawlings as backups. If we can maintain the midfield pressure then there is no reason our back half should not be good enough to restrict sides to a winnable score.
 

pharro

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Should also be the 3rd man up in marking duels - the Colby/Archie role. On blouses like Nicky Riewoldt we could see Leroy rough the girl up inside 50 and Watt come over the top with the big fist. If Riewoldt runs up the ground for some cheap possessions, Watt goes with him and Leroy stays home for the uncontested bomb.
 

Tas

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Darky said:
That's Watt's 9th senior season. 1 year away from life membership. Gotta show something.
He was our best defender last year, not sure how much more he needs to show. ;)
 
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