NEWS » draft, OBrien was a key defender befor

At the start of last season, former Melbourne great Garry Lyon implored Jack Watts to become the Demons Jack Gunston. ? ?Lyon wrote Watts, the much-maligned former No.1 draft pick, had to model his game on the Hawthorn star. ?With the pair boasting similar physiques and attributes, Lyon argued Watts could become a similarly dangerous athletic forward threat as Gunston, if he also mirrored the star Hawks work rate and ability to impose himself on games consistently.I believe Jack Watts must do all in his power to become Melbournes version of Gunston, Lyon wrote in The Age, adding: The most invaluable feedback Watts could get at this stage of his career would be to have access to the match reports of his direct opponents, and then compare those with the direct opponents of Gunston. ? ?Having spoken to a number of those defenders, there was a blunt and consistent theme. Gunston was a nightmare match-up who never gave them a moments peace, while Watts, undeniably talented, was far, far easier to defend. ?And this is the area where Watts must become a dedicated, single-minded and almost obsessive student. ?Fast-forward 18 months and Gunston is on the verge of notching another premiership - his fourth. Hes carried extra responsibility in the Jarryd Roughead-less Hawthorn forward line and is on track to kick another haul of 50+ goals for the third straight season. ?The other Jack, though, is playing as though he read Lyons article and acted on it. ?Watts, six months older than Gunston and a couple of centimeters and kilograms heavier than the Hawk, is finally repaying the Demons faith.Since the day he was drafted at No.1 in 2008, Watts has been scrutinised and criticised to within an inch of his life. Much of it was self-inflicted, but having finally added the hunger and contested work required, he has rounded out an already skilful package.?The former whipping boy is suddenly a match-winner.And a comparison of the two Jacks from season 2016 is interesting reading. ? ?Both have played 18 matches, with the Hawk edging his Demon counterpart in goals per game (2.3 to 1.9), as well as disposals (16.6 to 16.2), tackles (3.2 to 1.7), contested possessions (6.6 to 6.0), contested marks (1.6 to 1.1) and marks inside 50 (2.5 to 1.8). And perhaps a sign of his greater aerobic capacity, Gunston averages significantly more time on ground than Watts (91.6 percent to 83.6). ?Watts though, is slightly ahead in goal assists (0.7 to 0.5), disposal efficiency (78.4 percent to 73.5), clearances (0.7 to 0.4) and, unsurprisingly after becoming an unofficial break-in-case-of-emergency back-up ruckman to Max Gawn, in hit-outs (1.8 to 0.1). ?Interestingly, the duo is dead even in marks per game (6.6 each) and inside 50s (2.6). ?Its perhaps no great surprise that Gunston is leading Watts in most areas but its clear the Demon is finally playing the consistent, hardened football expected of a 25-year-old senior player. ?Watts - and the football world - will get a chance to see just how much the gap has narrowed when the Demons and Hawks clash at the MCG on Saturday.Who knows if Watts read Lyons article all those months ago, or has tried to model his game on Gunstons, but hes certainly becoming the player that [Watts] should aspire to become, as Lyon suggested. ?And as they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. ?Sokratis Papastathopoulos Arsenal Jersey . 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Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void.It doesnt get much more daunting for a young AFL ruckman than going head-to-head with Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands.But Adelaide coach Don Pyke says hes confident Reilly OBrien wont be overawed by the mammoth task facing him in Saturdays AFL clash at Domain Stadium.OBrien has been given another chance to impress after Sam Jacobs failed to recover from an ankle injury sustained against Essendon in round 19.The 20-year-old finished his debut against Brisbane last week with 29 hitouts, 16 touches and a goal.Well back Reilly in, Pyke said on Thursday.I thought his game last week showed that he was comfortable at the level.He certainly wasnt overawed by his first game.Selected with Adelaides first pick in the 2015 rookie draft, OBrien was a key defender before arriving at West Lakes but is now considered Jacobs long-term successor.The Crows are hopeful Jacobs will only miss one more game after racking up 93 consecutive appearances before his injury.ddddddddddddThat ankle was a little bit worse than we initially thought, Pyke said.Today was the first day he ran and to be honest with you, its going to be too tight to try and run that schedule.Veteran midfielder Scott Thompson, who was rested last week, is one of four inclusions in the Crows extended squad and is likely to slot in for Paul Seedsman (corked buttock).Pyke will consider resting others depending on how they pull up ahead of clashes with Port Adelaide and West Coast.Obviously we come off the Fremantle game into two six-day breaks and were always mindful of managing our players, he said.Well pick our strongest available side (while) being mindful of maybe some load issues. 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