Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn : Nick 'the Wizard' Watson! Rising star Nom!

[Pinoy Hawk]

From 2 weeks ago.

 

[cryptor]

From 2 weeks ago.

View attachment 2469718

*Fortnite ago

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

*Fortnite ago

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

His instagraam today had a short video of him receiving specific sprint training.

Just imagine a faster wiz...

 

[DearJai]

Just imagine a faster wiz...

So much we could all do with that extra time!

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Polarising Hawk Nick Watson won’t change his game despite AFL crackdown on head high tackles

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Polarising Hawk Nick Watson won’t change his game despite AFL crackdown on head high tackles

The rule doesnt actually stop how he goes about it.
Its to stop players who try to shrug out of a tackle

 

[extractasam]

The rule doesnt actually stop how he goes about it.
Its to stop players who try to shrug out of a tackle

I feel like being the face of the rule he’s going to get judged pretty harshly and called for HTB more than others

 

[Bugs1977]

The Wiz is looking trim + fit

 

[hawkinoz]

Polarising Hawk Nick Watson won’t change his game despite AFL crackdown on head high tackles

Wants to play mid.

 

[Bugs1977]

Wants to play mid.

IMO the loss of Worps will be covered by the Wiz, Butler and Maginness. Just look at how svelte the Wiz is looking in the post above #3,209 in which you can see he's giving himself every opportunity to show his wares for longer periods.

In regard to the interview asking him if he'll be changing his style I find it absolutely BS that it is even being brought up when you have guys like Matt Rowell + Nick Daicos who get away with shrugging the shoulders a whole lot more than him.

 

[Endorphin Machine]

Polarising Hawk Nick Watson won’t change his game despite AFL crackdown on head high tackles

There was a guy in a geelong jumper that played his whole ****ing career making an art of ducking and shrugging, and these morons decide to implement this rule in 2026 . Thats how ****ing slow and dumb the afl is

 

[The Gulden Child]

There was a guy in a geelong jumper that played his whole ****ing career making an art of ducking and shrugging, and these morons decide to implement this rule in 2026 . Thats how ****ing slow and dumb the afl is

Yep its a joke.

 

[Bugs1977]

There was a guy in a geelong jumper that played his whole ****ing career making an art of ducking and shrugging, and these morons decide to implement this rule in 2026 . Thats how ****ing slow and dumb the afl is

I say this with no disrespect or ill will towards him but I'd be absolutely shocked if he doesn't end up having CTE symptoms after the way he led with his head / ducking throughout his career. I recall many games where it looked like he was KO'd but was swiftly put back out there. To be fair there was many other players that did the same but the angst towards him was only really a thing because he got rewarded with head highs where others got pinged for HTB or dropping the shoulders.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

I feel like being the face of the rule he’s going to get judged pretty harshly and called for HTB more than others

Yes, i agree with that, but the thing is he doesnt shrug to try and get out of tackles. He stays low to collect the ball and drives up to get high contact, which is still a free

 

[MrPremiership]

Wants to play mid.

 

[extractasam]

Yes, i agree with that, but the thing is he doesnt shrug to try and get out of tackles. He stays low to collect the ball and drives up to get high contact, which is still a free

Yeah I agree it’s a bit different. The arm lift worry you at all though? Because he does have a tendency when he drives up to lift his arm a bit. Sounded like in that clip they’re stamping that out also?

 

[SSSSSS]

I say this with no disrespect or ill will towards him but I'd be absolutely shocked if he doesn't end up having CTE symptoms after the way he led with his head / ducking throughout his career. I recall many games where it looked like he was KO'd but was swiftly put back out there. To be fair there was many other players that did the same but the angst towards him was only really a thing because he got rewarded with head highs where others got pinged for HTB or dropping the shoulders.

He already bumbles around on commentary. At first I put it down to maybe nerves being on the media for the first time but it happens so regularly that I wouldn't be surprised if his noggin has taken a few too many hits.

 

[I got the outside word]

Wants to play mid.

Had to get goal of the year against North.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Yeah I agree it’s a bit different. The arm lift worry you at all though? Because he does have a tendency when he drives up to lift his arm a bit. Sounded like in that clip they’re stamping that out also?

Not for him. He does lift the arm, but he also disposes of it, no issue

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

I say this with no disrespect or ill will towards him but I'd be absolutely shocked if he doesn't end up having CTE symptoms after the way he led with his head / ducking throughout his career. I recall many games where it looked like he was KO'd but was swiftly put back out there. To be fair there was many other players that did the same but the angst towards him was only really a thing because he got rewarded with head highs where others got pinged for HTB or dropping the shoulders.

He already does, have you heard him speak?

 

[DearJai]

I say this with no disrespect or ill will towards him but I'd be absolutely shocked if he doesn't end up having CTE symptoms after the way he led with his head / ducking throughout his career. I recall many games where it looked like he was KO'd but was swiftly put back out there. To be fair there was many other players that did the same but the angst towards him was only really a thing because he got rewarded with head highs where others got pinged for HTB or dropping the shoulders.

The number of times he had his head bandaged when I saw him play was like a fire alarm in our house.

I barely watched him play save for his games against us and grand finals that involved my mate's teams.

But his self preservation switch was turned off way too often for someone whose bread and butter was winning contested ball repeatedly. There was clearly a technical flaw or an overarching desire to win a free kick at his own expense.

Nobody really explains CTE to these guys properly during their career at a guess, or they're told but it's not taken that seriously within the walls of clubs until they retire.

Which is why drawing contact to your head as your 1 wood is something that should be called out across the entire league because they're going to take a head knock or 10 just by playing the game. There's absolutely no need to go looking for it as a tactic.

 

[Dragz]

Was obvious back in the day about Selwood. It should have been shutdown by the AFL when he started doing it.
Initial contact in compliance with the laws of the game, tackled player taking deliberate action to make that tackle go high. If they'd come out saying it's play on, he'd have stopped it and there wouldn't' be a generation of kids doing it.

If anything - Selwood's future health and potential legal challenges that may come the AFL's way, should be absolutely scaring them, because that's something if it occurs that was entirely foreseeable.

 

[cryptor]

Was obvious back in the day about Selwood. It should have been shutdown by the AFL when he started doing it.
Initial contact in compliance with the laws of the game, tackled player taking deliberate action to make that tackle go high. If they'd come out saying it's play on, he'd have stopped it and there wouldn't' be a generation of kids doing it.

If anything - Selwood's future health and potential legal challenges that may come the AFL's way, should be absolutely scaring them, because that's something if it occurs that was entirely foreseeable.

I think when it’s a forward that goals from the free kick it’s a lot easier for people to get riled up about it because there’s so much dead time during the set shot and afterward for commentators to focus on it. And opposition supporters will be really stewing over it until play recommences.