Player Watch 2023 AFL Draft Pool Discussion Thread

[Strapping Young Lad]

Same rule applies to this thread as other years, keep it on topic about the kids.
Don’t get bogged down on what other teams might do or where they will finish.

Trade speculation belongs here.
That's also where you can discuss your mock drafts or pick trades.

Any McCabe, Dear or Maginness talk belongs here.

 

[The Chad and I]

This is a dangerous game to play though. What if Reid wanted to stay and Curtain wanted to go home?

Would be gutted if WC take Reid and North gobble both Dursma and Watson up. iI don’t think there’s a better/more promising forward in the draft than these two.

You do not base your draft picks on the fear that you won’t be able to retain players, unless you’re a basket case of a club like north or GCS.

 

[MasterSamurai]

Can't see Colby playing on the wing. Too central as a player between the arcs to be wasted there even in his first year. Very quick feet , dodges and weaves knowingly, has a good left peg and creative assets to get out of congestion.
Half frwd or even behind the ball to set up play would be the go in his first 20 or so games and after that he'd be prime inside mid. Still torn whether we just go for him or Duursma but let's not forget , the club is still weighing up options to get Harley which tells me Sam isn't worried about midfielder overload. Maybe, we're looking to boost our frwd stocks through trade and FA in the next two years and just draft GUN onballers in the meantime.
If we were guaranteed McKay, king, Gresham then I wouldn't be against Colby at all. We as a club, wouldn't need to draft another inside mid for 10 years! Crazy to think about.

 

[chopflop]

Mckercher averaged over 30 with 5 tackles and 1.4 goals a game in Coates league.

He's a metronome with hurt factor

 

[peetoo]

Mc hawks sponsored by….KFC

 

[TylerDurden]

Can't see Colby playing on the wing. Too central as a player between the arcs to be wasted there even in his first year. Very quick feet , dodges and weaves knowingly, has a good left peg and creative assets to get out of congestion.
Half frwd or even behind the ball to set up play would be the go in his first 20 or so games and after that he'd be prime inside mid. Still torn whether we just go for him or Duursma but let's not forget , the club is still weighing up options to get Harley which tells me Sam isn't worried about midfielder overload. Maybe, we're looking to boost our frwd stocks through trade and FA in the next two years and just draft GUN onballers in the meantime.
If we were guaranteed McKay, king, Gresham then I wouldn't be against Colby at all. We as a club, wouldn't need to draft another inside mid for 10 years! Crazy to think about.

Yep. He's an inside mid.

 

[The Chad and I]

Can't see Colby playing on the wing. Too central as a player between the arcs to be wasted there even in his first year. Very quick feet , dodges and weaves knowingly, has a good left peg and creative assets to get out of congestion.
Half frwd or even behind the ball to set up play would be the go in his first 20 or so games and after that he'd be prime inside mid. Still torn whether we just go for him or Duursma but let's not forget , the club is still weighing up options to get Harley which tells me Sam isn't worried about midfielder overload. Maybe, we're looking to boost our frwd stocks through trade and FA in the next two years and just draft GUN onballers in the meantime.
If we were guaranteed McKay, king, Gresham then I wouldn't be against Colby at all. We as a club, wouldn't need to draft another inside mid for 10 years! Crazy to think about.

It's not about McKercher, more about fitting him within the team structure ASAP.
There's a gaping hole on the opposite wing to J.Ward.
If he shows enough to warrant a more central role then you do that.

There is definitely scope for flexibility in the core midfield and overall team structure right now with options to play Day pretty much anywhere, and Newcombe in a forward rotation.

This is what competition for spots looks like - raising the standards.

 

[FB19]

Does anyone else feel like Watson might slide? If we also rate caddy and have 3/4 should we trade back to bring in extra and take Watson or caddy after taking Duursma at 3?

 

[Brishawk]

Does anyone else feel like Watson might slide? If we also rate caddy and have 3/4 should we trade back to bring in extra and take Watson or caddy after taking Duursma at 3?

I personally dont rate him in the top five so i can see it happening but it is so hard to say where the clubs (the professionals with all the data!) rate him. Only needs to be one for watson to go early.

 

[The Chad and I]

Does anyone else feel like Watson might slide? If we also rate caddy and have 3/4 should we trade back to bring in extra and take Watson or caddy after taking Duursma at 3?

I think he should slide.
Consider where Pickett was taken in a draft that was weaker in the top ten than this one.
I see Watson going in the 7-12 range.

Which pick in this year's draft would you trade for a ready-made Pickett as a rebuilding club?
Is Watson going to be better than Pickett?
I doubt it.

IMO small forwards are what you take with a first round pick to finish off a list, not when you are at the beginning of a rebuild.

 

[westhawk]

Mckercher averaged over 30 with 5 tackles and 1.4 goals a game in Coates league.

He's a metronome with hurt factor

Would love this kid at the club, but is anyone else concerned that he will be the main target of the new Tassie team in 4 years. I know we will get compensated, but who knows what that will be.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Concerns with McKercher are:

1) we are well stocked in the midfield currently, it's not a position of real need in comparison to our forward line.

2) the whole Tassie link. I'm not a consipracy reverse head****ed Hawthorn supporter, but IMO there is no doubt the AFL will cook something up for Tassie when the side comes into the league. They'll want a marquee local young talent.

3) a rather minor one, but where does that leave Ward and MacDonald in particular in relation to midfield rotation time? I expect Mackenzie will still develop into a centre square midfielder, and Ward will spend time on the wing. But where would that leave MacDonald? Can McKercher play forward? He hasn't at Coates level, but I imagine that's because he's been too good in the middle to.

Thankfully those issues aren't talent or ability related.

On a side note, we may as well delist or trade Stephens if we draft McKercher.

 

[James Colorado]

It's not about McKercher, more about fitting him within the team structure ASAP.
There's a gaping hole on the opposite wing to J.Ward.
If he shows enough to warrant a more central role then you do that.

There is definitely scope for flexibility in the core midfield and overall team structure right now with options to play Day pretty much anywhere, and Newcombe in a forward rotation.

This is what competition for spots looks like - raising the standards.

That's the great thing about Day, he can play centre square, wing, HBF...work on his goalkicking and he can play forward. In the future we're not going to be worried about our Burgoyne replacement, it'll be our Day replacement.

 

[moehawk]

It's not about McKercher, more about fitting him within the team structure ASAP.
There's a gaping hole on the opposite wing to J.Ward.
If he shows enough to warrant a more central role then you do that.

There is definitely scope for flexibility in the core midfield and overall team structure right now with options to play Day pretty much anywhere, and Newcombe in a forward rotation.

This is what competition for spots looks like - raising the standards.

Karl Amon says hello

 

[Billyc]

Does anyone else feel like Watson might slide? If we also rate caddy and have 3/4 should we trade back to bring in extra and take Watson or caddy after taking Duursma at 3?

I’ve thought all year that he might slide. Not that he should, just that he might. Clubs have never drafted a player his size top 5

 

[Sixpence]

I think he should slide.
Consider where Pickett was taken in a draft that was weaker in the top ten than this one.
I see Watson going in the 7-12 range.

Which pick in this year's draft would you trade for a ready-made Pickett as a rebuilding club?
Is Watson going to be better than Pickett?
I doubt it.

IMO small forwards are what you take with a first round pick to finish off a list, not when you are at the beginning of a rebuild.

We're not at the beginning of our rebuild though. We have a lot of good pieces in place already. We need quality forwards.

 

[Del33640]

You do not base your draft picks on the fear that you won’t be able to retain players, unless you’re a basket case of a club like north or GCS.

Agree, but that was in response to the idea we'd pick a guy to trade him down the line.

You're not backing yourself to win if you aren't targetting the best available in order to be the best.

 

[GinniAndTonic]

Mckercher averaged over 30 with 5 tackles and 1.4 goals a game in Coates league.

He's a metronome with hurt factor

Also massive go home factor in 4 years.

 

[The Chad and I]

We're not at the beginning of our rebuild though. We have a lot of good pieces in place already. We need quality forwards.

we are closer to the beginning of a rebuild than a premiership.
I like Watson, but he is not as essential as other options right now.

 

[The Chad and I]

Karl Amon says hello

oops.
Im a fan.
Hope he can play another 4-5 seasons.

 

[peetoo]

we are closer to the beginning of a rebuild than a premiership.
I like Watson, but he is not as essential as other options right now.

I think we need the smartest most effective forward whatever size or shape they are.
Another Cyril would be a no brainer

 

[Del33640]

I think we need the smartest most effective forward whatever size or shape they are.
Another Cyril would be a no brainer

A player like Cyril was a super potent, regular goal kicker no matter what was happening with the team. Bruest is the same type of player too.

We need guys like this for sure.

I agree with CAI that a super high level tall forward would be number one priority, but I also wouldn't be ignoring guys that can kick bags or play their part no matter what is going on with the team as you point out.

 

[kirbatron]

Also massive go home factor in 4 years.

where is the evidence of this not seen it ?

 

[GinniAndTonic]

where is the evidence of this not seen it ?

When the Tasmania team comes in he will be 22 and could be a star. They will throw the kitchen sink at him.

 

[kirbatron]

When the Tasmania team comes in he will be 22 and could be a star. They will throw the kitchen sink at him.

so? good luck to them.

I mean where is the evidence hes a flight risk?

Colby may have no interest in returning to Tas. that groundwork is done BEFORE draft night.

it's a poor reason to bypass an elite talent if hes best available in our draft order.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

When the Tasmania team comes in he will be 22 and could be a star. They will throw the kitchen sink at him.

And we will be compensated nicely. They'll be throwing away picks.

Although when Colby is 22 we will be primed. Would be hard for him to leave.