Jack Watts

[Adz2332]

Like it or not, rightly or wrongly, Watts is a role model for many young people. At a time when drug use among our youth is becoming a serious health and social issue a role model openly being filmed simulating taking a narcotic is just purely idiotic. The argument "he was doing nothing illegal" is also a pretty flimsy argument here - if, as a society, our standard for what is acceptable behavior is the legality or illegality of an action we are in serious trouble. There are plenty of things that are not illegal but pretty reprehensible regardless. Watts is almost 28 years old; hardly a kid anymore. His actions and decision making was immature and sophomoric at best. He has now come out and apologized for his actions and we should be willing to give him another chance - however he should be judged by his actions not just his words. If he is truly contrite he needs to stop being an dick and start acting like an adult, make amends (doing some volunteer work with drug effected kids or being an ambassador against drugs would be a good start), repay the faith the club and his employer has placed in him and start preparing for life after football because the way he's currently heading that time may come sooner than he thinks.

incoming fun police....
non issue. move on

 

[Portmagpies36]

What was Tredders doing at 27? Gray?

It is old enough to be professional in the AFL or at least a good enough player where you can get away with being a party boy. Not coming off a season where you were dropped and barely scraped in to the team in BnF.

Sent from mTalk

Correct, Warren Tredrea was too busy trying to be the best footballer he could be on and off the field , giving everything he could to win games for his beloved Port Adelaide.
Can't say the same for the current lot.

 

[PA88]

I'm upset about Watts having that much fun after a crap season with a team and coach that are crap but sell to us that they're not. Although even after a crap season Watts is entitled to having fun.

The only issue I have is the snorting of anything without medical reason then doing it in a social gathering and that the substance isn't distributed by a pharmacy. I wouldn't trust it for reasons of health and career and in his state of mind would he have been checking it out to be sure. I would be pissed if it turned out to be contaminated that ruined him and in turn denied us a player this season.

Otherwise he's not done a lot to warrant punishment.

 

[edgie]

You just moved the goalposts. His texts are a separate discussion and no one brought up his age where that stuff is concerned.

He's still Jack Watts isn't he? He's still doing the same stupid shit.

I don't look at anything in isolation. It is all part of a bigger picture.

This on its own is fine, but we know it isn't on its own, it's not Jack just having fun in the off season. We know it's just the tip of the iceberg.

 

[finbarr]

I know that.

I more concerned regarding his texts leaks that showed what his behaviour was like in season, and while he wasn't single either. Definite violation of no dickheads.

But he's young though, so hey, live and learn right?

Sent from mTalk

Pardon my query, but what is this “no dickheads” business? Is this a club policy? “Dickhead” is a pretty subjective judgement to make. I think Chad Cornes is a dickhead, and he’s a senior mentoring figure at the club.

 

[Tredz]

Tredders isn't a partier. Pretty well known that he was extremely straight cut. Also a family man.

Gray I have no idea but he's also not single.

Who knows what other 27 year olds do away from prying eyes?

You need to remember that he didn't break any laws.

I mean geez, there was a whole group of Crows players there too, do you reckon they weren't drinking?

Its not really germane to the discussion what "other 27 year olds do". We're talking about what a player of the Port Adelaide Football Club has done. A player who represents not only the club, but someone who is rightly or wrongly, fairly or unfairly is a role-model for many young people. Character and integrity means doing the right thing even when no-one is watching.

As mentioned in my previous post the "he didn't break any laws" argument is a weak one. The law sets the lowest bar for social behavior not the standard (and even then, many times it doesn't even reach the lowest bar).

Not really relevant to the discussion whether "a whole group of Crows players [were] there too" and whether they were drinking or not. The age old adage of; "if others do stupid stuff does that mean you need to do it too?" comes to mind.

That being said - was it a hanging offense? Of course not! Was it stupid? definitely. Even Watts himself says it was a stupid thing to do and he is embarrassed by it. Of course there will be those who continue to say he did nothing wrong, that simulating the taking of a narcotic in a public forum is now acceptable behavior and cheer him on as a youngster just having a good time. I don't subscribe to that view and am expressing it accordingly.

 

[PatientMental]

Pardon my query, but what is this “no dickheads” business? Is this a club policy? “Dickhead” is a pretty subjective judgement to make. I think Chad Cornes is a dickhead, and he’s a senior mentoring figure at the club.

For some reason people expect other clubs adopted the 2000s Sydney "No dickheads" mantra

But with the players and their off field antics, it is quite obvious there is no such policy at Port.

 

[finbarr]

He's still Jack Watts isn't he? He's still doing the same stupid shit.

I don't look at anything in isolation. It is all part of a bigger picture.

This on its own is fine, but we know it isn't on its own, it's not Jack just having fun in the off season. We know it's just the tip of the iceberg.

For all you know these could be his two only indescretions in a decade long career. Who knows what else he’s done.

I’m old enough to know that Jack Watts is a veritable angel when compared to some players who’ve represented this club over many decades. Oh, if mobile phones were around in the 1970’s and 80’s.

 

[edgie]

Pardon my query, but what is this “no dickheads” business? Is this a club policy? “Dickhead” is a pretty subjective judgement to make. I think Chad Cornes is a dickhead, and he’s a senior mentoring figure at the club.

To be honest I don't really know if it is a thing we do at Port but I've seen others mention it as a definite thing we do so I'm just going with that.

Anybody more in the know care to confirm/refute?

All I want is for us to set strong consistent standards. Dickhead or not, doesn't matter. We aren't coming across as a professional committed unit right now. IF there is indeed such a character policy then it is clear it's another fail. Coaches should come under fire too. Chad isn't immune if his personality isn't helping get the best out of everyone.

 

[The Rubber Man]

Correct, Warren Tredrea was too busy trying to be the best footballer he could be on and off the field , giving everything he could to win games for his beloved Port Adelaide.
Can't say the same for the current lot.

wow
yeah thats a depressing but probably an accurate thought... except for a few.

 

[edgie]

For all you know these could be his two only indescretions in a decade long career. Who knows what else he’s done.

I’m old enough to know that Jack Watts is a veritable angel when compared to some players who’ve represented this club over many decades. Oh, if mobile phones were around in the 1970’s and 80’s.

Again, not denying, but those guys in the 70s and 80s were winning flags... shit, even just winning a final or two here and there. Winning changes everything. Times change too.

They may be he's only indiscretions, but I don't know of any others by any other players, so I no point in me having a melt over those. Actually I was unhappy with Ryder and Krakouer now I remember.

 

[TeeKray]

watching that footage you could be excused for thinking he's 18. Melbourne never raised this boy and neither have we that's why he's almost 30 and obsessed with chemicals and boobies.

I believe he also enjoys swimming.

 

[Magus]

He's still Jack Watts isn't he? He's still doing the same stupid shit.

I don't look at anything in isolation. It is all part of a bigger picture.

This on its own is fine, but we know it isn't on its own, it's not Jack just having fun in the off season. We know it's just the tip of the iceberg.

You've deviated quite far from what your original post was all about. If you had originally said "Jack Watts is a dickhead and not dedicated to being the best he can be" then I wouldn't have questioned you.

Your first post was that people make excuses for Jack because he's young, when he actually isn't that young. To that I disagree.

 

[TeeKray]

For some reason people expect other clubs adopted the 2000s Sydney "No dickheads" mantra

But with the players and their off field antics, it is quite obvious there is no such policy at Port.

Funny thing is, until a couple of years ago, you could probably count on one hand the number of (reported) off field incidents involving Port players pretty much ever. Since then, it seems like we're working non stop to put out little off field spot fires. Whether this is due to increasing media focus/the rise of social media or our culture has devolved, who knows.

 

[PatientMental]

Problem for Jack, is that here are his career highlights:

Being pick 1
Failing as a pick 1
Bleaching his hair once
Getting traded because he was a failure with questionable off field issues
Having text messages referencing swimming, ****, and drugs leaked.
Having a video of him snorting off of a girls breasts and motor-boating them leaked.

There are players who never debuted with a better list of highlights than he has.

 

[Magus]

Its not really germane to the discussion what "other 27 year olds do". We're talking about what a player of the Port Adelaide Football Club has done. A player who represents not only the club, but someone who is rightly or wrongly, fairly or unfairly is a role-model for many young people. Character and integrity means doing the right thing even when no-one is watching.

As mentioned in my previous post the "he didn't break any laws" argument is a weak one. The law sets the lowest bar for social behavior not the standard (and even then, many times it doesn't even reach the lowest bar).

Not really relevant to the discussion whether "a whole group of Crows players [were] there too" and whether they were drinking or not. The age old adage of; "if others do stupid stuff does that mean you need to do it too?" comes to mind.

That being said - was it a hanging offense? Of course not! Was it stupid? definitely. Even Watts himself says it was a stupid thing to do and he is embarrassed by it. Of course there will be those who continue to say he did nothing wrong, that simulating the taking of a narcotic in a public forum is now acceptable behavior and cheer him on as a youngster just having a good time. I don't subscribe to that view and am expressing it accordingly.

You're overly obsessed with the idea that he was simulating drug taking.

The substance that he snorted is very common at this festival and the only way to take it is up the nose. The only thing extra that Jack did was add boobs to the equation.

Yes he's stupid for doing it on film but it's not his fault that kids are seeing it. He didn't distribute and broadcast the event, the news did. Blame them for insinuating drug use.

 

[edgie]

You've deviated quite far from what your original post was all about. If you had originally said "Jack Watts is a dickhead and not dedicated to being the best he can be" then I wouldn't have questioned you.

Your first post was that people make excuses for Jack because he's young, when he actually isn't that young. To that I disagree.

Then we agree to disagree that at his age he should be knowing better. Drafted at 18. He's more than likely over half way in to his professional career.

 

[Contested Marx]

 

[PatientMental]

I will be upset if someone in the cheer squad doesn't have a "Jack city, Jack rack city" banner this year.

 

[portly]

Like it or not, rightly or wrongly, Watts is a role model for many young people. At a time when drug use among our youth is becoming a serious health and social issue a role model openly being filmed simulating taking a narcotic is just purely idiotic. The argument "he was doing nothing illegal" is also a pretty flimsy argument here - if, as a society, our standard for what is acceptable behavior is the legality or illegality of an action we are in serious trouble. There are plenty of things that are not illegal but pretty reprehensible regardless. Watts is almost 28 years old; hardly a kid anymore. His actions and decision making was immature and sophomoric at best. He has now come out and apologized for his actions and we should be willing to give him another chance - however he should be judged by his actions not just his words. If he is truly contrite he needs to stop being an dick and start acting like an adult, make amends (doing some volunteer work with drug effected kids or being an ambassador against drugs would be a good start), repay the faith the club and his employer has placed in him and start preparing for life after football because the way he's currently heading that time may come sooner than he thinks.

Yes, having had some involvement in picking up the pieces after drugs and suicides I have been upset that many Port supporters think Jack did nothing wrong. But then I looked around and discovered that all club youngsters felt the same, so at least it isn't just my club.

Seems to be more an overall society thing, though it certainly isn't as generally accepted as it might be on these boards. Just because many seemingly agree that drugs are OK doesn't make it true.

It wasn't just a bad look. Any acceptance that a video of someone snorting a white powder is perhaps, in the very youngs' eyes, condoning drugs.

A test I use for my own behaviour is "would my mother think this is OK?".

No it wasn't and at best one can say that Jack has been immature.

 

[Boxx]

Problem for Jack, is that here are his career highlights:

Being pick 1
Failing as a pick 1
Bleaching his hair once
Getting traded because he was a failure with questionable off field issues
Having text messages referencing swimming, ****, and drugs leaked.
Having a video of him snorting off of a girls breasts and motor-boating them leaked.

There are players who never debuted with a better list of highlights than he has.

Mate, he slotted 6 against the cows in a preseason game last year...

 

[DaTBird187]

Funny thing is, until a couple of years ago, you could probably count on one hand the number of (reported) off field incidents involving Port players pretty much ever. Since then, it seems like we're working non stop to put out little off field spot fires. Whether this is due to increasing media focus/the rise of social media or our culture has devolved, who knows.

I'd say it is a combination of a vulturous tabloid media, social media becoming actual news, every person having a mobile phone and lastly people having really shit friends.

Some of the stuff I and/or my friends used to get up to. I'd be ****ing pissed if someone decided it would be fun to record it and post it on social media.

What a ****ing invasion of privacy.

People like Jack and Shane Mumford have a right to be very angry indeed.

A persons home is not even private anymore.

 

[PatientMental]

Mate, he slotted 6 against the cows in a preseason game last year...

Up there with "Jack managed to tie his shoes by himself one time"

 

[Boxx]

Up there with "Jack managed to tie his shoes by himself one time"

Well... add them to your list - don’t sell the poor bastard short!

 

[Magus]

Then we agree to disagree that at his age he should be knowing better. Drafted at 18. He's more than likely over half way in to his professional career.

He's old enough to know he should be careful doing anything that looks bad in front of a camera.

Drinking and acting up when you're 27 is not abnormal though, for any AFL player. That was my only point.

Let me know when Jack fails a drug test and I'll want his head too. Til then let's stop acting holier than thou.