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

[tashibatts]

Watt is still learning.. and there is no point moving him now, or else 03 would have been a waste of time for him playing at FB.

Leave him there, we have no better options, he does have the tools, he just needs to keep learning.

Go Roos

 

[Abaddon]

Originally posted by DaRock
If, like me, you were a little frustrated with watching Shannon stand on the mark gazing at yet another ball pass over his head through the big sticks perhaps you could assess my idea.

how about the Fevola show? 8 goals on Watt in Round 5, then another 5 goals in Round 22.

 

[Fogarty]

Re: Re: Move Shannon Watt

Originally posted by Abaddon
how about the Fevola show? 8 goals on Watt in Round 5, then another 5 goals in Round 22.

The 8 goals was when Watt was learning the caper
The 5 goals were kicked in rubbish time, carlton had already been flogged and the game was over

 

[Darky]

The 5 goals Fevola kicked in Rd 22 were on Archer, and mostly in rubbish time as Fogarty said. When the game was still up for grabs, Fevola was getting beaten like a red-haired stepchild by a bloke who is slower and shorter.

Watt played more of a running game at half back, and looked to be either a loose man at time, or having a few different opponents at different stages.

 

[Wicko26]

Every one says watt is quick and yeah he is but he isnt smart enough to be 5m infront of his man so that when he leads he is even with him not 5m behind him. i was so frustrated seeing him trail slow forwards to the ball

 

[myee8]

Originally posted by Wicko26
Every one says watt is quick and yeah he is but he isnt smart enough to be 5m infront of his man so that when he leads he is even with him not 5m behind him. i was so frustrated seeing him trail slow forwards to the ball

Yeah speed is one thing, footy smarts is another.

 

[year of the roo]

Originally posted by myee8
Yeah speed is one thing, footy smarts is another.

pace, you either got it or you dont. but footy smarts comes with experience and i expect that shannon watt could be a gun FB towards the end of next year. he has served his apprenticeship and i think he should be about ready to start turning it on big time, next year.

 

[mighty mick]

watt has been in footy long enuf to gain his experience a full yr on the ground and the roos mainly suffered down back when parts of jis support team were not there, colbert for one.

he is still not the answer a good back line is.

 

[myee8]

Originally posted by year of the roo
pace, you either got it or you dont. but footy smarts comes with experience and i expect that shannon watt could be a gun FB towards the end of next year. he has served his apprenticeship and i think he should be about ready to start turning it on big time, next year.

Time will tell there, but i still have faith in the guy.

 

[Wicko26]

Originally posted by year of the roo
.footy smarts comes with experience

U are born with footy smarts u dont learn it, experience just means u know wat to do. footy smarts is knowing wat is going to happen, how ur getting the ball, and wat ur doing with it before the ball has left the foot of a player

 

[Thewlis Dish]

did anyone hear JYDs comments at the end of the year - he said micky martyn was a fantastic fullback, but he didn't become it overnight. watt started with us early so while he's been here a while, he's still only 22 and with a bit more experience he has the tools to succeed down there, especially if colbert and archer can stay relatively injury free

 

[Abaddon]

Re: Re: Re: Move Shannon Watt

Originally posted by Fogarty
The 8 goals was when Watt was learning the caper
The 5 goals were kicked in rubbish time, carlton had already been flogged and the game was over

that whole game was rubbish time. But it didn't stop many kangaroos fans placing it in their best moment of 2003.

 

[year of the roo]

Originally posted by Wicko26
footy smarts is knowing wat is going to happen, how ur getting the ball, and wat ur doing with it before the ball has left the foot of a player

yes and that comes with experience, in most cases. im not saying that any random person off the street who plays a couple of full seasons at FB will become a star with experience, my point is that watt is only going to get better with experience. footy smarts is something that can be developed and if watt can do that, then he will go all right.

 

[apollo_creed]

R JYD and Watt the? an item.
Because that is the only explanation I can think of as 2 why Dean persisted with him the whole season, praising him along the way.
We would have made the wizard cup final if he hadn't played. Ian Perrie slaughtered him, kicking 6 goals and from memory Adelaide kicked about 9. Fevola kicked about 9 on him, had we had anybody else on him he would have kicked 5 maximum. We lost that game. Im not quite sure but I think he played on Tredrea in Round 8 against Port when Arch had slaughtered tredders in the past.
He averages minimal possesions a game, and the possesions he does get a r ****e, he tries to kick the ball too low and hard and 90% of the time it ends up travelling straight into the arms of the opposition. His skills arent' flash. He doesn't take any marks, and he rarely stops his opponent from having an influence on the game. Quite simply he isn't a good player. Im sure he's a nice guy and he tries hard but he just isn't good enough. Just because he is quick it doesn't necessarily make him a good player. Then I see some ppl suggesting that he should play on the wing, I mean give me a break Mick Martyn would be more effective running down the wing. Infact I think if Watt hadn't played every minute of every game this season we would have played September footy. He was exposed 2 much, this might seem strong but I feel strongly about this as a Roos fan.
Then JYD sees fit to drop Teague our most impressive young defender. By opting for Watt, i know who I would rather have in my side. Poor David Teague the coach obviously doesn't like him IMO at any other club in the AFL bar Brisbane he would be a regular. When he did play Dean left him on he bench for most of the game while Watt was being taken to the cleaners.
Oh i just remember the St. Kilda game when Gherig had a field day on him, fraser carved watt up then JYD moved arch on 2 him then 4 some resaon he went back 2 watt, WTF. John Baird, David Teague and Leigh Brown were all on the field and all capable of doing a beter job than Watt. We have talent like Crowe in the reserves rotting away there promising careers becuase the coach has a massive fat crush on a bloke named Shannon. Then 2 really top it off Dean sees fit to drop John Baird for the last 2 games. Baird was solid all reason wasn't thrashed by any of his opponents and is rewarded by being dropped for the last 2 games of the season.
Dean's imcompetence and utter stupidity regarding Watt was baffling at times. I think Watt would have been the only player to reach 100 goals this year by having over 100 kicked against him. Look at Matty Scarlett for example, not only does he stop his man week in week out. He also amasses close to 20 possesions a game.
All u Watt fans out there don't come up with the excuse that 'oh he did some really good jobs this year on Neitz and Lloyd.' With both of them they were surrounded by about 3 men and all Watt did was just watch. He is an OK player but I think his talents would be more useful in the SANFL or WAFL.
Roo fans please don't reply with anger this is just my opinion on 1 of our players, it may seem harsh but these things must be cleared off my mind.
And I'm not so sold about Mark Porter either....

 

[Lidge]

I can't wait for your insightful critique of Mark Porter!

 

[Horace]

Originally posted by apollo_creed
R JYD and Watt the? an item.
Roo fans please don't reply with anger this is just my opinion on 1 of our players, it may seem harsh but these things must be cleared off my mind.
And I'm not so sold about Mark Porter either....

Seems like the mind needs a bit of clearing after that diatribe. Or have we been out on the squirt since round 22, mate and not yet functioning on all cylinders?

 

[1jasonoz]

Pretty easy to stand back and throw complaints, burt you aren't the bloke on the ground. Watt won't be a star, but then again how many fullbacks have been? He just needs to learn the fullback shuffle, i.e. Silvangi scragging, Martyn face pulling & strength, plus the lock of innocence when you have thrown the F/F to the ground. F/B is a very hard possy to play.

 

[apollo_creed]

Watt won't be a star exactly,
Your right fullback is a very hard position to play
And he's not our man to play such an important role
IMO

 

[1jasonoz]

Originally posted by apollo_creed
Watt won't be a star exactly,
Your right fullback is a very hard position to play
And he's not our man to play such an important role
IMO

But if Watt isn't, then who is?

 

[apollo_creed]

Your right, we may have a shortage.
Teague and Baird may lack height but I perceive them as better options.

 

[year of the roo]

Originally posted by apollo_creed
Your right, we may have a shortage.
Teague and Baird may lack height but I perceive them as better options.

teague will NEVER be big enough, strong enough, quick enough or even skillful enough to play FB. baird could do it with a heap of hard work, but i dont think he wants it that bad. baird is a better 3rd tall option and teague will be lucky to be on the list next year. watt is the best FB atm for us, but i could see brown or perry becoming good FB's a few years down the track with some more experience.

 

[tashibatts]

Teague is way to short.

Baird.. not the right option either.

Watt is our best option, keep faith.. he has had 1 full year, one.. give him a little while longer, he will never be a star, but I think he could turn out ok.

Go Roos

 

[Angus1]

Apollo this topic has been raised many times throughout the year and a lot of us believe that Watt gets the job because we have no one else to play fullback.
I do feel that he was very lucky to play every minute of every game considering some of the players that were often benched for long periods and of course the craziness that went on at Thursday selection nights.
How he was allowed to stay on the ground all year is one of the many mysteries that surround Dean Laidley. He really struggled along yet JYD heaped the praise on him. This was probably to try and install confidence into Watt. I hope it worked because if it didn't then we have missed a chance to try out a few other options down back.
I've seen a lot better players then Watt not make it and end up being good country footballers so I just hope Watt starts to improve. I don't rate him very high as a footballer at all. I just don't think he has it. He has poor skills and football doesn't come natural to him. It's not like he is in his first year.

As for Mark Porter well i was happy to see us trade Mc Kernan for him as i thought he would be a very good ruckmen which we badly need but unfortunately Porter is hopeless. When his contract is up he will most likely be delisted. He can win the odd tap in the middle but he never takes any marks around the ground and basically doesn't touch the ball.

 

[apollo_creed]

Originally posted by tashibatts


Watt is our best option, keep faith.. he has had 1 full year, one.. give him a little while longer, he will never be a star, but I think he could turn out ok.

Go Roos

Fair enough.

U make some valid points.

But will OK be good enough to win us a premiership.

Look at our flag winning teams and the full backs in those respective teams. Dench and Martyn, I don't see Watt even coming close to those champions. It is a problem position for us.

Irrespective of that, I hope Watt or his family don't read these forums. I feel kinda bad.

 

[tashibatts]

Originally posted by apollo_creed
Fair enough.

U make some valid points.

But will OK be good enough to win us a premiership.

Look at our flag winning teams and the full backs in those respective teams. Dench and Martyn, I don't see Watt even coming close to those champions. It is a problem position for us.

Irrespective of that, I hope Watt or his family don't read these forums. I feel kinda bad.

Well unless we can find anyone else better, then Watt will have to be the one in our next premiership team.

Go Roos