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Can Jack Watts prove the doubters wrong in 2016?

19th November, 2015
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Roar Guru
19th November, 2015
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1474 Reads

If you follow football and have spent any time on social media then you would no doubt have seen the vitriol and abuse directed towards Melbourne utility Jack Watts over the years, by both Demons supporters and the opposition.

During this period Melbourne has generally been a poorly performed club, but a certain amount of expectation goes along with being a number one draft pick, expectation Watts has not lived up to.

It certainly doesn’t help that Nic Naitanui was taken at pick two in the same draft as Watts and is often used as a comparison.

At 24 years of age and with 115 games at AFL level, Watts should still have his best football ahead of him. But his output during this time has been mixed.

In season 2015 Watts played 20 games averaging around 16 disposals and five marks per game. His best position has still not been found, having spent time all over the ground without being in a settled position, whether it was being unaccountable in the back half, spending time in the midfield, or up forward as a marking target.

Before the trade period this year there was some discussion that Melbourne would look to shop Watts around. Being dropped for the final game of the year against Greater Western Sydney was certainly not ideal timing.

But what would Watts’ trade value be? Melbourne would be cutting their losses and not getting back anything near pick one, but would a second-round draft pick be worth taking and moving on for the Dees?

Well the trade period is finished and Watts has remained a Demon, however he is out of contract at the end of 2016. He has the most important year of his career coming up.

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Jack Watts publicly acknowledged that he needs to work on aspects of his game after the season, saying on AFL.com, “I see a really strong year next year for the Dees and I’d love to be a part of it and I’ve got things I need to improve on to keep up.

“I’ll go away in the off-season and work on those things and hopefully have a really good year.”

The defensive side of the game is one of the main knocks on Watts, and questions on his competitiveness due his laconic nature. Watts has generally handled himself well in the media and not hidden from the fact he needs to improve on his deficiencies.

Despite the public ridicule there is obvious talent there. It would be a good football story if Watts can prove the doubters wrong.

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