Jack Watts

[Peck]

2 months ago we had no idea Watts was going to be dumped by Melbourne. We had been talking to Rockliff for 3 or 4 months and Motlop even longer. Getting Watts could be the master stroke but he fell into our hands some what rather than some sort of long term planning.

Harsh to say he fell into our laps I reckon. We saw an opportunity and pounced on it wooing him away from offers given by Geelong and Sydney. He didn’t come to us, we targetted him.

We were almost certainly going to target another tall forward, so I think it was a strategic choice. If we didn’t have the strategy to go for someone like him we wouldn’t have been able to execute so quickly.

 

[bomberclifford]

I knew we needed Watts before it was cool.

 

[OneGreatClub]

I knew we needed Watts before it was cool.

Was this before or after Janus

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Harsh to say he fell into our laps I reckon. We saw an opportunity and pounced on it wooing him away from offers given by Geelong and Sydney. He didn’t come to us, we targetted him.

We were almost certainly going to target another tall forward, so I think it was a strategic choice. If we didn’t have the strategy to go for someone like him we wouldn’t have been able to execute so quickly.

Which KPF free agent would we have targeted if Melbourne didn't dump Watts? And if none there who would we have tried to trade for?

 

[Interstater]

I knew we needed Watts before it was cool.

But Richmond won the premiership with only 1 tall forward.

 

[Interstater]

I've been searching for all my "Let's Back Jack" gear from 1974.

For those a bit younger than me, when John Cahill began as coach in 1974, the club adopted this as a slogan- possibly the first footy/marketing slogan ever.

Watts is the type of player who needs (and will probably thrive with) good support. He was constantly being criticized by a great deal of the Melbourne supporters and media.

So the slogan is very apt again, 44 years on.

Somewhere in the world there is still a white Datsun 180B with a Lets Back Jack sticker on the side window ...

Its time to bring back Lets Back Jack !!
Marketing Dept - please accept my order for 10 of them, I have Christmas shopping to do.

 

[OneGreatClub]

But Richmond won the premiership with only 1 tall forward.

Yes but their mosquito fleet are obviously more accurate than ours.

 

[Magus]

But Richmond won the premiership with only 1 tall forward.

They weren't the best team all year though

 

[Jonts]

I've been searching for all my "Let's Back Jack" gear from 1974.

For those a bit younger than me, when John Cahill began as coach in 1974, the club adopted this as a slogan- possibly the first footy/marketing slogan ever.

Watts is the type of player who needs (and will probably thrive with) good support. He was constantly being criticized by a great deal of the Melbourne supporters and media.

So the slogan is very apt again, 44 years on.

Would be keen for the club to re do some of the better stuff

 

[Zakk Wylde]

 

[Shaucob_Burjan]

Love it, taking the responsibility himself. We have too many players that would just pass on should be certain goals.

 

[Shaucob_Burjan]

I knew we needed Watts before it was cool.

I wanted him in 2013.

https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/trading-drafting.984289/page-20#post-27741024

That makes me his number 1 fan atm.

 

[Schulzenfest]

Love it, taking the responsibility himself. We have too many players that would just pass on should be certain goals.

If that was Jarman Impey there's about a 0% chance he would've taken that shot himself.

 

[Peck]

Which KPF free agent would we have targeted if Melbourne didn't dump Watts? And if none there who would we have tried to trade for?

I don’t know, I’m not privy to any inside info, but those who were seemed to think we had back up options.

 

[OneGreatClub]

I don’t know, I’m not privy to any inside info, but those who were seemed to think we had back up options.

Interesting that we are targeting 3 more experienced players.
So many flowing in and out.
Definite change of focus from previous years, especially last year where the water was stagnant at Port Adelaide.
Fresh blood, and experienced at that.
The excitement will come with that plus our young recruits from last year.
F45 Henley Beach will be a buzzing.
Our memberships too (thanks Richmond )
No excuses this year, none.

 

[crazee_peet]

I don't think that's the issue. It's more Janus acting as though he's some kind of freakin' genius who could see what the rest of us mere mortals couldn't.

Janus IS some kind of freakin' genius. Us mere mortals just cannot see it.

 

[xflamedancer]

They weren't the best team all year though

But they were the best team when it really mattered.

 

[Powerage]

Was this before or after Janus

Ok, have just finished rewatching Californication, and beg (Va)Janus to change change their post name to something else, or notch down their notoriety on here

 

[El_Scorcho]

Can I get a list of the people who argued that a mid/fwd was a more important recruit than KPF, because i'm not actually sure any of those people exist.

Some people might have said Motlop is a better player than Watts, but more important to our side moving forward? When? Where? Who said this?

 

[Lagooner]

Can I get a list of the people who argued that a mid/fwd was a more important recruit than KPF, because i'm not actually sure any of those people exist.

Some people might have said Motlop is a better player than Watts, but more important to our side moving forward? When? Where? Who said this?

When Rockliff was first rumored on here I poo pooed it citing greater needs for both a speedy skillful mid (Motlop) and a KPF (Watts). Then I watched us get schooled by West Coast's geriatric midfield.

Turns out we needed all three!

 

[El_Scorcho]

When Rockliff was first rumored on here I poo pooed it citing greater needs for both a speedy skillful mid (Motlop) and a KPF (Watts). Then I watched us get schooled by West Coast's geriatric midfield.

Turns out we needed all three!

I've definitely said lots of times that Rockliff is a non-damaging accumulator, and I fully believe that. However we don't need a damaging mid, we need someone who can find the ball when the rest of the midfield goes missing.

Watts is so obvious when we spent most of season trying Trengove as a KPF and our other 2nd KPF options are barely tried kids.

 

[Smithy7]

Geez you are slow .. I posted that video 10 days ago ...

 

[Magus]

Can I get a list of the people who argued that a mid/fwd was a more important recruit than KPF, because i'm not actually sure any of those people exist.

Some people might have said Motlop is a better player than Watts, but more important to our side moving forward? When? Where? Who said this?

"You see people? Show me people. There are no people!"

 

[OneGreatClub]

I've definitely said lots of times that Rockliff is a non-damaging accumulator, and I fully believe that. However we don't need a damaging mid, we need someone who can find the ball when the rest of the midfield goes missing.

Watts is so obvious when we spent most of season trying Trengove as a KPF and our other 2nd KPF options are barely tried kids.

Exactly, SPP can do plenty of damage all on his own

 

[Lagooner]

I've definitely said lots of times that Rockliff is a non-damaging accumulator, and I fully believe that. However we don't need a damaging mid, we need someone who can find the ball when the rest of the midfield goes missing.

Watts is so obvious when we spent most of season trying Trengove as a KPF and our other 2nd KPF options are barely tried kids.

It's been obvious for years. We were so close in 2016 when we first had Charlie on the scene, only for Schulz to join the long line of Port legends who prematurely turned to dust. Imagine that season with a fit Schulz and a WADA-less Ryder. Damn. It's such a shame that those three never got the chance to play together.

Anyway the Butcher-shaped hole has been filled now and I'm really excited about it. I think Jack's strengths complement Charlie's really well and I can see them becoming a huge problem for opposition defences.