Very interesting comments RE Watson by Rhino.If true then Austin should get the gig.Amazing info on Watson.Its hard to believe a young guy given an oppurtunity of a lifetime is not putting in...........CAZZ,please tell me its not true.

We were bad yesterday but not as bad as against the Dogs last week.

I don't think Didak will get back in.

cant understand the talk of Hendo going forward as he has proved hopeless up there.He is finding his feet in the backline and gaining confidence.Why move him forward and undoe all that good work.I cant see anyone on our list at the moment to fill CHF so i would be persisting with Thornton.Just provide a contest and let the littlies swoop...........

I can't really see a weakness in that Collingwood side; and IMO, they're better than last year.

Picking up Dawes, Jolly and Leigh Brown has been inspired recruiting; and with the strength of Cloke; they're a marking powerhouse front and back.

I don't think Didak will get back in.

Leigh Brown is an absolute spud playing a role.

I'd rather have Koschitzke.

But you wouldn't pick him up at Pick 73 in the 2008 Draft, like they did with Brown.

We could've done with Brown yesterday.

We could have done with Setanta yesterday, but that doesn't make him a good footballer.

Carlton had Fevola plus four young rucks to develop.

Collingwood had Wood and Fraser supporting Cloke, Dawes and Anthony.

Brown drafted that late is a comment on the quality of 2008 draft and clubs not looking to top up.

North let Brown go like Essendon* let Bradley go.

Bradley has performed a similar role for Freo behind Sandilands.

Meh.

A 200 gamer shouldn't be outmarked by Laidler and spoiled by Watson.

Wasnt too unhappy with the game yesterday. Some might argue that the final 19 point margin flattered us slightly given the pies inaccurate kicking, but lets not forget that we hit the post 6 times.

We matched it with the pies for most of the game but structurally we are shot.

Bring in jamison and waite and its a whole different ball game. Jamison would tighten up the backline significantly (less opposition marks) and allow us to shift Henderson up forward/thornton back. Along with waite, suddenly we've 2 tall targets to kick to that will lead up and present to the mids/backline (thornton doesnt lead up/present)

Players that could also return by finals and be key contributors include hampson, carazzo, houlihan, touhy and possibly mclean (given ineffectiveness of ellard/curnow atm)

We've gone from a 23 pt margin to a 19 pt one. Imo, the next time we meet the pies (likely to be in the finals), the margin will close up again

Very interesting comments RE Watson by Rhino.If true then Austin should get the gig.Amazing info on Watson.Its hard to believe a young guy given an oppurtunity of a lifetime is not putting in...........CAZZ,please tell me its not true.

I only watched on TV but here are my obesevations:

Watson had not been playing well for the Bullants - so why was he picked against the best team in the comp. ? Not good fot the kid or us.

I'm normally not only a glass half full type, but a glass overflowing type when it comes to supporting the club on its decisions relating to list management, selection, matchday, etc, but I firmly believe that the way the club is going about handling Matthew Watson's development needs to be looked at.

It's almost insane to contemplate, but I tend to wonder whether his development would have actually been better handled had he come along five years earlier under Pagan, in the sense that Pagan wouldn't have given him games he didn't deserve, and made him work for what he was given.

Having said this since the Geelong pre-season game, I firmly believe that as it stands, Matt has all the tools physically to be an elite defender. These same tools suggest to me that he has what it takes to have a fast-tracked development rather than a slowly slowly entrance to AFL that you would see with Ben Reid, Jack Watts, Jackson Trengove, etc. At the moment, these assets are being overridden by what I believe is simply not working hard enough off the field.

The usual metamorphosis that you see in young players from being drafted to halfway through their first season in the system just isn't appearing with Matt, by comparison you're starting to see some difference in Paddy McCarthy and even Luke Mitchell all things considered.

At the moment, there'd be a fair argument to say he's been lucky to keep his place in the Bullants ones, but has been persevered with. To be given a game ahead of Austin wasn't right, nor fair to Mark. Matty could easily become a cornerstone of our backline next year. What needs to happen between now and then is to develop the necessary intensity that AFL level requires, which currently is way off. He can be prone to ball watching, the second efforts are lackadaisical, third efforts non-existant. This can be rectified with time and hard work.

In short, I think he needs a rocket put up him. Something that isn't consistent with Ratts and Darren Harris' respective coaching styles, who certainly seem big on the softly, softly approach and full of encouragement, deserved or otherwise. This approach certainly has its positives for a bloke like Noof, who early on, needed to have it constantly instilled in him that he is capable of being an elite AFL player and capable of taking the game on. I don't think Watto needs to be told of his obvious natural talent. Reading Shane Crawford's article in today's Sun about his memories of Allan Jeans had similar sentiments. I'd like to see a Fraser Brown or a Dominator come down and tell him in no uncertain terms that he is currently in danger of becoming a wasted talent. First year player or otherwise. SOS may not be a list manager or an assistant coach's rear end, but what he does know is how to mentor young defenders to play the game. I wish we had that resource still available.

Ideally I'd like to see him not considered for senior selection for the rest of the year, barring a dire situation, and given games in the Ants seniors on merit only. Justin Cordy, John Donehue and Tim Smith are elite assets, perhaps the envy of 16 other clubs. But they can only do so much if you're not willing to put in the extra yards. To say Watto isn't doing that at the moment, is an understatement.

I'm normally not only a glass half full type, but a glass overflowing type when it comes to supporting the club on its decisions relating to list management, selection, matchday, etc, but I firmly believe that the way the club is going about handling Matthew Watson's development needs to be looked at.

It's almost insane to contemplate, but I tend to wonder whether his development would have actually been better handled had he come along five years earlier under Pagan, in the sense that Pagan wouldn't have given him games he didn't deserve, and made him work for what he was given.

Having said this since the Geelong pre-season game, I firmly believe that as it stands, Matt has all the tools physically to be an elite defender. These same tools suggest to me that he has what it takes to have a fast-tracked development rather than a slowly slowly entrance to AFL that you would see with Ben Reid, Jack Watts, Jackson Trengove, etc. At the moment, these assets are being overridden by what I believe is simply not working hard enough off the field.

The usual metamorphosis that you see in young players from being drafted to halfway through their first season in the system just isn't appearing with Matt, by comparison you're starting to see some difference in Paddy McCarthy and even Luke Mitchell all things considered.

At the moment, there'd be a fair argument to say he's been lucky to keep his place in the Bullants ones, but has been persevered with. To be given a game ahead of Austin wasn't right, nor fair to Mark. Matty could easily become a cornerstone of our backline next year. What needs to happen between now and then is to develop the necessary intensity that AFL level requires, which currently is way off. He can be prone to ball watching, the second efforts are lackadaisical, third efforts non-existant. This can be rectified with time and hard work.

In short, I think he needs a rocket put up him. Something that isn't consistent with Ratts and Darren Harris' respective coaching styles, who certainly seem big on the softly, softly approach and full of encouragement, deserved or otherwise. This approach certainly has its positives for a bloke like Noof, who early on, needed to have it constantly instilled in him that he is capable of being an elite AFL player and capable of taking the game on. I don't think Watto needs to be told of his obvious natural talent. Reading Shane Crawford's article in today's Sun about his memories of Allan Jeans had similar sentiments. I'd like to see a Fraser Brown or a Dominator come down and tell him in no uncertain terms that he is currently in danger of becoming a wasted talent. First year player or otherwise. SOS may not be a list manager or an assistant coach's rear end, but what he does know is how to mentor young defenders to play the game. I wish we had that resource still available.

Ideally I'd like to see him not considered for senior selection for the rest of the year, barring a dire situation, and given games in the Ants seniors on merit only. Justin Cordy, John Donehue and Tim Smith are elite assets, perhaps the envy of 16 other clubs. But they can only do so much if you're not willing to put in the extra yards. To say Watto isn't doing that at the moment, is an understatement.

Obviously they expected him to kick better. Such is life. Last week in the VFL his kicking was brilliant so he was in form in that area. You'll never never, never know if you never, never give him a go. Down the track this one experience alone will be worth it's weight.

Regards Cazzesman