Watts On The Way Up | Thebigtip

Two years ago this week, Jack Watts, at 18 years of age and weighing a touch over eighty kilos, was sent onto the ground from the bench five minutes into the annual Queen’s Birthday clash between the Dees and the Pies. He instantly followed up a loose ball, only to be gang-tackled by Nick Maxwell and Heath Shaw. He won a free kick and passed it straight to Josh Fraser.

The next day, after playing his first game in front of over 60,000 people, Watts completed a Year 12 mid-year exam.

I wouldn’t mind seeing Watts get some payback against the two defenders by kicking a bag of goals on the Queen’s Birthday and his form so far this year has shown that he is capable of it.

He’s stepped up his game this season after limited preparation in his first two. He’s gained invaluable confidence from being able to take the contested marks and kick the goals that he was so highly rated for as a junior footballer.

He’s averaging more marks, more disposals, more tackles and more goals this year. His last six weeks especially have been impressive and his past month even more so.

In the last six weeks he’s averaged 19 disposals, 6 marks and he’s kicked 7.2. Not bad for a once struggling 20-year-old centre half forward.

The fact that he’s played as a defender, a winger, a leading centre half forward and a marking target inside 50 also highlights his versatility.

And let’s not forget the fact that Watts was taken as a 17-year-old, effectively having one year’s worth of preparation for AFL level football gone. He played in the same age bracket as Tom Scully as a junior, who was drafted at No.1 the year after.

Some draftees take time; look at Luke Hodge and Brendon Goddard. Both were regarded as drafting blunders early into their careers, with players drafted after them such as Chris Judd and Daniel Wells going on to individual success at AFL level.

Look at Hodge and Goddard now. It’s hardly a draft blunder when you pick one of those players with your first pick.

Those who labelled Watts, or the other modern superstars, as a drafting blunder were simply ignorant. Of course Watts was going to show little in his first two seasons; it’s not as if he was the first player to struggle in his first year or two in AFL.

Being a tall key position player (he was named at full-forward in the under 18 All-Australian side of 2008) only hindered his development. The taller guys take longer, and Watts was a very skinny forward. He had pace and agility, but a forward can’t stand up to AFL when he’s as tall and skinny as Watts once was.

Personally, I hope he’s still got development left as an AFL player because the signs I’ve seen have already been fantastic. Watts can become the best centre-half forward in the game with his talent and he’s taking all the right steps to become that.

The way he’s going about his footy beams confidence, enjoyment and, at times, a bit of aggressiveness. He’s not afraid of taking it to other players, which is great to see.

How he’s developing as a player is impressive, but how he’s developing as a person who’s copped as much criticism you can get and more from the world of AFL is even better, and that’s what’s going to make him a great player for the Demons.