Melbourne likes Jack Watts it sees in draft tests

[whelan=legend]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,24443615-19742,00.html

• ALL it took was 2.82sec. If Melbourne wasn't sold on Jack Watts before Thursday's 20m time-trial in Canberra, it is now.

So much so that it seems something extraordinary would have to happen between now and the November 29 draft to deter the Demons from taking Watts at No. 1.
Melbourne continues to trot out lines such as "due process" and "due diligence", understandably refusing to commit publicly to the exciting key-position prospect until the draft.
But there was lot of love for Watts in the room at Melbourne's best-and-fairest count on Thursday night, hours after that sizzling 20m sprint at the Australian Institute of Sport.
The 2.82 time put Watts in the top 1 per cent of the 1500 players tested in the history of AFL draft camps.

He was the quickest non-indigenous player tested in 15 years until Ashley Smith came along a short time later and clocked 2.80.
Watts is a 195cm forward. Smith is a more standard sprinter's size at 185cm.
Not content with smashing convention in the 20m, Watts finished second in the agility test, usually the domain of nippy midfielders.
No player of Watts' height has been as quick or agile in the history of testing.

"Way above anything that has been seen," AFL talent manager Kevin Sheehan said yesterday.
Although the Dees appear likely to hold on to pick No. 1, another scenario is doing the rounds. Consider this: Melbourne swaps pick No. 1 for Fremantle's pick No. 3 and gets a cherry on top from the Dockers as well.
It is based on the theory that if Freo has pick No. 1, it will take West Australian star Nicholas Naitanui and West Coast will snare another WA kid, Daniel Rich, with No. 2, leaving Watts for the Dees anyway.
The cherry for the Dees could then be Freo refusing to trade Robbie Warnock, ensuring the ruckman gets through to the pre-season draft.
But Watts' performance this week may make the ploy of moving down the batting order too risky.

Maybe Watts was so impressive in Canberra, West Coast could pounce at No. 2 before the Demons can nab him at No. 3.
Watts ticks so many boxes for the Demons. He plays just down the road at Sandringham. He also oozes leadership and maturity.

"He fronted about 30 media this week and came across as a 25-year-old club leader," Sheehan said.
Demons coach Dean Bailey talked about recruiting in his best-and-fairest address.
"We'll draft our way to success," Bailey said.
There was some playful heckling from a nearby table.
"People down the front are already throwing the first selection at me," Bailey said.
"(Chief executive) Cameron Schwab has said to me, 'Pull the party line. We haven't made our decision yet'."
It soon became clear the hecklers were pushing for Watts. "Is this the Jack Watts table?" Bailey chuckled.
On the same night next year, it looks as if it will literally be the Jack Watts table.

I say we buy the people who were on that table a beer. Who's with me?


Seriously though i can't wait until draft day. Seems as though Watts is a lock

 

[richskee]

Ive always been a Naita fan, after reading that.... I cant wait to see this kid! He's pretty much described as a freak. It could also be really good journalism though.

I'll tell you one thing, if we trade pick 1 for pick 3 and somehow we get screwed in the arse i will officially change clubs...

 

[melbourne150]

I'm so excited by Watts and can't wait until draft day when he will officially become a demon.

 

[Beats]

I've never been a fan of Watts but I think we have to take him at #1 now.
The thing which annoys me is he's good and he's very very aware of it, call it confidence or whatever you want, but sometimes during play it just seems to me he tries to do to much/plays it up a bit, I wouldn't call him 'selfish' in his play, rather I'd call him a bit of a 'showpony'.

On a side note I expect to him to play 10 or so games next year as a 3rd tall, kind of like Justin Westhoff of a few years back.

 

[richskee]

I've never been a fan of Watts but I think we have to take him at #1 now.
The thing which annoys me is he's good and he's very very aware of it, call it confidence or whatever you want, but sometimes during play it just seems to me he tries to do to much/plays it up a bit, I wouldn't call him 'selfish' in his play, rather I'd call him a bit of a 'showpony'.

On a side note I expect to him to play 10 or so games next year as a 3rd tall, kind of like Justin Westhoff of a few years back.

Buddy?

 

[demonfire]

Buddy?

wouldnt want that now...