Jack Watts, Adam Goodes start as substitutes in Sydney’s 38-point win over Melbourne

ADAM Goodes and Jack Watts are at different stages of their careers and started in the green substitute’s vest for different reasons.

Melbourne v Sydney Adam Goodes Picture:Wayne Ludbey

JACK Watts paced around the boundary line like a prisoner pleading for his freedom.

He couldn’t sit still, running up and down the line, kicking the ball to himself ad nauseam and covering so much ground that he had to ditch the tracksuit top that he wore over his green vest.

Thirty metres away, Adam Goodes barely emerged from the interchange dugout. And when he did, he just did enough to ensure that his legs were limber and ready to go when required.

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In what looks almost certain to the last year of the sub rule, the men who wore the dreaded green vest — Watts and Goodes — added a bit of intrigue to a game that never reached any significant heights.

In a sense, their eagerness showed how desperate both were to ensure they are still in their respective team’s best 22 — albeit that both are at different stages of their career and with vastly contrasting individual records.

Goodes surely has little left to prove after a career that has seen him become one of the most decorated players in the AFL with two Brownlows and two premiership medals to his name.

But after a frustrating start to the season in which he was the sub in Round 2, before a stint in the NEAFL level for some extra game time, the 35-year-old is remarkably still trying to prove his worth to the Swans.

Watts, the 2008 No. 1 draft pick. still has lots to prove after a career that promised so much yet so far has delivered little rewards.

Saturday night was the first time the 24-year-old had worn the green vest in three years, but it came at a time when he has been challenged internally and externally to show more intensity at the ball.

Goodes was the first sub to be unshackled just a few minutes before half-time when young Swan Isaac Heeney went down clutching the back of the knee. He was up from his seat as soon as Heeney came of the ground, and was thrust into play with less than two minutes in the first half.

Watts was in an unfamiliar position at the long interval. While his teammates were in the rooms trying to regroup after a poor first half, he was out on the ground not far away from the Auskickers, trying to stay warm and get his hands on the ball as he waited for the call that was always going to come.

That call came from coach Paul Roos 17 minutes into the third quarter and Watts ripped the vest off and charged onto the field.

As he did, he crossed paths with Rhyce Shaw and the Swans defender gave him more than a little push and shove just to welcome him out onto the MCG.

Triple M’s Campbell Brown remarked: “If you’ve got a player who has ducked his head (in recent games) ... why wouldn’t you get physical with him?

“He (Watts) has been given the sub’s vest for a reason. He needs to come out and show some intensity.”

Watts ended the night with seven touches and had limited impact. Goodes had 12 disposals, looked better as the game went on and finished it with the Swans’ only goal of the last term.

Originally published as Jack Watts, Adam Goodes start as substitutes in Sydney’s 38-point win over Melbourne