ManWithNoName said:
Because he doesn't look physically impeded in anyway? He did after ANZAC Day for a few weeks, but he looks fine now.
Besides, if you cross the white line you're fair game. Everyone knows that.
There's no reason why an elite midfielder would spend 50%+ of his gametime the last month and a bit playing forward unless he was injury affected. From what I remember he started up forward in every quarter on the weekend - considering how poor our midfield has been this season, that shouldn't be happening. One solitary 20+ possession game in the last month. I posted on here ages ago that I thought he was playing hurt; I can't remember exactly what game I first noticed it - it might have even been as far back as St.Kilda - but my non-Essendon supporting buddy even noticed how slow and lethargic he looked on field. He hasn't been himself this season bar Rounds 1, 2 & 3.
Not making excuses for him because I've said in the past that if you're on the field you're assumed fit and ready to go, but I think we need to cut him a bit of slack.
Everyone is entitled to a bad game or two but there is no possible way that a fully fit post-2008 Jobe Watson would record a measly 9 possessions in 88% gametime... in his 200th game no less. That's just not right. He's either severely hampered by some sort of injury or in the complete wrong head-space at the moment... either way he shouldn't be playing football.