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

[Carlos]

Just listening to RooRadio (another 3 votes to Roofus! Cheers buddy!!) and Tim Harrington was asked by a caller about our backline and who will take over from Mick.

I know we have discussed this bloke ad nauseum, but Harrington mentioned that Shannon Watt was a project player who is being groomed for the fullback possy by being played on the opposition's best forward in the ressies to give him the necessary grounding to learn the position.

I guess that perhaps tells us he'll be on the list next year, although i'm still not convinced he'll evolve into a quality key defender. But by learning the position, i think the up-side will perhaps be in that it might improve his ability to play as a more intelligent forward in the long run (if that makes sense)

 

[windsock]

That is great to hear. Now fancy how much better he'll be if he gets the same chance in the ones when Mick does his hammy again. I've said before, Fletcher quite often got smashed at full back in his younger years and look at him now.

 

[Carlos]

Yeah dunno which way to go on this one personally. As i've said in past posts, i sway on this bloke. I've really liked the looks of this bloke over the journey, but this year have gone off him a bit. He just seems so under-developed skill/football ability wise and often looks lost on the field IMO.

Not sure he is up to playing the position, as it takes more than just size and speed to be effective as most of us know. But i guess its worth considering that he is still only 21 and has had an interupted last 12 or so months just as he was showing encouraging signs around this time last year, so perhaps he is worth persisting with in regards to being Mick's hier apparent.

 

[NeoBlaze]

the prerequisites for being a good defender is being first to move and being smart....watt doesn't do either

 

[kangaanth]

Originally posted by windsock
That is great to hear. Now fancy how much better he'll be if he gets the same chance in the ones when Mick does his hammy again. I've said before, Fletcher quite often got smashed at full back in his younger years and look at him now.

excellent point windsock all my essendon mates of which there are many hated fletcher early days they used to call him dustbin and say he was the worst player in the league key position players often take time to develop and he definately has all the attributes to be a good player

 

[windsock]

Time to invest some faith in this bloke. He's been a project of mine and I reckon he should be left to develop in one position. He has only 6 or so weeks left to play with Mick and i reckon he should be given a chance to learn from the master how to play at FB by playing alongside him. It shouldn't be underestimated how damaging that shoulder reco at the end of last year has been on this season so I think we should cut him some slack. i just hope the match committee don't see these weeks as a last roll of the dice. Let's hope they give him a decent crack on the ground and don't yank him off at the first indiscretion.

 

[True_Roo]

He certainly got the right size & build to make a FB or CHB. He's really hasn't shown much as of yet (he did play well against the Doggies last year though).

Watties been around for a while & he must be starting to run out of footy chances. Although with Pagan, who knows ?

It always looks to me like he spends most of his time chasing tails and being second to the ball. I guess what I'm trying to say (in my usual gibberish, waffly manner ) is that the jury is still out.

 

[stewart]

Originally posted by windsock
... He has only 6 or so weeks left to play with Mick...

Are you sure about this...???

 

[Makepeace35]

He better do something this week, so far I've seen nothing from this kid that would warrant him getting a senior game. Especially in the team ahead of McCartney.

 

[Dingster]

Originally posted by Makepeace35
He better do something this week, so far I've seen nothing from this kid that would warrant him getting a senior game. Especially in the team ahead of McCartney.

Continuing on with this theme, has anyone noticed that the morale around the club appears fantastic despite the fact that Dennis has given the younger guys a chance ahead of an experienced player at times this season. I haven't heard any bitching, only positive attitudes.

That is so unbelievably hard to achieve in business. Full credit to Dennis. It's just another positive to come out of this season and makes me proud to support this great club.

BTW, I finally got my Roos News and the return address was in Singapore. They must have enough OS members to use an OS based distributor.

 

[Carlos]

I dont see what some of you are getting so upset about! What is the point of having someone on your list who is doing everything asked of him and not rewarding him? Kinda sends out some pretty ordinary signals to young blokes doesnt it?

Watt has been in very solid form of late and the club has said that he is a long term prospect with a view to taking over from Mick when the time comes.

Now as much as i have my own doubts over whether that is his best suit, the fact is he is young (21), tall and athletic and has been regularly in our resie sbest. Not a terrible inclusion IMO.

On another matter though, i fail to see how Jason McCartney is not considered in our best 22 at the moment. That is a disgrace and an insult to a bloke who has done very little wrong in the last few years.

 

[Shinboners]

Originally posted by windsock
Time to invest some faith in this bloke. He's been a project of mine and I reckon he should be left to develop in one position. He has only 6 or so weeks left to play with Mick and i reckon he should be given a chance to learn from the master how to play at FB by playing alongside him. It shouldn't be underestimated how damaging that shoulder reco at the end of last year has been on this season so I think we should cut him some slack. i just hope the match committee don't see these weeks as a last roll of the dice. Let's hope they give him a decent crack on the ground and don't yank him off at the first indiscretion.

I couldn't agree more with that.

If you had a young full forward who kicked 6 goals and then did nothing for the next two weeks, the attitude is keep him in the team and he'll eventually get some goals again.

If we have a young full back who holds his player to a goalless game, but the following week, he gets 6 kicked on him, everyone is screaming for him to be dumped with "NEVER TO RETURN TO THE SENIORS" stamped on his match notes.

Give Watt the rest of the season in the seniors and let him learn the ropes

 

[moomba]

I think it's a bit early to play the give him the rest of the season card. I don't think we can afford to carry too many non-performers and if Watt doesn't do anything whether it's due to lack of opportunity or lack of form I think we would have to look at sending him back to the reserves.

I've gone about circle on him as a player thinking at the start of the year that he was a lost cause, now I think he is worth perservering with. I was interested to hear in another thread that Digby suffers from a lack of pace, while I have heard in several that Watt is one of the fastest at the club. While not disagreeing if you look at the way that they both attack the ball you could be excused for thinking it was the other way. If Watt can get a bit of ferocity in his game, and build up a bit more strength he could be a very good player for us this year and in future years.

What he can't afford to do is go into tackles, mark duels etc with anything less than 100% commitment to get the ball, and if he hasn't changed that aspect of his game I would say send him back to the reserves to learn it.

Moomba

Moomba

 

[speedy]

Wouldn't be suprised to see Watt shadow Bandy. The coaching staff are probably worried about Bandys mobility, hence Watt being included ahead of McCartney.

 

[mighty mick]

Watt will be standin in micks shadow for longer than 6 weeks, mick will play on next yr and watt should have a darn good look at how a real fb p;ays.

as for playing on bandy i dont think so he will be absolutely ****ted on if he is gonna tag bandy, i think teague might get that job.

 

[Horace]

The problem with Watt as I see it is that despite playing well at reserves level, when he is promoted he does very little. Admittedly he gets a lot of bench time which never helps, but nevertheless when he is out there, in my opinion he just does not do enough.

There have been many players throughour the years who were very good at the lower level but couldn't step up to the highest level.

I really can't accept him in the team ahead of Jason McCartney, who has really done nothing wrong apart from straining a hamstring.

 

[Makepeace35]

Originally posted by Horace
The problem with Watt as I see it is that despite playing well at reserves level, when he is promoted he does very little. Admittedly he gets a lot of bench time which never helps, but nevertheless when he is out there, in my opinion he just does not do enough.

In other words he is a good reserves player who will never be able to play senior footy because he would get his arse kicked week in week out. I agree whole heartedly, he is never going to amount to anything. I hope I'm wrong though.

 

[Darky]

I don't know if his neck injury suffered against Essendon had anything to with it (ie - impacting on his confidence, etc), but his attack on the man and the ball over the last year or so has been timid and meek. Built like Tarzan, plays like Jane. He looked a reasonable prospect until then, but this season has shown nothing.

And once again, I ask those of you who say he is quick... if he is that bloody quick, why does he spend 90% of the time chasing arses? Takes a long time to get going.

Maybe there is a particular role for him this week, rather than promotion being necessarily a reward for strong form. Minding Bandy if Bandy goes up forward?

Or maybe he has big hands so he can carry more oranges than anyone else. Is the trolley broken again?

 

[hilly]

Originally posted by Darky

And once again, I ask those of you who say he is quick... if he is that bloody quick, why does he spend 90% of the time chasing arses? Takes a long time to get going.

He looked to be the perfect build for full back during 2001 but for some reason he has bulked up so much over summer that he appears too slow. I think it was against Hawthorn that this was the case.

I'm not really sold on this bloke and Sunday could be a make or break day for him imo

 

[Groucho]

Oh well let's just give him a go and see what he can do with,hopefully, a full 4 quarter game. We can always trade him to Geelong at the end of the year if he doesn't do any good where I'm sure he'll have a solid 10 year career!

 

[Horace]

In todays Age it says that McCartney didn't spend enough time on the track to come up with his hamstring being still a bit suspect, so at least thats some justification for Watt getting the nod over Jason.

Lets wait and see how he goes, I wish him all the very best despite my doubts. At the end of the day he is going out to play for the Kangaroos and when he is out there I want him to know that we are behind him all the way.

 

[mighty mick]

after watching the mks game today it didnt look like we has any one else to put in my best player today for the mks had to be motlop ubtil a quiet second half

jason and blakey rarely sighted.

 

[kangaanth]

Originally posted by mighty mick
Watt will be standin in micks shadow for longer than 6 weeks, mick will play on next yr and watt should have a darn good look at how a real fb p;ays.

as for playing on bandy i dont think so he will be absolutely ****ted on if he is gonna tag bandy, i think teague might get that job.

i like teague but there is no way he has the motor to go with bandy

 

[woosha]

Where do i start i cant really so all i,ll say is dropped several marks today got in the way of team mates was of no use to anyone except the bulldogs.


THe smiling Assassin

 

[mighty mick]

Originally posted by woosha
Where do i start i cant really so all i,ll say is dropped several marks today got in the way of team mates was of no use to anyone except the bulldogs.


THe smiling Assassin

watt is useless.

well you cant say i didnt tell you so but a lot of the team was beaten today

kingy injured

arch i dont know maybe it was the thumb operation

one things for sure this is another game that goes down to the umpires,