Lyon: I’m disappointed in Jack Watts

Garry Lyon has expressed dissatisfaction at Jack Watts not being selected in Melbourne’s JLT Community Series side on the weekend, questioning just what the Demon has done over the summer after a breakout year in 2016.

The 25-year-old former number one draft pick was overlooked entirely in Melbourne’s squad for their clash against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday, with reports emerging yesterday that new Dees coach Simon Goodwin was sending Watts a message for not being up to scratch during the club’s pre-season training.

Lyon says that should this be true, he feel let down by Watts after an impressive 2016 which saw the forward finish fifth in Melbourne’s best and fairest award.

“I’m really disappointed (in Watts),” he said on SEN Breakfast.

“You’re telling me on February 21 on the back of what was supposed to be a breakout year for this footballer, who had been through such a tough time, is now not in a good enough space or shape to have made a first up JLT squad of 29?

“What does that say about his professionalism? He hasn’t worked hard?

“If he hasn’t made a squad of 29 for the first game, what’s he been doing all summer?”

Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn, who is part of the club’s leadership group, confirmed that Watts wasn’t kept out of the side due to a niggling injury, but believes he is still in line to play at least one of the club’s pre-season fixtures in the lead up to round one.

He says that other young players had deserved a spot in the club’s first hit out for 2017.

“Jack’s fit, he’s training today and he’s ready to go. He’s been training all pre-season but for some reason or another he wasn’t picked in the best 24,” Gawn said.

“I’m sure that wasn’t based on because ‘he’s not good enough to be in our 22’, I think it’s more based on training things from those we have seen around him like Sam Weideman and Aaron Vandenberg that deserved a go.”

“I presume he’ll play one of these JLT games coming up and round one he’ll still be a live option for us.”

Gawn is also adamant that Watts’ attitude is not the reason for not making the side.

“Wattsy’s come a long way in his seven years that I’ve known him and he’s probably in the best headspace he’s been in for a long time. So I don’t think it’s an attitude problem this year,” he said.

“The Jack Watts we saw last year will be the Jack Watts we see this year, we just didn’t see it on the weekend.”

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