The first year senior coach has handed a number of tasks to players this year, to fast-track their development for 2013 and beyond.
“At different times this year we have thrown challenges to Joey [Montagna], to Dal [Santo], to BJ [Goddard], so these guys are pure ball winners in their own right,” Watters said.
“They get the opportunity to learn.”
Demonstrating that he is just as willing to advance the Saints’ older brigade as he is to develop the youth, Watters sent Leigh Montagna to Marc Murphy this afternoon, a move which paid dividends with the two-time All-Australian holding Murphy to just 19 disposals.
“At the right time we want to throw leadership opportunities to them to actually take on really good players,” he said. “Not just shut them down and then not have an impact on the game themselves, but balance their game out.”
Sunday’s 15 point victory over Carlton saw youngster Jamie Cripps go to Chris Judd at the first bounce, an admittedly bold move from Watters considering Judd’s rich pedigree.
“Crippa is miles off being able to play on Judd for any more than 10 or 15 minutes, but he will learn a hell of a lot in those 10 or 15 minutes … What a great player to learn off [Judd is],” he said.
“Last week we played Seb Ross on some key players, this week [it was] Jack Newnes and Crippa.”
Watters was equally impressed with Jason Gram’s 26 possession performance against Carlton, and forecast a gruelling pre-season, even for the 28 year old defender.
“He (Jason Gram) is another player, even though he is an older player, that I think has the capacity to go to another level on the back of what is going to be a pretty ruthless pre-season.”
“I still think Clint Jones has got a role to play in our side going forward as well,” Watters said.
