Height: 195.8cm
Weight: 82.5kg
Preferred foot: Right/Dual Sided
Playing Style: Inside/Outside leading or marking KPF
Potential: 8.5-9.5/10
Strengths
> Excellent power athleticism – elite pace, agility (well balanced and very slippery, dancing feet - very light footed) and vertical jump – which defender’s will be able to keep up with him?
> Beautiful kick of the footy – very capable using both feet (and comfortable kicking goals on either too), weights his passes very well (although on some occassions DM can be questionable), very good depth and a dead eye dick set shot and can slot them from long range
> Excellent ethic – routinely chases and provides 2nd efforts which is rare in a KPF and also has terrific leadership potential – seems very intelligent, well articulated and shows maturity beyond his years
> Excellent aerial ability – excellent OH mark and elite pack grabber
> Very good vision, poise and composure in traffic
> Good recovery
Very good set shot finisher
> Very good ball control and handling
> Plenty of tricks and dimensions to cause defenders havoc – very hard to match up on – can mark on the lead or contested, take big pack grabs, fly over players, win the ball at ground level, sell dummies, kick goals of either foot etc.
> Big stage, clutch player and match winner (see game against Vic Country)
Weaknesses
> Poor engine – can’t play CHF for long periods
> Lacks physical intensity and strength– basketballing background does show a bit in this regard – doesn’t crash packs or exert a physical presence yet, occasionally gets pushed off it - scope to improve as he doesn’t look challenged at this level (does it all too easily), has played a lot more basketball than footy as a junior and lacks body size and strength
Other
> Haven’t seen him dominate against better KPD (drought of KPD in this draft)
> Quick – gets big breaks on the lead - but doesn’t seem as quick on-field as testing speed – basketball background may have helped re: testing time?
Overall
Watts is a rare KPF talent – how many players win the Larke medal and lead the U18 championships goal scoring as skinny bottom aged 195cm+ KPFs and still have very good scope for development ... Watts has genuine star KPF potential – 75+ goals/year – and is also a good chance to captain his AFL club in the future. Worth the no. 1 pick – between him and Naitanui who IMO are the standout top 2 – not an easy choice deciding between them - both have a wide range of appealing attributes and I think both will be elite players in time.
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