young kpp hype... im sick of it!

[browny_wce]

Guys just thought I'd start up a little post about these young KPP forwards going around and the hype that is built up on them by the media, ie. Jack Watts, Tom Hawkins and Kurt Tippet, etc. (mosty the first 2)

lets face it, compared to how much Watts and Tomahawk have been talked up over the years they are average players in the positions they have been put...forward.
so much hype has been put around Watts, youve gotta feel sorry for the kid, hes 20 and the Dees faithful expect that they will build a team around him as the big target up forward, but the bad thing is, he just isnt developing into one
I may be a bit harsh and people may say, well look at Jack Riewoldt, he was once a spud, now a Coleman Medalist, but remember he was mentored, directly, by one of the best the game has ever seen (Richo was a legend!)
but Watts hasnt had that, I dont see Gary Lyon on the park with him, though hes quick to judge or the 1st to praise the kid when he has a 1 or 2 goal game (as a full forward?!?!) but simply Watts just doesnt work hard enough and should be either given another role and simply given the boot.

on the other hand look at one kid, that was 2 years ago tipped to be one of the best young kids in the country, Jack Darling.
he was going to be the next Jono Brown/Nick Riewoldt, the power forward of the comp and then he only put on a few more cms and everyone forgot about him (lucky for West Coast as he is an absolute gem!)
Darling is probably the exception to the excuse that "young kpp and ruckman need time to develop" bullsh!t, if a kid wants to dominate and play AFL footy he has got to earn it from day dot!
Darling knows he has talent, but he doesnt just sit there and lap up the attention like all the rest, the 18yo is a bulking frame at 191cm and 87kgs, he already looks to command respect in the Eagles forward line.
the big thing I like about this kid, is the fact that he doesnt just sit back and wait for the ball to be delivered on a silver platter, he works his ass off through hard chasing/running and tackles inside his 50 and out.
He is a player who the whole country should look at and admire
Ok he had a few indiscresions, one being when on a West Perth camp he had a girl come in his room for a wristy and another being 30s late for a preseason beach training session, but overall he is genuine class.
His form in the 2010 U18s wasnt that crash hot, but that was mainly because he knew he would be a lock in the draft and had an early agreement with West Coast that they would sign him allowing him to stay in his home state and play footy for a team he grew up with. but that game when he picked up 25 touches with 11 marks and 5 goals showed a glance of his real talent, and add to that the game on the weekend against the Hawks with 24 disposals.

All in all Im saying if you wanna live up to the hype, work your ass off. or something like that haha
this probably isnt the right forum for this but just thought I had to say something

[elephants]

Darling will be a jet, an absolute steal in the draft :)

[LF]

i agree that hawkins is so overrated.he should not even get a game.

[CFC 1979]

Watts couldn't get a game against GC. Thats about where he is atm

[thanme]

Scuse my ignornace, but whats a kpp?

[elephants]

Key Position Player

[nostradamus]

Watts couldn't get a game against GC. Thats about where he is atm

So many games when melbourne played him and they shouldnt have......then they get the chance to play him against GC and they dont......MORONS. lf there was ever a game that he should have played, that was it!!!

[jfitty]

Scuse my ignornace, but whats a kpp?

Key Position Player

I couldn't agree more on Tom Hawkins the big softie. So much hype, every person in Geelong declared him the 'next Jonathan Brown', but he's shown nothing on the park. Watts may be a different story, only 20 years old, but agree that he really needs to be mentored the way Jack Riewoldt was

[Capper]

Key Position Player.

Darling looks the goods and doesnt back off when going at the ball. I can see he causing issues in the next couple of years playing out of CHF.

The Tomahawk and Watts have way to much pressure on them, Watts seen as a savour and the Tomahawk still looking for that one awesome game again. Back to the 2s boys.

J Roo needs to settle down, he's beginning to act a little like Richo did near then end, a bit cranky when the dont kick the ball to him

[BillMurray]

'wristy'...LOL

easily the best part of that article right there..

[DG]

'wristy'...LOL

easily the best part of that article right there..

+1

[stewfoss]

your a bit harsh on watts and a bit glorifying of darling there.

watts will take a longer time to build up to his potential. while darling has naturally grown into an afl body, watts has to work his ringer through the grinder to bulk up a bit and get fit. so dont for a second start saying that watts doesnt work as hard as darling.

one comparison i liked involving watts was him and hurley. HS had it spot on imo. Watts, 2008 no1 draft pick and Hurley 2008 no5(?) pick. Today, everybody would pick hurley over watts in a second. but watts, given more time, will grow to the same level as hurley.

Re: Hawkins. Well. He's a dud. It's all in his mind though.

[browny_wce]

I dont think Im glorifying Darling here, although I am biased, but Ive never seen Watts look as imposing as Darling has
Isnt footy more about natural talent and gifts then couldve's and shouldve's and wouldve's which I think Watts will go down as
yeh Hurley starting to impose himself (another who had great mentors in Lloyd and Lucas) but the Bombers have played it smart with him and had him in the backline for the start of his career, backline makes u work

yeh J.Roo is starting to get ahead of himself, he thinks hes gotta kick 8 every week, I recon he should just go back to what he was doing last year, try to take Mark of the year on a week to week basis, then the goals will come and if not he'll get a nice Toyota

Hawkins also needs to be put in the backline or used in the ruck more or have a run with the 2s for half a season

[browny_wce]

Watts couldn't get a game against GC. Thats about where he is atm

So many games when melbourne played him and they shouldnt have......then they get the chance to play him against GC and they dont......MORONS. lf there was ever a game that he should have played, that was it!!!

yeh the Dees really missed out on building the kids confidence here, couldve had 25 odd touches and kicked a few goals, finally playing against a team full of kids younger then him. well done Melbourne!  ::)