The great Robert Harvey may have retired a year too soon, but his midfield is in great hands writes NATHAN BURKE.

POOR Robert Harvey. He toils away with the Saints for 20-odd seasons without tasting the ultimate glory and look what happens when he steps away!
The Saints have 12 on the trot and have finally put themselves in great position for a tilt at the flag. You’d think he’d be kicking himself for giving it away one season too soon.
But how does the man himself feel about this?
He is absolutely fine, as you would be hard pressed to meet a more pragmatic man than R Harvey.
The year after I retired, the Saints went on to win 10 in a row, then lose a prelim by six points.
Was I bitter about missing out? No. The fact is, like Robert, I had my shot and wasn’t good enough.
It’s this group’s turn now and if they do go all the way Robert will be as excited as anyone.
Even if he is wearing Carlton colours at the moment, he knows deep down that he has had an enormous influence on the players who now drive the club, and that should fill him with great pride.
Particularly the midfield players like Hayes, Ball, Montagna, Dal Santo and Goddard. Each of these guys can, and I’m sure do, think themselves extremely lucky to have spent their formative years under his influence.
Each of the new generation of Saints took a different path to where they are now.
Some came in as prized early draft picks, others have toiled through harder times and had to fight for recognition. They have all finally reached elite status in this game and it’s worth looking back on how they got here.

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Criticism of the Demons’ handling Jack Watts is uninformed and ignorant writes ROBERT SHAW.

ONE of the great joys of being involved in football for a long time is the satisfaction and pride in seeing the development of young men.
They arrive at our clubs from every walk of life and many places: Ireland, New Zealand, Tasmania, our indigenous communities, even South Africa and Fiji.
Our system of drafting creates both an even opportunity on the playing field and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop into quality people, which I think our AFL system does better than any other.
One such opportunity recently granted was to Year 11boy Jack Watts, drafted by Melbourne, which was following a proven formula that drafting tall, mobile forwards is a blueprint for success.
While midfielders are precious to the modern running game, spine players such as Roughead, Franklin, Koschitzke and Riewoldt are match winners.
As a coach, teacher and father – and having experienced the balance of life required to mix family, football and education – I am comfortable that I can speak on the development of Jack Watts.
Just recently I was asked to comment on Watts’ performance in his first two games after some selective criticism from some very high profile commentators.
I was also quoted as saying: “Jack is combining a full-time football career with a full-time school year in Year 12, he has just come off VCE exams and he found himself playing on Dustin Fletcher. Given those circumstances of course he is going to struggle. Fair dinkum.”

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