I have my doubts about Watson but a former WCE player who now holds an important development role in WA Football reckons Watson will be a very good long term player, better than Darling.

Curiously this guy is also Collingwoods WA based recruitment spy.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Too true. I wonder when people will learn not to judge/write off developing players (Watson the case in point - a 19yo key position player in his first season) before they've even had a chance. Somehow players are crap instantly and nothing can ever change how they play in their first few seasons, not even things I thought might be important, like developing an adequate fitness base, putting on sufficient muscle and spending time in the professional environment of an AFL club with the huge array of coaching expertise and facilities available.

Look at players like Josh Kennedy, Jordan Russell, Mitch Robinson, Chris Yarran, Lachie Henderson, Shaun Hampson etc. So many armchair experts came out and made statements that were LITERALLY along the lines of "Doesn't have <x> skills, is a spud, not built for the modern game, will never make it." Wtf? And then 2 years later when said player actually becomes a gun, "Oh, they always showed signs, but <new whipping boy> has shown me nothing, doesn't have <y> skills, is a spud, not built for the modern game, will never make it."

Yes, I realise this has become a rant, and that everyone is entitled to their opinion, and that everyone fantasizes about being an AFL guru and making sweeping, definitive predictions on TC that never come true. But be realistic. We've got excellent kids - KIDS - trained by excellent coaches and recruited by excellent recruiters. We are in good shape.

Watson will have plenty of time to develop. He has to get past Hendo, Jamo and Laidler to get a decent crack unless he plays in another position.

As I have said before, Watson should be tried in the forward line next season......

Speed and a great kick......

I love hearing these expert insights Especially those that are favourable to our players and recruiters!

For what it is worth the Pies rated Watson very, very, very highly.

Still it's all just opinions and the old 'time will tell'.

Regards Cazzesman

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Ricky Gervais - “Everyone has the right to hold whatever beliefs they want. And everyone else has the right to find those beliefs f***ing ridiculous.”

I distinctly recall you saying the same things about Hurley.....how's that going for you?

Hmm rate him highly eh?

Watson for Dawes straight swap then lol!

I'd be up for that.

Not wanting to pot Watto but Hurley looked like an AFL player in his first game and dispelled those doubts immediately. Watto is coming from a bit further back than Hurls. I think Watto will be a solid AFL footballer down the track but will require plenty of time to get his body right and to work on his bodywork.

great kick? yep
speed? err, no
lets hope that he can get that into his game, because at this stage, it's not there

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i don't wanna spend my life explaining myself. Either you get it, or you don't- Frank Zappa

Do they need Watson?

Brown and Reid will hold their backline together post-Tarrant.

They'd be more interested in a ruckman.

IIRC, Hine stated that they were after Hampson if Nathan Brown was gone.

I hope the Pies are right!

On the other hand, the Kangas didn't rate him at all!

Of course they wouldn't. They only like slow players if they are under 6 foot and injury prone.

Well I'll counter your story. A recruiter from a Victorian based club thought Watson would become a gun over time, and if his club had a pick high enough they would have taken him with their first pick.

Other clubs know Waite has issues with injury, can be a bit inconsistent and lacks a bit of discipline. They probably also know that his positives outweigh those negatives. They obviously know he is in his late 20s. Given all of the above, I don't see how we would get all that much for him that would make a trade worthwhile. You need to trade when your currency is relatively high - say, Whitnall circa 2002. The Hawks were great at this - moving on Thompson and Hay when people still rated them. Waite is too old and injury prone for that.

But my main point is Waite, despite his injuries, is still a good chance to feature in our tilt at # 17. His moment is now. And he plays in a position where we are really lacking. Would be ludicrous to trade him in my opinion. I reckon Russell, Hampson, Lucas and Betts are our best currency for a trade. If we had a couple of contested marking forwards I would maybe see what other clubs offer for Waite. But we don't, so we keep him. Mind you, we need to plan for a team without Waite, but he will still be very useful to have around for a few years yet.

Seems Kreuzer has had knee clean out.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/m ... 6142139660

Hopefully everything goes well for his preseason.

We need a fit Kruize.

Like it!

I laughed so much only because it's all so true.That sums up 80% of posters from all clubs and all forums.

Luke Ball: finished in the modern game

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I think what happens is that supporters of a team dont follow the development of players from the other 16 clubs as closely as our own hence it seems like a 'Henderson' or a 'Watson' for example can be graded as been slow developers, yet a 'Reid' or 'Dawes' for example are perceived to have burst onto the scene when in fact they have been in the system for longer.

We tend to follow the fortunes of these other guys pre-draft and then forget about them for 2 or 3 years during which time they are probably struggling to get a kick at VFL level, like the majority of tall juniors.

I've just used those two as an example and of course there are many more, but both were taken in the 2006 draft and are now 23 and 22 years old.

We all remember their 2010, but as recent as 2009 Reid didn't play a game, Dawes didn't crack the senior side until Rnd 14, and even Cloke who was a 2004 draftee only managed 22 goals.

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"They're [REDACTED]'

Why are people talking about trading Hampson and Lucas?

Hampson is faster, a better mark, and has recently demonstrated more of an ability to kick goals than Warnock. You could use the same arguments against Kruezer as well.

Lucas was only in his second season this year and it was injury interrupted. Come the end he was stiff not to make the team. Duigan good as he is is only a stop gap. Next year Scotland will be 32. Simpson will turn 28. Lucas will turn 21.

Regarding Watson, he doesn't turn 20 until July next year. Give the kid a chance!

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"Get ready, Teddy - you're on": Ron Barassi half time 1970 Grand Final