Jack Watts - A different perspective.

[Crimson Azure]

There is no doubt in my mind that in close he is very good under pressure because he has no option but to do the instinctual thing.

No doubt he is good in that situation, his basketball skills have prepared him well to act on instinct in traffic & he seems to be able to see where others will try to block his attempt to discharge the ball. It's more when he has time he spends a little too long weighing up his options because it’s no longer instinct based & he looks to be thinking his way through the process.

That can be a great thing but not when we are on a break from defence & he has taken the ball on the HBF or wing, that’s when he needs to take on the game a little more. Everyone raves about his speed & agility, take a risk, assess his options on the move & use the speed he has to get himself out of trouble if he can't find an option.

 

[THE STING2]

You guys just need patience.

Have a look at Reid and Dawes who were 1st and 2nd round picks in 2006.

They basically spent their first 3 years at the club developing in the VFL, only playing a total of 8 AFL games each from '07-'09. Then they had their breakout years in their 4th season playing 15-17 games each.

Who do you really barrack for? That makes too much sense for a Collingwood supporter.

 

[theboxmike]

Essendon hid Hurley at full back, paying off the Northern Knights knowing we were after a full forward.

Essendon are known for this. They done it with Heppell, they spread a rumour that he had OP but he hasn't missed a game and a while ago we wanted to look at this unknown who ended up never making it but we weren't allowed because he said he was going to Essendon before the draft. We also know how dodgy the Thompson debacle was.

That's my conspiracy theory, Essendon should be investigated.

Seriously guys keep the faith, jack has all the makings of a great AFL player. He has the ability to do it. I use to know jack a little bit (through Basketball) and he's a fantastic athlete and works very hard at his game. I know at the time i would of taken him over Hurley in the 08 draft. (Both will be great though)

 

[goodoldcats]

I'd compare him to varcoe (moreso earlier in his career). All the talent in the world just to scared to use it

 

[morebeer]

Essendon hid Hurley at full back, paying off the Northern Knights knowing we were after a full forward.

Essendon are known for this. They done it with Heppell, they spread a rumour that he had OP but he hasn't missed a game and a while ago we wanted to look at this unknown who ended up never making it but we weren't allowed because he said he was going to Essendon before the draft. We also know how dodgy the Thompson debacle was.

That's my conspiracy theory, Essendon should be investigated.

Hurls played CHF for the Knights. Watts was considered the better prospect in an obviously stacked year of talls for Vic metro that year.

They will both be guns, just need a bit of patience with Jack.

 

[Deefolt]

Hurls played CHF for the Knights. Watts was considered the better prospect in an obviously stacked year of talls for Vic metro that year.

They will both be guns, just need a bit of patience with Jack.

Yeah Collingwood should be looked at closer, firstly with Jolly then with Luke Ball getting a pay cut now, come the hell on.

 

[MARC_]

Let's be honest, in terms of skill and athletic ability alone, there's no contest, Watts makes Hurley look pretty average. Well, maybe footskills aside, as they are both very good off both sides of their body, with Hurley the longer kick, and Watts the more accurate one.

Sorry, Hurley is one of our most accurate field kicks. Don't know about Watts, but Hurley can deliver a kick to a chest 50, 40 meters out.

 

[BrownPearHookers]

1 more thing to add about Heppell, Bruce Reid was Heppell doctor treating him, Bruce Reid is Essendons doctor, That is the best part.

Back on topic

Watts Needs better coaching also, But I will get to that soon.

How would you be if you had Hurley and Watts in your forward line?
They are just complete opposites, What Hurley does well, Watts strugles with, vise versa.
Ryder is more the Watts type of forward, really started to show good signs forward once Hurley entered the scene, Watts has not got a Hurley type of player around him, It would only make his job easier.
Dare I say, the Gumbletons, Watts, Stewart (Port) types of players struggle alot more without a big bodied forward like Hurley.
Another player Essendon have persisted with is Gumby, and only since we have our new coaching group, Hird, Thompson and co, he started to look like he could kick a bag, only at Bendigo with 7 scoring shots but got injured sadly. Also the difference in Ryder has been huge. last year Gumby and Ryder never looked likely to kick more then 2 or 3 goals.
Just teaching players how to do things properly, giving them confidence ect. Coaches have made all the difference.
I am sure if Watts was coached by a Roos, Thompson or Malthouse he will have a bigger chance of being a star.

Maybe just maybe Garry Lyon should mentor him for a little while, could be the best thing for you guys.

 

[festa1234]

i would love lyon or neitz or even shwarz to put there hand up and say i will come to the club once or twice a week and spend some time with watts might do him the world of good

 

[Deefolt]

Sorry, Hurley is one of our most accurate field kicks. Don't know about Watts, but Hurley can deliver a kick to a chest 50, 40 meters out.

He has done it before and he prob has leg speed on Hurley but consistenty by themselves Hurley is better, at the time it was Hurley or Watts, and we clearly chose leg speed, I hope that doesnt backfire when we need to go for a tilt.

 

[Deefolt]

1 more thing to add about Heppell, Bruce Reid was Heppell doctor treating him, Bruce Reid is Essendons doctor, That is the best part.

Back on topic

Watts Needs better coaching also, But I will get to that soon.

How would you be if you had Hurley and Watts in your forward line?
They are just complete opposites, What Hurley does well, Watts strugles with, vise versa.
Ryder is more the Watts type of forward, really started to show good signs forward once Hurley entered the scene, Watts has not got a Hurley type of player around him, It would only make his job easier.
Dare I say, the Gumbletons, Watts, Stewart (Port) types of players struggle alot more without a big bodied forward like Hurley.
Another player Essendon have persisted with is Gumby, and only since we have our new coaching group, Hird, Thompson and co, he started to look like he could kick a bag, only at Bendigo with 7 scoring shots but got injured sadly. Also the difference in Ryder has been huge. last year Gumby and Ryder never looked likely to kick more then 2 or 3 goals.
Just teaching players how to do things properly, giving them confidence ect. Coaches have made all the difference.
I am sure if Watts was coached by a Roos, Thompson or Malthouse he will have a bigger chance of being a star.

Maybe just maybe Garry Lyon should mentor him for a little while, could be the best thing for you guys.

Garry Lyon always seems to be down there and the fact we have Viney back, Jamar seems to have improved since Jimmy has been down there, must be doing wonders the club is in the right direction.
Ox would prob be down there with guns on if you give him a chance, White prob would be if Meese wasnt there... via correspondence in GC going by his twitter haha

 

[Demon 16]

The article should be about Essendons excellent decision on Hurley - as he is exceeding expectations already. 15/16 clubs rated Watts number 1 I have heard - but not many had Hurley as high as 5.

 

[Demon 16]

Watts needs 2 main things imo;

Strength/Toughness - this will come as he matures. Get him in the gym and the boxing rig.

Intensity - he needs to work at this very hard from now. If it comes he will be an elite player.

 

[Topkent]

The article should be about Essendons excellent decision on Hurley - as he is exceeding expectations already. 15/16 clubs rated Watts number 1 I have heard - but not many had Hurley as high as 5.

why not start a thread about james frawley vs jack riewoldt at pick 12-13 in the same draft...

the future star fb of the comp and the future ff star of the comp

lets face it.. jack watts has some serious things he needs to work on...
he clearly has the talent to make it to the elite level, but whether he has the mental capacity remains to be seen.. does he WANT the footy all the time.. does he want the pressure of being one out in the square.. does he want to be melbournes go to target.. does he want to win a game and carry the side on his own back...
that will be the difference between him being riewoldt or koschitzke

 

[Beard of Nicko]

Yeah, it's easy for Robbo to sit back and make idiotic 'who would you want?' articles, but I can guarantee that he would've picked Watts on draft day.

Let's be honest, in terms of skill and athletic ability alone, there's no contest, Watts makes Hurley look pretty average. Well, maybe footskills aside, as they are both very good off both sides of their body, with Hurley the longer kick, and Watts the more accurate one.

Hurley's major advantages, at this point, come pretty much from his size and his mental attributes.

On the point being made about his teammates not using him, I actually agree. Whilst watching the Hawks game from the higher levels, I saw Watts make some great runs to space only to be ignored. The issue is that, when you have the likes of Jones and Moloney in the midfield who not only get first hands on the ball, but also know no other way than to bomb the ball long, then subtle leads out to space on the flanks are often going to be ignored. For this reason, I think that until the likes of Scully and Trengove are strong and experienced enough to form the core of our midfield, our forward line will struggle, especially when you consider that they're, for the most part, the types who will beat their opponents with speed and guile, rather than with strength.

Great post. Completely agree with moloney and jones bombing the ball. Jurrah and watts are silk. We will be so good in a year and a bit. Quality midfield usage will make the most of the superb talent we have drafted up forward.

 

[table tennis]

Sorry for the intrude.

Whilst im thrilled with Hurley and understand the frustration about watts (see gumbleton) .
Melbourne were after a key forward, and Hurley was recruited as a key back that can go forward.

Of course Twenty/twenty hindsight. But stick with jack he will be good.

 

[eskimo]

David Neitz goes down to the club regularly to help with the forwards.

Maybe we should get him as our permanent forward coach and get rid of Mahoney. I could never understand how he is a forward coach!

 

[The Professor]

I am sure if Watts was coached by a Roos, Thompson or Malthouse he will have a bigger chance of being a star.

Could be.

Most MFC fans can see the kid dripping with talent. He has shown little pieces here and there but hasn't put it all together.

Hurley looks confident, Watts looks like he's worried about making mistakes.

The penny will drop but i really do wonder if it would be quicker with a Malthouse.