Melbourne great David Schwarz slams the Demons’ recruiting staff

DAVID Schwarz has slammed Melbourne’s recruiting staff but Garry Lyon has backed the club’s decision to trade Jack Watts. Did the Demons make the right call? HAVE YOUR SAY HERE.

Jack Watts has been traded by Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

MELBOURNE great David Schwarz says he doesn’t trust the Demons’ list management and recruiting team to make the right decisions.

On Tuesday, the club traded Jack Watts to Port Adelaide for pick 31 in this year’s draft.

It has also emerged that the Demons will continue to pay some of Watts’ salary.

Schwarz believes previous poor list management decisions have left a trail of destruction at the club.

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“I’ve been at the club and I’ve seen them piss James McDonald out the door, I’ve seen them do bad things time and time again, and what happens? — Three years later they’re out the door, and it leaves a 10 year destruction, a trail of destruction out the back,” Schwarz said on SEN Radio.

“I’m not saying the club are doing a bad job right now, but the history would say Melbourne haven’t got it right and continually get it wrong.

Jack Watts with Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin. Picture: AAP Images

“This is the point I think a lot of fans won’t put up with, they watch this cycle go through every three or four years and a new group comes in, and they’ll get one draft pick right, and it might be a Clayton Oliver, and the next four they stuff it up.”

Although they have lost Watts, the Demons have been talked up as a big winner this trade period after coming to terms with Adelaide for a deal with Jake Lever.

However, Schwarz says the club’s fans will take some time to get over losing Watts.

“It’s hard to find players that your club (love) as much as they (Melbourne fans) love him,” he said.

“Jack Watts was loved by Melbourne people … he’s almost been a shining light for the last four or five years, when it’s been really dark.

“He’s at least somebody that we’ve been able to ride the bumps with.”

Schwarz’s opinion isn’t shared by fellow Melbourne great Garry Lyon, who on Wednesday morning backed the club’s call to move on Watts.

“It’s not a popular call to trade Jack, it’s not an easy call to trade Jack, it’s not a safe call to trade Jack, but popular, easy and safe don’t win flags or necessarily provide the environment for one, something the Demons haven’t done for 53 years,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.

“Keeping him because he’s liked is not the right thing to do.

“Emotion isn’t going to get you the success that Melbourne haven’t had for 53 years.”

Lyon said it’s hard to “swallow” his former club paying part of Watts’ salary at Port Adelaide, but the champion goalkicker is willing to back those who worked “closely and intimately” with the “frustrating” forward.

Jack Watts has played his last game for Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

Watts played 153 games at Melbourne across nine seasons and finished in the top five of the best and fairest once (2016).

“I’ve heard Jack in the past 24 hours variously described as a great player and the heart and soul of the football club,” Lyon said.

“He hasn’t been either of those things, he’s been good at times but not for long enough. (He’s a) very good player and a popular (player) but also very frustrating footballer.

“The football club’s decision ... is not merely on what happens on the weekend.”