Past #36: Shannon Watt - drafted at #14 in '97 ND - 155 games - 0 Brownlow votes - original whipping boy

[Tas]

I like him, he is going to make mistakes but so did Micky when he played full back at first.

I think Watt has potential to be a good player, he just needs development and time spent there. He will make mistakes but its part of the learning process.

We need to give him more time, game time in the full back position and with a bit of support lets hope he learns the trade sooner rather than later.

 

[Melly017]

Saved us at least two goals by rushing the ball.

Watch the game.....there is very little a full back can do to stop some kicks into the forward line

 

[GERMO FROM 50]

the guy's improvement has been awesome. he looks like becoming a valuable player for us. continuing to bag him shows little imagination.
his season so far is miles better than micky could have produced this year, and he's only going to get better.

 

[Angus1]

I've been critical of him in the past and I still are but he was pretty good on Saturday. Leppitch was killing Brown and in my opinion that 5 minutes with Brown on Leppitch lost us the game.
Watt moved onto him and we looked much better from then on but I feel it was too late.
I just don't understand why a player that has been with us for a few years now is still having to learn how to play a certain position.
But I'll stop bagging him for now as i think his first 3 games haven't been too bad at all.

 

[Karanicolas]

Originally posted by Angus1
I just don't understand why a player that has been with us for a few years now is still having to learn how to play a certain position.

Mick Martyn.

 

[windsock]

Originally posted by Shinboners
Didn't they say the same about Mick Martyn until about '96?

Don't know who 'they' are but I'm not one of them. Mick was a great full back.
With respect to Watt, I meant that his opponent has probably missed a couple after getting away from him a bit too easily. Despite my words a couple of times early on Sat nite, i reckon he'll be alright.
He'd wanna be, cos i agree that Brown looks a bit of a worry down back.

 

[Shinboners]

Originally posted by windsock
Don't know who 'they' are but I'm not one of them. Mick was a great full back.

"They" was just a general swipe at people, mostly in the media and by the opposing fans, who would always say that Mick got Ablett/Lockett/Dunstall etc. on a bad day. It was never Mick's work, just an off day by his opponent.

 

[Archie]

I have also been critical of Shannon Watt for some time, but he's been pretty reasonable thus far. Granted, Lynch wasn't playing, but you can only do the job on whomever you are playing. Watt has done that. His one handed pick-up at full tilt against St Kilda was special.

 

[Holycrap]

I personally had no time for Wat because he seemed to be lost in the structure. That was yesteryear and now l think he is worth persavering with as he has exceptional speed for a big man and l think he is coming to terms with being a FB after being classed as a forward. If we ever needed Micky it's now becaue l think he could have coached the likes of a Watts on how to play this position (a player who also had exceptional speed over 20mts!) as he hasn't got that awareness of a key backmen knowing where your man likes to run and where the ball is - all comes with experience.

As for Brown, l never thought he would be a backmen as he has pretty good hands and looks more suited up front. lets not forget that he came from the west and, like Sinclair and Robbins and Bell previously, will take this season to find his feet.

As for Wells, he showed gimpses of his skill, and the more comfortable he becomes, as they are quelled at the moment, the more his natural instincts will come up.

I guess with young players, Laids needs to quickly find a spot for them and test in that spot not just schuffling them around. He's doing this with Watt and Junior when he is fit.

As for Watt's position when Archer comes back, don't think Laids will drop a tall position player for Archer.

Wow, seems like this list is a bit anxious for all the youngsters to come up - who every said that rebuilding was about patiences

 

[tashibatts]

Article on Mr Who, Watt, Where, When..

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,6290710%5E19768,00.html

Interesting photo



Go Roos

 

[myee8]

Great stuff there about Watt and good to see he is remaining positive about his footy.

 

[magoo]

it was interesting and pretty impressive the way that he didn't bag pagan. if anyone in the team suffered under pagan it was him.

 

[Angus1]

Originally posted by magoo
it was interesting and pretty impressive the way that he didn't bag pagan. if anyone in the team suffered under pagan it was him.

Not a good idea to bag the bosses Father.

 

[magoo]

of course. didn't think of that.

 

[NeoBlaze]

must have played a great game to be in our best against Freo, unless the rest of the players were that bad.....? anyone have any comments on the game?

 

[RoosLuver]

Who were the other best players for us Neoblaze?

 

[NeoBlaze]

according to AFL.com.au

Kangaroos: Watt, Grant, Harvey, Simpson, Motlop.

 

[shmardin]

I was very impressed with Watt's game.....took a couple of good pack marks....created good run....and his kicking has really improved....powerful and penetrating.
The back line swapped opponents alot but he wasnt beaten one on one or on the lead from what I can remember

 

[great]

Considering the pelting the back 6 took in the 3rd Q as a result of our insipid performance in the middle during that term and earlier on, it's odd to think any would figure.

However , Watt did some great things in defence (marks and run with pace), Baird was OK as was Jess..........Makey did some good things as well but had his colors lowered overall this week.
(Was unlucky that Farmer goaled when Makey had to lay a tackle on someone else).

Goes to show how important experience is , as good as the boys have been over the past 3 weeks , the return of Spider and Arch will be a welcome sight.

 

[The Rewboy]

Watt is an absolute Pelican..............he was outmarked in a one-on-one situation by Medhurst.

Isnt Medhurst an adonis!!! Built like the preverbial brick shelthershed!! Not to mention Watt stands a goot foot and a half taller!!

 

[Briedis]

I thought Watt was as good as he could have been under the circumstances.

I reckon he has improved in leaps and bounds so far this season and will be a far better player by the end of the year.

There is a hint of Dench about him with those runs from the backline.

 

[Darky]

Watt was solid without being outstanding. Did attack the ball a bit more, and looks to be gaining confidence in running it forward, but is still a bit of a worry in one-on-one contests.

 

[dus]

Originally posted by The Rewboy
Watt is an absolute Pelican..............he was outmarked in a one-on-one situation by Medhurst.

I was at the game!! I gave Watt 3 votes. This was the best game i have seen watt play. He did attack the ball hard and i reckon that his personal opponent (although it changed over the day) didnt kick that many goals on him considering he is our last line of defence, and considering that the Dockers were doing as they please in the midfield.

He also ran off his opponent and present an option on the wing, and i even saw him on the HF line at one stage. He is quick, and beleive it or not, but also smart, and he picked these opportunities well. This game convinced me that he is our future full back, as like a lot of you i had doubts, albeit now erased.

 

[Bobby B]

I thought that Watt did okay tonight when the pressure was on in the 1st 3 qtrs - he gets better with every game. Got to take some positives from the game. Sinclair continues to impress.

 

[moomba]

Did OK, although I was a bit worried about Perrie for a while. He has got to cut out the sneaky body work, and just concentrate on getting the ball. He is giving away too many frees for my liking, and I think he has shown he has the physical capability to beat an opponent one on one.

Moomba