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

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Devil Fish

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giantroo said:
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?
Well, he was barely OK in the intra-club match but nothing special. Just found himself loose a few times & had the ball dished off to him. Really didn't beat an opponent in a contest all day which is my biggest criticism of him.
 

spurs

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Watt did have a good year last year and that is why he will play before Perry or Rawlings but if they find some form in the 2's and Watt is average he will be dropped and in trouble at the end of the year. Im not really concerned that he has been at the club for 9 years as Deni$ used him sparingly and he didnt develop, but he has been playing senior footy for 3 years now and he needs to show he can play AFL footy this year or he is goneski.
 
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My understanding is that Shannon Watt will play a role like Matthew Pavlich, a new generation of 190 - 195 cm midfielder, someone to help with Riewoldt and allow Hale and Mcintosh to dominate the backline dropping back
 

NeoBlaze

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benchpress71 said:
My understanding is that Shannon Watt will play a role like Matthew Pavlich, a new generation of 190 - 195 cm midfielder, someone to help with Riewoldt and allow Hale and Mcintosh to dominate the backline dropping back
slight problem with that....matthew pavlich (and kouta for that matter) have superb football brains.
 
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I still refer back to my previous quotes from Darren Crocker.

With Hay the FB, and Brown the 1st choice CHB, that leaves Watt as the third tall, which is fine if he's got a good football brain (like colbert and archer).

The question remains........ Does he?

I know he was good last year as one of our only FB's, but is he a smart footballer? I'm not convinced.......
 

Rooboy 96

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Devil Fish said:
Well, he was barely OK in the intra-club match but nothing special. Just found himself loose a few times & had the ball dished off to him. Really didn't beat an opponent in a contest all day which is my biggest criticism of him.
Roos made a career out of that... I for one would be delighted if Watt can too... :D :D
 

Rooboy 96

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spurs said:
Watt did have a good year last year and that is why he will play before Perry or Rawlings but if they find some form in the 2's and Watt is average he will be dropped and in trouble at the end of the year. Im not really concerned that he has been at the club for 9 years as Deni$ used him sparingly and he didnt develop, but he has been playing senior footy for 3 years now and he needs to show he can play AFL footy this year or he is goneski.

exactly... lets think he will continue his form from last year... :D :D
 

True_Roo

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Watt's 2nd half form last year was the best of his career. He was very good.
I think it'd be crazy to move him out of defense, considering we've spent the last 7 or 8 years (seems more like a 100 though) grooming him for defense. Maybe he will get the 3rd tall, probably more likely the 2nd tall though, with Hay taking the opposition's best tall forward.


His pace is good, but I don't think he's suitable for the midfield... maybe short stints, but who would he replace?

As for the forward line, I don't think he's a natural forward (after seeing him play stints up there in the VFL), but he's not been tried there for a while, so who knows.
 

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I must say I am a big fan of Shannon Watt. I believe he is underated as time and time again he is faced with the best forwards in the game. Yes, I agree he may not make the best decisions from time to time but I think the only time he gets severely beaten is when the midfield pressure up field is non existant. Take last years elimination final for example, the only reason Tredrea beat him is because he had no time to react to the leads as the ball was coming out of the midfield with such ease. I don't beleive the best of full backs would be able stop any forward when the midfield was playing the way we did that day.

I have also witnessed at times in the past when he has ran off his man as far as half forward and been burnt further up the ground. I think they should be using his pace and allow him to gain confidence by doing this. This will make him a far better player.

I look forward to watching him progress as player in 2006. Go Kangas
 

Devil Fish

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With the addition of Hay down back, hopefully this will allow Watt to play up the ground & with his run & mobility, I couldn't help but wonder whether Watt could become a Mark Roberts type player? Thoughts?
 

Falkroo

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Nothing against Shannon, but Roberts was a very quick thinker, and his skills were very good for guy his size. Don't think Watt's kicking skills are as good as MR at this stage.
 

gokangas

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Nice to see the fridge mentioned here again.

Slow, almost lumbering player but a great footy brain. Always seemed to be were the ball was - loved him.

Imagine if we could put his footy smarts into the head of a player with heaps of natural talent.

One of my favourites.........................
 

Arden

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Pretty much agree, the Fridge was one of the smartest players you will see on a footy field. Didnt have much athletic ability, but the fact he was able to go into the ruck at his size, and turn a game on its ear, speaks volumes about the man. Still my old man's favourite footballer.

I think Watt is the absolute opposite of Roberts. He has the athletic ability, but not the footy smarts. He panics when under pressure, and doesn't seem to naturally know where to be. Classic case of footballer vs athlete.

I still reckon we have another Bar-Fridge, Leigh Brown. He has the potential to be our Mr Fixit, like Roberts did during the 90's.
 

Z_K

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If we could somehow combine the two......

Roberts footy brain and general nous into a 6'4, muscle bound frame who runs like a whippet.

Better than Carey!!!!
 
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Arden said:
Didnt have much athletic ability
I actually think this is a bit harsh and was always the common consensus but if you watch closely he had the softest of hands and was able to control the wayward football like no other player.

His size made him appear to be the lumbering type but I recall a number of incidences where he outsprinted guys far more nimble than he. The 93 final against Hawthorn was a game in which he showed some amazing roving skills for someone of his height and build and kicked a real rovers goal from the pocket that day.
 

Arden

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HangarHarris said:
I actually think this is a bit harsh and was always the common consensus but if you watch closely he had the softest of hands and was able to control the wayward football like no other player.

His size made him appear to be the lumbering type but I recall a number of incidences where he outsprinted guys far more nimble than he. The 93 final against Hawthorn was a game in which he showed some amazing roving skills for someone of his height and build and kicked a real rovers goal from the pocket that day.
Yeah, probably a bit harsh from me. But was meant more around his ability to run and jump, ala Trent Croad or Shannon Watt. Still was a better athlete than probably 98% of people on the street, but when put in comparison with some of todays footballers, would be made to look pretty pedestrian. But it didn't matter with his game, because if he knew where the ball was going first, he could be there before a quicker guy.

And yes, his skills were underrated. Had awesome hands, was a thumping kick (torp in the wet against Carlton), and knew how to position his body to win the ball. And still has pretty good skills by the way, and wouldnt be too far above his playing weight.
 

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HangarHarris said:
His size made him appear to be the lumbering type but I recall a number of incidences where he outsprinted guys far more nimble than he. The 93 final against Hawthorn was a game in which he showed some amazing roving skills for someone of his height and build and kicked a real rovers goal from the pocket that day.
I also remember the legendary game against Essendon in '93 when Carey Longmire and McAdam when nuts. Roberts was sensational, showing genuine pace and agility several times.

Played Teal Cup in '82 with him and you honestly you wouldn't have given him a chance at AFL. What he has achieved in his career is awesome and testiment to what can be achieved if you want it badly enough. One of my all-time favourites.
 

Moti

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I wouldn't underestimate Watt's ability to take a step forward and play a different role. He hasn't been tested for a good period of time out of the defensive post so making assumptions based on that doesn't give us a great idea. People keep bringing up Sinclair as a possible wingman yet I see nothing in the way that he plays to think he has what it takes to be even an average wingman.

He is quick, powerful and has shown his willingness last season to compete in body contests. I for one am really excited to see him as a running back this year because I think he can add some genuine excitment to the list.
 

Jimmy's Hot Dogs

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The Fridge was also one of my favourite players in the 90's. Being able to come back from a reco in 15-16 weeks was a fair effort. That game where he barrelled a torp with the wet ball and stood there pumping the fists was a classic. I also remember a game (against Geelong?) on a night where he created lots of chances but kept kicking points.

I reckon Mailman might be on the right track with LeCras playing a similar role as the third tall forward like the Fridge or Doctor Sholl.

Shannon might still have to work hard and be more creative in the backline/wing without the responsibility of the key back post.
 
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