SHANNON Watt didn't know what all the fuss was about when Port Adelaide captain Warren Tredrea copped some pretty heavy criticism following his post-goal celebration during last year's preliminary final demolition of
While sections of the media lambasted Tredrea for failing to show respect to his Kangaroos opponents after performing his now-famous bow, Watt says he remained quarantined from the post-match storm surrounding his direct opponent.
It wasn't that the Kangaroos defender condoned Tredrea's actions, it's just that he didn't actually see it until days after the event.
"Yeah, I was playing on him at the time but I didn't know anything about it until quite a bit later on," Watt says.
"I didn't see it when he did it and after such a bad exit I just didn't want to have anything to do with the game so it wasn't until just before the grand final and I was watching on TV that I saw what he did.
"I thought it was interesting but at the time I had no idea what happened. It bothered a few of my friends, but because I hadn't seen it, it didn't bother me at all at the time."
That dark day behind him, Watt has since set about diving headlong into his pre-season program in a bid to consolidate his position in the Kangaroos' defence.
He admits to finding the running aspect of pre-season training easier than most, particularly now he has shed the extra weight he put on when the club was trying to mould him into a key defender.
But the 131-gamer says his lighter frame won't preclude him from playing on the competition's bigger bodies should the need arise.
"I'm definitely a bit lighter than I was when I was playing key position and they wanted me to bulk up. I'm probably about six or seven kilos lighter now compared to back then so I feel like I'm running a lot better now.
"But I think I have the experience now that I can play on the talls and smalls even if I'm not quite as well equipped to play on the big guys as I was. But if I'm needed I think it's something I can do.
"It's probably something that helps me get a game each week that I can play on pretty much anyone so I have to be open to that sort of thing."
Like any footballer at this time of year, Watt is now looking forward to putting the benefits gained in the off-season into practice during game time.
In fact, even before practice matches start, Watt is just as happy to see the footies to come during training, and it's not just because ball-work is a great circuit-breaker for the monotony of pounding the pavement.
"My fitness is pretty good now and I'm happy with where my body is at so for me it's great when they bring the balls out because I know I have to keep working on my skills and reading the play.
"For me pre-season is as much about football oriented stuff where for others it might be more about getting their fitness up.
"For sure you have to get the k's into the legs and do the right thing in the gym and all of that stuff but it's more the footy stuff that I have to concentrate on."
Now into his 11th pre-season, Watt admits to having a different feeling going into 2008, namely because of one notable absentee on the training track, Glenn Archer.
And although he admits that replacing someone of Archer's quality will be impossible, he does like what he's seen of the club's next batch of youngsters.
"You'll never replace Arch, and I know they always say it, but losing him, and someone like Kasey Green, just gives someone an opportunity.
"Lachie Hansen has been great over the pre-season, and I like the look of young Levi Greenwood, so if we're patient, we'll see the first few signs of the next generation of great
