Player Watch #10: Colby McKercher - re-signed until the end of 2028

[DuckYeah]

For some reason it’s the little 20-25 meter exit kicks where his radar goes a little askew and he misses targets. These become very costly down back on the turnover. Remove that from his game and will be top 3 in the SYD next year easily.

If he hadnt had a formidable squib stinker in the first 10 ish rounds he would have won the Syd. His last 3 months were better than everyone else.

His game did a flip at some point in the season and was a completely different player

 

[The Talent Scout]

If he hadnt had a formidable squib stinker in the first 10 ish rounds he would have won the Syd. His last 3 months were better than everyone else.

His game did a flip at some point in the season and was a completely different player

Tackling & taking the game on.

 

[Better Loosen Up]

If he hadnt had a formidable squib stinker in the first 10 ish rounds he would have won the Syd. His last 3 months were better than everyone else.

His game did a flip at some point in the season and was a completely different player

Managed to find a bit of confidence. Not unusual for a young player of his talent.

 

[Chip Scab1]

If he hadnt had a formidable squib stinker in the first 10 ish rounds he would have won the Syd. His last 3 months were better than everyone else.

His game did a flip at some point in the season and was a completely different player

Yep. This x100.

We should almost grade post-chat McKercher differently than pre-chat McKercher, as you say, he's a brilliant version of himself now. Easily our best small player not name Harry.. but at his pace, he's a true jet.

 

[zoomba23]

If he hadnt had a formidable squib stinker in the first 10 ish rounds he would have won the Syd. His last 3 months were better than everyone else.

His game did a flip at some point in the season and was a completely different player

You said at the start of the season you sensed impending second year blues. I poo-pooed the idea. Then he had second year blues. Then I acknowledged you were onto something. Then he turned into our best player for the second half of the year.

He made me look a muppet twice, after I made a predominantly correct prediction. And so goes the story of this bloody site

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

You said at the start of the season you sensed impending second year blues. I poo-pooed the idea. Then he had second year blues. Then I acknowledged you were onto something. Then he turned into our best player for the second half of the year.

He made me look a muppet twice, after I made a predominantly correct prediction. And so goes the story of this bloody site

Predict him to win the 2026 Brownlow, and after a couple of ordinary games revise the prediction. That would be great!

 

[marklovesbeer]

Interesting to see what we do with Colby (position-wise) in 26.
Our recently promoted midfield coach, Micky Barlow, made a good point on the Footy & Friends podcast this week. In reference to Fremantle’s Jordan Clark

6

Jordan Clark

Age

25

Ht

185cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.7

4star

K

9.4

4star

HB

4.3

3star

M

4.2

4star

T

2.6

4star

MG

172.0

3star

D

12.5

3star

K

8.5

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.5

2star

MG

172.0

3star

D

12.2

3star

K

10.4

4star

HB

1.8

2star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.4

4star

getting more midfield time next season, Mick suggested “When you’ve got an All Australian halfback I reckon you leave them there.”

I tend to agree. The obsession with turning every flanker into a midfielder is a bit annoying at times. If Kerch is killing it off half back & it’s helping us win games, I’d rather keep him there than take midfield minutes away from LDU, Wardlaw & Sheezel.
If one of those guys are having a spell on the pine, chuck in Curtis, O’Sullivan or Bull for five minutes.

 

[Moti]

Interesting to see what we do with Colby (position-wise) in 26.
Our recently promoted midfield coach, Micky Barlow, made a good point on the Footy & Friends podcast this week. In reference to Fremantle’s Jordan Clark getting more midfield time next season, Mick suggested “When you’ve got an All Australian halfback I reckon you leave them there.”

I tend to agree. The obsession with turning every flanker into a midfielder is a bit annoying at times. If Kerch is killing it off half back & it’s helping us win games, I’d rather keep him there than take midfield minutes away from LDU, Wardlaw & Sheezel.
If one of those guys are having a spell on the pine, chuck in Curtis, O’Sullivan or Bull for five minutes.

There are a lot of bad takes during trade week but this could be one of the larger ones.

First, he is not a flanker, he is a mid being played their to ease him into senior football.

Two, he will never be an all australian defender because he well, can't defend.

Three, our midfield is crying out for a line breaker who challenges the opposition, if it isn't him then we have donuts and looking forward to another bottom 4 finish.

 

[marklovesbeer]

There are a lot of bad takes during trade week but this could be one of the larger ones.

First, he is not a flanker, he is a mid being played their to ease him into senior football.

Two, he will never be an all australian defender because he well, can't defend.

Three, our midfield is crying out for a line breaker who challenges the opposition, if it isn't him then we have donuts and looking forward to another bottom 4 finish.

 

[zoomba23]

Interesting to see what we do with Colby (position-wise) in 26.
Our recently promoted midfield coach, Micky Barlow, made a good point on the Footy & Friends podcast this week. In reference to Fremantle’s Jordan Clark getting more midfield time next season, Mick suggested “When you’ve got an All Australian halfback I reckon you leave them there.”

I tend to agree. The obsession with turning every flanker into a midfielder is a bit annoying at times. If Kerch is killing it off half back & it’s helping us win games, I’d rather keep him there than take midfield minutes away from LDU, Wardlaw & Sheezel.
If one of those guys are having a spell on the pine, chuck in Curtis, O’Sullivan or Bull for five minutes.

Imo he'd be a useful in and out player. Roaming a wing, waiting at the front of stoppages where practicable.

I can't be arsed looking at how much contested ball Merrett wins but if he doesn't win much, a play style in his mould might be an aspiration for Colby. The backline should be left to the Hardeman/FOS types who are more utilitarian than someone with Colby's small/quick/scoreboard impacting traits

 

[marklovesbeer]

Imo he'd be a useful in and out player. Roaming a wing, waiting at the front of stoppages where practicable.

I can't be arsed looking at how much contested ball Merrett wins but if he doesn't win much, a play style in his mould might be an aspiration for Colby. The backline should be left to the Hardeman/FOS types who are more utilitarian than someone with Colby's small/quick/scoreboard impacting traits

Agree. I love the idea of him on a wing.

Hence the post saying it will be interesting to see what they choose to do.

Wonder what Barlow is thinking.

 

[Moti]

Agree. I love the idea of him on a wing.

Hence the post saying it will be interesting to see what they choose to do.

Wonder what Barlow is thinking.

It has been mentioned several times this off-season, particularly in relation to Jy, that Clarko is keen to get Colby and FOS into the middle.

 

[marklovesbeer]

It has been mentioned several times this off-season, particularly in relation to Jy, that Clarko is keen to get Colby and FOS into the middle.

If that’s what he wants wants, I’m all for it.

I didn’t see that quote from him anywhere, so that’s good news.

 

[Shazeezal]

There are a lot of bad takes during trade week but this could be one of the larger ones.

First, he is not a flanker, he is a mid being played their to ease him into senior football.

Two, he will never be an all australian defender because he well, can't defend.

Three, our midfield is crying out for a line breaker who challenges the opposition, if it isn't him then we have donuts and looking forward to another bottom 4 finish.

To be fair, I don't think either Clark or Nasiah got in the All-Australian team for their defensive abilities.
Zorko has been the most effective half back in the comp over the past 3 years (AA 2024) and he is allergic to an opponent.

Colby was great in that role in the second half of the year - and any coach would be tempted to just leave him there.

That said, I can't wait to see Colby playing on ball. He was absolutely brilliant as a junior (high accumulation and impact) and I think he will be our best mid within 2-3 years if given the opportunity.

Just FFS Clarko, don't play him in the forward line. Ever. Again.

 

[Daniltchenko You Beauty]

He's our Zorko, Whitfield, Rozee, Houston (when good), Rioli, Clark, etc.

Still think he's too slight to be a consistent centre bounce mid.

Leave him at half back and he will be AA 5+ times in that position over his career.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Interesting to see what we do with Colby (position-wise) in 26.
Our recently promoted midfield coach, Micky Barlow, made a good point on the Footy & Friends podcast this week. In reference to Fremantle’s Jordan Clark getting more midfield time next season, Mick suggested “When you’ve got an All Australian halfback I reckon you leave them there.”

I tend to agree. The obsession with turning every flanker into a midfielder is a bit annoying at times. If Kerch is killing it off half back & it’s helping us win games, I’d rather keep him there than take midfield minutes away from LDU, Wardlaw & Sheezel.
If one of those guys are having a spell on the pine, chuck in Curtis, O’Sullivan or Bull for five minutes.

He was drafted as a midfielder. So it's not like we are trying to turn a player who was recruited as a flanker into a midfielder.

In saying that, if you are playing loose off half back you are essentially playing as a midfielder just behind the ball. Personally, I think his game is far more suited to half back or a wing, when he can use his running and link up game to cut the opposition apart. That part of his game would be seemingly stifled when playing a genuine stoppage midfielder.

The other side of that is that he doesn't quite have the body or height to compete with the big boys in there, he is still probably a few pre-seasons away in that regard. So if he is having an impact playing across half back, then what's the rush with transitioning him into the midfield.

My biggest gripe is that we CANNOT play two small defenders who can't defend. Having Kerch and Daniel in the same backline is beyond stupid. Kerch is far more damaging, so I'd be happy for him to play the role for the foreseeable future.

 

[Moti]

He was drafted as a midfielder. So it's not like we are trying to turn a player who was recruited as a flanker into a midfielder.

In saying that, if you are playing loose off half back you are essentially playing as a midfielder just behind the ball. Personally, I think his game is far more suited to half back or a wing, when he can use his running and link up game to cut the opposition apart. That part of his game would be seemingly stifled when playing a genuine stoppage midfielder.

The other side of that is that he doesn't quite have the body or height to compete with the big boys in there, he is still probably a few pre-seasons away in that regard. So if he is having an impact playing across half back, then what's the rush with transitioning him into the midfield.

My biggest gripe is that we CANNOT play two small defenders who can't defend. Having Kerch and Daniel in the same backline is beyond stupid. Kerch is far more damaging, so I'd be happy for him to play the role for the foreseeable future.

The best player in the game is 184cm and uses his speed and agility to hurt opposition teams. This perspective he is too slight is bizarre.

 

[Themanbun]

I'm pro Kerch to the midfield. He's explosive which means the power is there. You can't move like he does and be weak. I think he best showcases this in close when he doesn't have time to think.

 

[Moti]

I'm pro Kerch to the midfield. He's explosive which means the power is there. You can't move like he does and be weak. I think he best showcases this in close when he doesn't have time to think.

The Atley principle.

 

[Chip Scab1]

I'm pro Kerch to the midfield. He's explosive which means the power is there. You can't move like he does and be weak. I think he best showcases this in close when he doesn't have time to think.

Starting 4 Mids:

Xerri-LDU-McKercher-Sheez

It just has to be; you want a replacement for Hardeman so he moves up to a wing, fair enough (good idea)... so we really ought to put all our eggs into acquiring Farrow.

 

[Moti]

Starting 4 Mids:

Xerri-LDU-McKercher-Sheez

It just has to be; you want a replacement for Hardeman so he moves up to a wing, fair enough (good idea)... so we really ought to put all our eggs into acquiring Farrow.

I prefer George in the starting group for the defensive pressure. Colby can start on a wing or HF and be first rotation. At least for the start of the year, lets see how it develops.

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

To be fair, I don't think either Clark or Nasiah got in the All-Australian team for their defensive abilities.
Zorko has been the most effective half back in the comp over the past 3 years (AA 2024) and he is allergic to an opponent.

Colby was great in that role in the second half of the year - and any coach would be tempted to just leave him there.

That said, I can't wait to see Colby playing on ball. He was absolutely brilliant as a junior (high accumulation and impact) and I think he will be our best mid within 2-3 years if given the opportunity.

Just FFS Clarko, don't play him in the forward line. Ever. Again.

Play him as the 7th defender/5th mid in the Sheezel mould where he can go wherever he feels to impact the game.

Sheeze pushing up to the middle from the front half, Kerch pushing forward to the middle from the back half.

 

[Passmore]

I'm pro Kerch to the midfield. He's explosive which means the power is there. You can't move like he does and be weak. I think he best showcases this in close when he doesn't have time to think.

Time to fire up the Midfield Minute with Themanbun's 2026 Midfield wish list.

 

[DunderHead]

Think Colby wants to be a midfielder. It will take some time to adjust and build his body but get the feeling we need to get him in there and get out of his way.

 

[muttley45]

Makes kicking goal's on the run look as easy as shelling pea's, more time in the backline = less of this