Jack Watts

[Rojik of the Arctic]

If only we got rid of Jamar after 2 years. The dude showed nothing...

Honestly, I'm sick of people judging how Watts will turn out after 7 games. He's only older than Scully by 2 months, Gysberts by 3 months and Trengove by 6 months. He's young and under-developed and it will be a while before we see any consistency from him. At least he's shown some of the talent he posses against West Coast and Port. It's hardly a disgrace to struggle against Geelong and today was a bad one. Just give him some time!

Yep. If he had have gone #4 nobody would say anything but give him time. We need to wait (weight?) until he has ten more kgs or so, and we need to remember that we have a crap forward line ATM. Put Petterd and Jurrah in there and see what defender, and what sort of space he gets.

50 games and we should pass judgement otherwise we are just being stupid.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

Wow thanks for those enlightening statistics.

Yes, I was most intrigued to see this post repeated here by Damon, just over two hours after the exact same post was made on Bay 13. Obviously Damon is not at all trying to troll us, I don't know what could possibly make me doubt his motives in this regard

And as I pointed out to him on the Bay, those stats compare eminently well with the likes of Riewoldt, Brown and Fevola at the same stage.

I also asked him what his point was. Curiously enough, he never answered. Of course, I can't imagine why that could be...

 

[Damon_3388]

Yes, I was most intrigued to see this post repeated here by Damon, just over two hours after the exact same post was made on Bay 13. Obviously Damon is not at all trying to troll us, I don't know what could possibly make me doubt his motives in this regard

And as I pointed out to him on the Bay, those stats compare eminently well with the likes of Riewoldt, Brown and Fevola at the same stage.

I also asked him what his point was. Curiously enough, he never answered. Of course, I can't imagine why that could be...

As I just posted over on the Bay:

Just putting the stats out there for all to see. No ulterior motives intended, hence the "make of that what you will" disclaimer. If I had a judgement to make, I wouldn't be afraid to make it. But right now, the jury is well and truly out on Watts, as he is nowhere near being a finished product.

And yes, the likes of Riewoldt, Brown and Fevola were comparable at the same stage. I'm all for giving young players time, especially those that are underdeveloped physically, and I certainly don't expect Watts to be setting the world on fire at this stage, and others shouldn't either.

 

[stickman11]

As I just posted over on the Bay:

Just putting the stats out there for all to see. No ulterior motives intended, hence the "make of that what you will" disclaimer. If I had a judgement to make, I wouldn't be afraid to make it. But right now, the jury is well and truly out on Watts, as he is nowhere near being a finished product.

And yes, the likes of Riewoldt, Brown and Fevola were comparable at the same stage. I'm all for giving young players time, especially those that are underdeveloped physically, and I certainly don't expect Watts to be setting the world on fire at this stage, and others shouldn't either.

Long as he doesn't turn out to a be a soft **** like Cloke.

Does Collingwood have any decent tall forwards?

 

[AFL is Number One]

i would be good in 5 years FFS!! sick of idiots making excuses

Wow !...and you thought this reply up all by yourself?

Why, yes !.....in 5 years you too ,will also be good when you are in Grade 6.... and Mummy will be so pleased.

Now, why don't you go off and print out your message for Monday's "Show & Tell" ?...you never know, teacher might even give you a new set of crayons.

Good Girl!

 

[d33my]

Dunno what Bailey's plan with him is atm, but he seems to lead up the ground too far and too often, and as a result isn't around to provide a target when the ball comes into attack.

I think Bails has him playing up the ground because I don't know if he can outmuscle defenders yet. Playing up the ground also allows him to quickly run back if the ball is bombed in (a la the west coast game when he nearly had that mark on the goal line) which at this stage of his career is better than one v one and getting outmuscled. I'm looking forward to when we can plant him in the fifty though and our boys can just drop it on his head.

 

[stretcharmstrong]

Fitness
Foward line education
decent supply

Can't really comment on his performances until he has all 3.

His top line football coaching extends to 1 season of TAC and 1 and a bit with us, needs to be given the same time that gumbleton, franklin, kennedy etc have all had before he can be judged.

Excuses you say?

Clearly his kicking for goal is effortless, has shown good hands and can best opponents on leads, all good signs. His performances need no explanation, we clearly have bigger issues with our fowardline than jack watts right now

Exactly, good post. There have been one or two other posts saying similar things and they are just about the only sensible posts in the thread.

Honestly, I'm pretty new here, but I've seen this threat aboud 12 times and it just goes round and round and round in circles. EVERY TIME!

Why don't mods just lock 'em up?!? Mods?

 

[Naughton]

I don't see too much of this guy playing live, mostly on TV, but it looks like he's the sort of kid who could really do with a few seasons in the VFL. You can see the talent, but he just doesn't have the body yet to allow him to play the game the way he did as a junior.

In a way, it's a pity he went No.1 because the pressure's on him and his club for him to provide good output straight away. That first game against Collingwood last year was an absolute travesty and very poor management by the football dept.

Only Melbourne supporters who go every week would know how much progress he's making, but IMO it'd be good if he could be left the hell alone to develop for a couple of seasons in the twos.

And yeah, Nic Nat's name will ALWAYS come up. Like McLean/Gysberts... Rich/Yarran... bloody hell, you still hear the Pav/Fiora jibes. You'll have to just get used to it, until Watts has the body to play like a man, and not a boy in a man's game.

 

[Den11]

I think if you are going to critique Watts game today someone should also mention the amount of times he slipped over having to change direction after the midfielders kicked the ball to his disadvantage. Sitting at the game watching it unfold was one of the most frustrating things i have seen.

He would lead out break contact with the defender only for the ball to be kicked back in towards the defender. Unfortunately Bennell is good for one or two of these each match it seems.

I dont see the point of dropping back to the VFL. We want him to learn to play on these bigger bodies and the harder running that comes at the higher level. As long as he keeps getting a kick and a few goals I'll be happy to see left in their to develop.

 

[Tulip]

I think if you are going to critique Watts game today someone should also mention the amount of times he slipped over having to change direction after the midfielders kicked the ball to his disadvantage. Sitting at the game watching it unfold was one of the most frustrating things i have seen.

You could see it unfold? I admittedly struggled to see 5 metres ahead. Yep, I was one of the 10 people around the ground who didn't stand undercover for a half of footy

 

[Damon_3388]

Long as he doesn't turn out to a be a soft **** like Cloke.

Does Collingwood have any decent tall forwards?

Cloke is probably having his best year at AFL level, and I've never seen him be particularly soft on the field. He always goes when it's his turn, and is one of the better tacklers for a big man in the AFL.

Sure, none of our key forwards are stars, but none of yours are either. I mean, the commentators were still talking about Brad Miller as a developing player yesterday, but he's in his 9th year on an AFL list.

 

[davey_magik]

Miller a developing player?

 

[richskee]

Yep Watts is looking scared.

He's not backing himself due to fear of screwing up. He doesn't lead... AT ALL!

He looks slow and somewhat lazy although I think thats his style of running that makes him look disinterested. He must get caught and dumped with the ball at least 5 times a game.

He's not holding his spot so throw him down to Casey for the rest of the year imo.

Don't get me wrong he definitely has talent but he's not up to AFL standard. He needs to hit the gym and harden up.

He needs to get the littleb1tch out of him and take on the contests knowing that he can crash the pact etc.

 

[Fight For It]

I think Bails has him playing up the ground because I don't know if he can outmuscle defenders yet. Playing up the ground also allows him to quickly run back if the ball is bombed in (a la the west coast game when he nearly had that mark on the goal line) which at this stage of his career is better than one v one and getting outmuscled. I'm looking forward to when we can plant him in the fifty though and our boys can just drop it on his head.

I understand and agree with the idea of leading up and then back into the space, to beat the zone.

The problem is that Watt's seems to constantly lead too far, as in past the centre line and right up to the contest, and I think for the moment he doesn't then have the fitness to get all the way back to the forward line in time for a hurried forward thrust by the midfield.

Also it seems like this might be what Beamer said to the media - something about how the forwards were coming up to them too much and that it would be looked at during the week

 

[Faz 2000]

If you guys think he's a bust and don't want him, ship him our way! We'll give you... Brock McLean?

He will be good. He's not there yet, but gee... AWFUL conditions for a key forward yesterday, especially a skinny one. Walker (who started on him) is superfit, strong, quick and trying to establish his AFL career before his shoulders end it. He stitched Watts up with that fitness and a bit of know-how. But it's hardly time to throw Watts under a bus.

Guys like Miller have no excuses for being useless. Watts does.

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

Just putting the stats out there for all to see. No ulterior motives intended, hence the "make of that what you will" disclaimer. If I had a judgement to make, I wouldn't be afraid to make it. But right now, the jury is well and truly out on Watts, as he is nowhere near being a finished product.

Fair enough there, I was prob a bit harsh with the sarcasm before

Top post about Dunn on the Bay just then by the way - like I said there, that's what so many of us Demons have been saying for ages!

 

[Damon_3388]

Miller a developing player?

Just repeating thoughts that were expressed by Luke Darcy yesterday. Clearly Miller is about 3 seasons past being a developing player, and should be in the absolute prime of his football career right now.

Fair enough there, I was prob a bit harsh with the sarcasm before

Top post about Dunn on the Bay just then by the way - like I said there, that's what so many of us Demons have been saying for ages!

To be honest, it's not something I noticed entirely on my own, and it's not exactly a long-standing idea of mine either. A few weeks back when Dunn was having a set shot at goal (can't remember which game it was), a commentator mentioned that he was originally recruited as a key forward. This made me raise an eyebrow, as he always gets used as either a defensive forward or midfield tagger as far as I know. I also wasn't aware that he's actually 192cm and 93kg. If he's being used as a key forward at VFL level, and having some success at it (8 goals is nothing to sneeze at regardless of the level of football), while the likes of Brad Miller and/or Jack Watts are struggling at AFL level, it'd only be logical to give him a run.

By the way, how far off is Liam Jurrah from making an AFL return?

 

[Wonaeamirri33]

Estimated return is around Round 14, apparently, but I don't know with any real certainty mate...

 

[Demon 16]

I think Bails has him playing up the ground because I don't know if he can outmuscle defenders yet. Playing up the ground also allows him to quickly run back if the ball is bombed in (a la the west coast game when he nearly had that mark on the goal line) which at this stage of his career is better than one v one and getting outmuscled. I'm looking forward to when we can plant him in the fifty though and our boys can just drop it on his head.

Good post.

 

[Spirit of 26]

Watts is still growing into his body. That's why he looks at times to have the coordination of a new born giraffe and can explain why he looks slow out on the ground.

 

[eskimo]

I still think, even being slightly undersized, he should be given the forward pretty much to himself. He is quick for his size, and even though he can't outmuscle an opponent, he can beat the big bear style defender for pace, and this is something we should exploit. If he can get some decent delivery to where he is actually leading, instead of 5 metres behind him, he could still perform reasonably well. If we then have the likes on Bennell and Aussie and Jetta pushing back to the contest, we could have our own little midget brigade kicking us a winning score.

Our forward structure has been questionable to years. Our forwards seem to start from 30 and lead from there. We need to lead from deep and be taking marks at 30 metres out. At the moment our forwards end up marking at 50-55, and then we still need another kick into the forward, which by that time is usally crowded with opposition players.


And to the person who asked, our forward coach is Josh Mahoney. No wonder our forward structure is crap, Mahoney only knows how to set it up to advantage the defenders.

 

[canberra_dee]

There is huge pressure in being the no 1 draft pick, and unfortunately Nic and Rich have had far better 2009 than Watts, calling our pick into question.

Immediate impact does not translate to long term viability. Watts should be given the chance to develop, and who knows - over time he might well justify why he was the no 1 pick.