Preview 2023 National Draft Preview Thread [currently: #2, #14 (PA), #19 (PP) #40, #52, #60]

[Only Forwards]

I will clarify that 2.92 was off the top of my head. His time was 2.932

I am not sure if anyone could trust anything you say ever again with such an egregious error.

 

[Souup]

I didnt say he wasnt showing his speed. He is clearly quick. I said AFL recruiters dont really care about draft picks like Watson what they run in a 20m sprint at the combine. I also said his agility would be a better guide as to how quick he is. Can you share that pls? I also said I love Watto so don't take my comments as anything else.
Recruiters care more about GPS numbers. Do u know what his top speed has been this year during games?

8.103 agility

And I don't have GPS numbers from games this year.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

I’ve come around to curtin/Watson
Can we downgrade pick 3 to say pick 5/6 and get Watson plus something else
Would gws hand over 6 + 12 for pick 3

I reckon they'd be super keen on Duursma or McKercher. Duursma would offer a point of difference to their forward line while McKercher would give them some serious midfield depth. If we were certain we'd get Watson, I'd do that trade.

I haven't really had Duursma in calculations for 2 or 3, but his form is too good to ignore anymore. He will be giving our recruiters something to think about now. Will be big if he continues it in the finals.

I still have concerns about him, don't get me wrong he is super talented but I just don't see him transitioning into the midfield at AFL level. A top 5 pick is a big price to pay for a half forward. Historically, half forwards like him that really rely on their marking to create goal scoring opportunities haven't had as much impact at AFL level. I don't see Connor Rozee or prime Chad Wingard evasiveness in his game either.

 

[Psicosis]

I reckon they'd be super keen on Duursma or McKercher. Duursma would offer a point of difference to their forward line while McKercher would give them some serious midfield depth. If we were certain we'd get Watson, I'd do that trade.




I still have concerns about him, don't get me wrong he is super talented but I just don't see him transitioning into the midfield at AFL level. A top 5 pick is a big price to pay for a half forward. Historically, half forwards like him that really rely on their marking to create goal scoring opportunities haven't had as much impact at AFL level. I don't see Connor Rozee or prime Chad Wingard evasiveness in his game either.

I look at what Sheezel has done as a half forward selected early and it definitely makes me think of the possibility with Duursma. Why can't he play on every line?

I'm not suggesting he's now a lock for Pick 2 or 3, but I think we'd be negligent not to have him well under consideration given how good he has been.

 

[Souup]

I haven't really had Duursma in calculations for 2 or 3, but his form is too good to ignore anymore. He will be giving our recruiters something to think about now. Will be big if he continues it in the finals.

I was a big Duursma sceptic but I've come around in the last month - would love for him to be played somewhere other than the forward line though as I still have some concerns around his ground ball ability so more midfield time would be great.

The way Rawlings was talking on gettable it seemed our top 4 at the time was locked in, including positions within that top 4. Seems like a pretty silly thing to say 4-5 months from the draft but maybe he really meant it and it hasn't budged - if he was serious then Duursma would still not be in our calculations.

 

[kool kangas]

Sooooooooo hill and pickett have shone tonight - think we need to take Watson

These small guys are team changers

They are also indiginous so maybe Liam Henry should be 1 we should look at.....

Bobby Hill is 179cm
Liam Henry is 179cm
Ksiahah Picket is 171 cm
and Watson is 170cm

While Watson may be great the indiginous guys seem to have some else that makes them exciting to watch...

 

[krakouers]

I get pre-testing numbers from the Coates League each year.

I disagree RE: Watson not showing his speed but I've said all I need to about him so I'll leave it at that.

EDIT: I will clarify that 2.92 was off the top of my head. His time was 2.932

0.012 of a second off Souup
You are losing your touch....

 

[JGreezy]

I was a big Duursma sceptic but I've come around in the last month - would love for him to be played somewhere other than the forward line though as I still have some concerns around his ground ball ability so more midfield time would be great.

The way Rawlings was talking on gettable it seemed our top 4 at the time was locked in, including positions within that top 4. Seems like a pretty silly thing to say 4-5 months from the draft but maybe he really meant it and it hasn't budged - if he was serious then Duursma would still not be in our calculations.

I think that we favour the long term evaluation over recent form. They've obviously been watching these players for a long time.

I wouldn't be surprised if they have an approach to try to avoid changing things too much over the last few months.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

I look at what Sheezel has done as a half forward selected early and it definitely makes me think of the possibility with Duursma. Why can't he play on every line?

I'm not suggesting he's now a lock for Pick 2 or 3, but I think we'd be negligent not to have him well under consideration given how good he has been.

Sheez always had that elite vision, footy IQ and decision making. It really didn’t matter where on the field he was put he’d still find ways to impact games.

IMO Duursma isn’t close to him in that regard. He also doesn’t have much evasiveness when playing through the midfield. When he has pressure on him, his decision making and disposal goes from classy to rushed.

He looks at home in the forward line but I think he’ll really struggle with the bigger bodies and the step up in speed at AFL level.

I’ve mentioned it before but I get big Will Hoskin Elliot vibes from him. Will was a gun junior, which resulted in him going top 10 in a good draft, but because of his body he struggled to have the same impact at AFL level as he did in juniors.

 

[4cunningTonneTruck]

Brady has publicly stated our top 4 is locked in they know exactly who they will take at 2 & 3.

And he said this before the Curtin hype train started in the media and most draft experts had him below Mckercher and Watson.

 

[Epictetus]

Sheez always had that elite vision, footy IQ and decision making. It really didn’t matter where on the field he was put he’d still find ways to impact games.

IMO Duursma isn’t close to him in that regard. He also doesn’t have much evasiveness when playing through the midfield. When he has pressure on him, his decision making and disposal goes from classy to rushed.

He looks at home in the forward line but I think he’ll really struggle with the bigger bodies and the step up in speed at AFL level.

I’ve mentioned it before but I get big Will Hoskin Elliot vibes from him. Will was a gun junior, which resulted in him going top 10 in a good draft, but because of his body he struggled to have the same impact at AFL level as he did in juniors.

Do you rate Watson as a better prospect?

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Do you rate Watson as a better prospect?

Yes. Watson however, probably doesn't have as much upside because of his height. If Duursma can transition to wing and midfield while still being a goal kicking threat then he could project as a better player.

Watson has more athletic tools at his disposal (speed, agility ect) which will make him quite evasive at AFL level. He can kick goals from absolutely anywhere and his ground level game is far superior to Duursma.

 

[Epictetus]

I think it's fair to assume Duursma will be 190 and 88 ish in time. If he's not good enough around the footy to play mid, fair enough. But physically he's the prototype.

 

[LeFtBehinD]

My five cents worth:

I'm assuming that we get pick 3 for Buckets and that we don't have to pay for Sanders with our current picks.

Take Curtin with pick 2. So I'd like us to be creative with pick 3, if we can get two more picks in the top 10. If we can manage that, I'd take Watson and then O'Sullivan. These picks address obvious gaps in our list, and we can top up again with midfielders in next year's draft.

Why does everyone assume we won't have to pay for Sanders? Like in what world is the AFL going to just give us a top player for free? We were in a worse position last year and got like pick 39 lol.

If we have to match a bid (and even that isn't guaranteed!) it'll render any first round picks after 3 null and void. Unless we can perform miracles and wrangle GC's pick 4.

 

[Luke72]

Has Mahony been trialled as a lockdown small back? He’s tenacious, diligent and is footy smart. It might be a move which limits the impact of his athletic weaknesses.

I would fear he’s a bit slow and I’m not sure that his disposal is reliable enough under the pressure. I could be wrong.

 

[Sphynx]

I didnt say he wasnt showing his speed. He is clearly quick. I said AFL recruiters dont really care about draft picks like Watson what they run in a 20m sprint at the combine. I also said his agility would be a better guide as to how quick he is. Can you share that pls? I also said I love Watto so don't take my comments as anything else.
Recruiters care more about GPS numbers. Do u know what his top speed has been this year during games?

Watson is one of the best all around athletes of the last 10 drafts.

Period.

His agility is off the charts when combined with his foot speed.

And he’s got a very big vertical.

 

[King Corey]

Has Mahony been trialled as a lockdown small back? He’s tenacious, diligent and is footy smart. It might be a move which limits the impact of his athletic weaknesses.

I think he'd get slaughtered unfortunately mate. Who would be an example of an opponent you could picture him locking down on?

If he played us (2nd bottom side) in Round 24 he has to play on one of this lot:

[28] Kayne Turner,[40] Eddie Ford,[24] Tom Powell
[26] Tarryn Thomas,[20] Nick Larkey,[25] Paul Curtis

Larkey not an option. Thomas, Ford would be too tall for him too.

Curtis would brutalise him with sheer strength and reaction time.

That leaves Turner and Powell as opponents he could maybe cover. But I think Turner could work him over fairly easily and Powell would be that bit too big and classy.

And that's playing against our forward line.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

With where we are, you can’t take the risk on a 170cm small forward inside the Top 5 picks, regardless of his measureables.

 

[My Left Foote]

I think we should just take the 2nd and 3rd best players on our draft board. Seemed to work well last year.

Acquiring two more picks in the top 10 isn't a straight forward task.

Couldn't agree more. Look at the impact Harry and George had on the team this year, two 18 year old kids were massive. Do the exact same thing again, take the two best available players.

 

[King Corey]

Our yearly CCJ induced 2nd rounder deficit continues to deliver.

WC might say otherwise but loading up 2x 2nd rounders with pick #2 to play for pick #1 might've got it done.

..Or having the cushion of our own 2nd rounder to fall back (~#20) on if we need to bundle the Port pick with #2 would've been nice too.

 

[Flawed Genius]

EDIT: I will clarify that 2.92 was off the top of my head. His time was 2.932

You piece of shit. How dare you

 

[Better Loosen Up]

My concern with wanting to solve next year's problems with the draft is that KPPs usually take time.

I like Caddy, but will he be a better option at CHF than Cam Zurhaar or Eddie Ford in 2024? Neither of those guys are CHFs but they are 189cm and AFL ready, unlike Caddy. Let alone if Comben is healthy all year or we can add an adult CHF through other means.

I don't think that we can expect Curtin or O'Sullivan to be good KPDs next season. We'd be better with VFL players or players with AFL experience.

Watson and McKercher are probably the two players who will do the most to solve our problems next season (excluding Walter and Reid).

If you want to draft KPPs for 2+ years down the track then I get it.

Exactly this. If our midfield is going to be hitting its straps in 3 years from now then we need to have a well structured team to support them.

 

[The Dingrel]

He's a modern day jack mahoney

Do you say that because Jack looked about 30 when we drafted him and could do with a "crafty" comb over? Or you just don't rate him?

 

[hoffseason gains]

Our yearly CCJ induced 2nd rounder deficit continues to deliver.

WC might say otherwise but loading up 2x 2nd rounders with pick #2 to play for pick #1 might've got it done.

..Or having the cushion of our own 2nd rounder to fall back (~#20) on if we need to bundle the Port pick with #2 would've been nice too.

Not the draft to have pick 20 or so anyway IMO - not many in that range I like.

 

[BRider]

Our yearly CCJ induced 2nd rounder deficit continues to deliver.

WC might say otherwise but loading up 2x 2nd rounders with pick #2 to play for pick #1 might've got it done.

..Or having the cushion of our own 2nd rounder to fall back (~#20) on if we need to bundle the Port pick with #2 would've been nice too.

But we got George with the second rounder last year - well worth it.