Fergus Watts

[Macca19]

The reason St Kilda 'may' be interested in him is because his father just joined them in a high placed official role, which i cant remember what it is off the top of my head.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Geez some people ar a bit bloody harsh on him. Hes only 19 and has only had one year in the AFL system. At the same stage and age, Tredrea had only played the one AFL game for two kicks and two handballs, broke his hand then spent the rest of the year playing average football in the SANFL.

My point? Dont expect miracles from physically under developed teenage key forwards as it just isnt gonna happen. If he hasnt improved by the end of next year then id start to worry

Someone who makes sense as per usual

 

[Stiffy_18]

The reason St Kilda 'may' be interested in him is because his father just joined them in a high placed official role, which i cant remember what it is off the top of my head.

His old man was a board member a few years ago and is now a CEO of the club.

 

[macca23]

Geez some people ar a bit bloody harsh on him. Hes only 19 and has only had one year in the AFL system. At the same stage and age, Tredrea had only played the one AFL game for two kicks and two handballs, broke his hand then spent the rest of the year playing average football in the SANFL.

My point? Dont expect miracles from physically under developed teenage key forwards as it just isnt gonna happen. If he hasnt improved by the end of next year then id start to worry

Spot on. He's a good year or more away even without any more injury.

He was always a 2 to 3 year proposition.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Spot on. He's a good year or more away even without any more injury.

He was always a 2 to 3 year proposition.

I think the problem with a lot of supporters is that they automatically assume that drafted youngsters should come straight in and be a key player. That is simply unrealistic. Just because a kid has some big wraps on him doesn't neccessarily mean he is a ready made player.

Talls generally take at least 3 years to get themselves to AFL level and another couple of years before they start playing key role in the side. Thats around the age of 22-23. Give the lad some time. I know my opinion of him hasn't change since last year. Both of us have seen him U18s Carnival and I remember both of us commenting how impressed we were with him. Little did we know that we would be lucky enough to land him come draft time.

He does need to work on a couple of things but honestly, let the kid settle. He is still our best key forward prospect.

You wait and see, this time next year we will be hearing similar things about Meesen and Van Berlo.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Geez some people ar a bit bloody harsh on him. Hes only 19 and has only had one year in the AFL system. At the same stage and age, Tredrea had only played the one AFL game for two kicks and two handballs, broke his hand then spent the rest of the year playing average football in the SANFL.

My point? Dont expect miracles from physically under developed teenage key forwards as it just isnt gonna happen. If he hasnt improved by the end of next year then id start to worry

Great comment

 

[macca23]

I think the problem with a lot of supporters is that they automatically assume that drafted youngsters should come straight in and be a key player. That is simply unrealistic. Just because a kid has some big wraps on him doesn't neccessarily mean he is a ready made player.

Talls generally take at least 3 years to get themselves to AFL level and another couple of years before they start playing key role in the side. Thats around the age of 22-23. Give the lad some time. I know my opinion of him hasn't change since last year. Both of us have seen him U18s Carnival and I remember both of us commenting how impressed we were with him. Little did we know that we would be lucky enough to land him come draft time.

He does need to work on a couple of things but honestly, let the kid settle. He is still our best key forward prospect.

You wait and see, this time next year we will be hearing similar things about Meesen and Van Berlo.

Agree with everything but this one Stiffy.

This time next year we'll be starting to sing his praises. Our most exciting draftee for many a year IMO.

Big wraps I know, but give him this year to settle in and adjust to a higher level of footy and he'll take off IMO.

The kid's got it.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Agree with everything but this one Stiffy.

This time next year we'll be starting to sing his praises. Our most exciting draftee for many a year IMO.

Big wraps I know, but give him this year to settle in and adjust to a higher level of footy and he'll take off IMO.

The kid's got it.

Big call Macca, and big jump from U18 - many a star in the U18 has failed at the faster paced higher level.

Still a way to go IMO b4 we can make an accurate call - but I guess you like the odd flutter

 

[Stiffy_18]

Agree with everything but this one Stiffy.

This time next year we'll be starting to sing his praises. Our most exciting draftee for many a year IMO.

Big wraps I know, but give him this year to settle in and adjust to a higher level of footy and he'll take off IMO.

The kid's got it.

I don't think VB will play 22 games this year and going by the hype a lot of people are expecting this.

Quite simply he is a boy in men's league and as the season goes on he will feel it more and more. He has a boy's body playing against big bodied mature men week in week out. Eventually he will run out of steam. Not because he doesn't have the aerobic capacity (quite to the contrary) but because his body is not ready enoughf or him to play as much AFL footy as some people are expecting.

I am sure in time he will be a gun but not this year and people's expectations of the lad are too high so naturally he won't reach them this year and there will be supporters out there that will be disappointed.

 

[jc67]

Agree with everything but this one Stiffy.

This time next year we'll be starting to sing his praises. Our most exciting draftee for many a year IMO.

Big wraps I know, but give him this year to settle in and adjust to a higher level of footy and he'll take off IMO.

The kid's got it.

Well put macca I agree,

Does anybody else of my vintage see any Peter Motley in this kid? the way he positions himself and attacks. (not the hair )

 

[macca23]

Big call Macca, and big jump from U18 - many a star in the U18 has failed at the faster paced higher level.

Still a way to go IMO b4 we can make an accurate call - but I guess you like the odd flutter

Oh yes I do.

Been doing very nicely too lately, thankyou.

Back to Van Berlo, I love seeing new kids on the AFL block that have a special quality, no matter which team they play for. Balance, poise, disposal and a football brain are some of the pre-requisites to be in this group, and I can see it in Van Berlo.

All he needs is time and weight.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Oh yes I do.

Been doing very nicely too lately, thankyou.

Back to Van Berlo, I love seeing new kids on the AFL block that have a special quality, no matter which team they play for. Balance, poise, disposal and a football brain are some of the pre-requisites to be in this group, and I can see it in Van Berlo.

All he needs is time and weight.

Agreed, a bit easier to make a call on a small (although he's 6' I think) but he seems to have all the attributes, although can't comment yet on his marking prowess.

I disagree that he will fade as the season progresses, he appears to have such good physical condition that I doubt the fatigue issue will get raised.

 

[The Toolman]

Folks, let's forget about Fergus for the time being. He is a big skinny kid with some potential. The only way he would play AFL this year is if the Crows sustain a massive injury toll to their key and not so key forwards or if Fergus starts dominating the SANFL week in week out. Other than that, Fergus is at least a year away from playing AFL!

 

[pext]

My 2 cents.

Generally speaking, a tall who was a first round draft pick would be expected to be ready to play AFL in year two (for freaks like Riewoldt and Carey, year one). With Fergus falling foul of OP one would expect his progress to be held back a little.

I don't think that it is unreasonable to expect him to play some footy off the bench in the second half of the season and to contribute. That said, it is unreasonable to expect him to stand out until 2006 when he should be at about 95kg.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

My 2 cents.

Generally speaking, a tall who was a first round draft pick would be expected to be ready to play AFL in year two (for freaks like Riewoldt and Carey, year one). With Fergus falling foul of OP one would expect his progress to be held back a little.

I don't think that it is unreasonable to expect him to play some footy off the bench in the second half of the season and to contribute. That said, it is unreasonable to expect him to stand out until 2006 when he should be at about 95kg.

Thats fair comment, don't disagree at all.