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.

 

[TylerDurden]

I'm hoping we pick up the Wizard. Really feel he is what our list is lacking.

On Pixel 5 using BigFooty.com mobile app

It's a must.

Bums on seats.

 

[fairdinks]

So far...

Lynch
Jeka
Morris
OHara
Kosi
Brockman

6...all out.

Suspect that 2 or 3 of the following won't be there in 2024 either.

Greene
Bramble
Serong
Long

That is potentially 8 changes.

McCabe
D'Ambrosio

Look to be definates coming in.

Down to 6 spots.

Question marks on Dear and Jiath. Suspect we will trade players in so these two may not be selected or if we take either we delist from the 2nd list above to accommodate.

Any other NGAs?

It points to a minimal intake at the draft this year of 2-3 players plus McCabe. The draft is always highest risk and reward...it's an interesting year for building our list. To me I would feel more comfortable with a larger intake from the draft again.

Feels like a bit of a salt and pepper approach this year. Our list screams of needing another 2 talls will be interested to see if we can add them. If not I think it means our list is behind where it needs to be going into 2024 and we will have to pay overs to get them in the following year's so trading future firsts is a big risk if it doesn't involve talls.

I pretty much agree with this take.

I reckon 2 of your last 4 will go. Surely Serong gets another year now that Kossie and Jeka are leaving. I also think we may only take 2/3 plus McCabe in the draft and try for another couple of mature trades or DFA's (KPP's for a chop out). As has been stated ad nauseum, a pick trade into the top 10 will be crucial to our recruiting IMO.
Tew as a late pick if still on the board will mean 3 picks plus McCabe. I cant see more than that.

 

[rei154]

I'm hoping we pick up the Wizard. Really feel he is what our list is lacking.

On Pixel 5 using BigFooty.com mobile app

I feel like if we don't trade up and get another top 10, we'll trade back on the night a place or two and nab Watson and more collateral for next year.
If Melbourne have 6 and they're still after Duursma I feel like we could strike something there

 

[Platten44]

I feel like if we don't trade up and get another top 10, we'll trade back on the night a place or two and nab Watson and more collateral for next year.
If Melbourne have 6 and they're still after Duursma I feel like we could strike something there

we need to trade up to get Watson not down, Clarkson loves him

 

[smish]

I've been on the record saying that it would be a mistake overlooking a KPP in Curtin if he's available at our pick, but now I'm fully on the Watson train. Players like that are arguably as rare/valuable as KPFs and are match winners in finals.

There's something I'm not sold with about Duursma but I can't quite put my finger on...

 

[rei154]

we need to trade up to get Watson not down, Clarkson loves him

Reckon he'd take him over Duursma, Curtin, Mckercher?

 

[Platten44]

Reckon he'd take him over Duursma, Curtin, Mckercher?

North are spooked at taking non Vics. Hopefully the new three year contracts change their mind.

They are likely to take Duursma and Watson if they keep 2 and 3.

 

[NICE1]

It's a must.

Bums on seats.

Apart from his obvious skillets, there's a lot of campaigner, showmanship and energy about Watson which would be a welcomed addition to our line-up.

 

[smish]

North are spooked at taking non Vics. Hopefully the new three year contracts change their mind.

They are likely to take Duursma and Watson if they keep 2 and 3.

We would be laughing all the way to the bank if they pass on McKercher. Clearly a cut above.

 

[Platten44]

We would be laughing all the way to the bank if they pass on McKercher. Clearly a cut above.

But will sign up for Tassies first team if they actually get the stadium built.

 

[cryptor]

1. Reid
2. Walter
3. McKercher
4. Curtin
5. Watson/Duursma
6. Caddy

That’s my wishlist for our first pick. Obviously Reid and Walter off the table for us as it stands. Being guaranteed one of the rest is still a great result though.

 

[bigmaxi]

North are spooked at taking non Vics. Hopefully the new three year contracts change their mind.

They are likely to take Duursma and Watson if they keep 2 and 3.

Wow their backline is looking pretty light on, i would have thought Curtin would be a lock. Then Norf do Norf.

 

[VandoHawk]

But will sign up for Tassies first team if they actually get the stadium built.

Would personally just back ourselves to convince him otherwise. 4 years is a long time.

Colby is the clear number 3 in this draft behind Reid & Walter. Duursma has arguably more upside & Watto is a greater positional need. Would not be upset at all.

 

[hardway]

we need to trade up to get Watson not down, Clarkson loves him

I know they call him a wizard but will he be able to ruck or play kp

 

[FB19]

You take McKercher if he is there as best available. we aren’t ready to use high end picks for positional need. If he goes to Tassie in 2028 it will be for a draft windfall which may be exactly what we need then as we are competing to secure a trade for a positional need. with the likelihood of Curtin McKercher available at our pick we need the suns pick and get them both. I wouldn’t trade the second down if those 2 or Duursma are available at 4 and 5.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

You take McKercher if he is there as best available. we aren’t ready to use high end picks for positional need. If he goes to Tassie in 2028 it will be for a draft windfall which may be exactly what we need then as we are competing to secure a trade for a positional need. with the likelihood of Curtin McKercher available at our pick we need the suns pick and get them both. I wouldn’t trade the second down if those 2 or Duursma are available at 4 and 5.

You certainly do take positional need when there's no discernible difference between two of them (Duursma and McKercher) in the rankings.

Especially when you consider:

Midfield for the future

• Nash, 25
• Worpel, 25
• Day, 22
• Newcombe, 22
• Maginess, 22
• MacDonald, 20
• Ward, 20
• Mackenzie, 19
• (?) Hustwaite, 19

Forwards for the future

• Lewis, 25
• Moore, 24
• (?) Butler, 20
• (?) JOS, 19
• (?) Bennetts, 19

 

[H00t]

You certainly do take positional need when there's no discernible difference between two of them (Duursma and McKercher) in the rankings.

Especially when you consider:

Midfield for the future

• Nash, 25
• Worpel, 25
• Day, 22
• Newcombe, 22
• Maginess, 22
• MacDonald, 20
• Ward, 20
• Mackenzie, 19
• (?) Hustwaite, 19

Forwards for the future

• Lewis, 25
• Moore, 24
• (?) Butler, 20
• (?) JOS, 19
• (?) Bennetts, 19

McKercher has definitely shown more than Duursma. The only reason Duursma and Watson are being ranked near McKercher for us is need not ability.

Interviews and the like behind the scenes might change the rankings but performance wise McKercher is comfortably sitting 3rd behind Reid and Walter.

 

[The Chad and I]

You take McKercher if he is there as best available. we aren’t ready to use high end picks for positional need. If he goes to Tassie in 2028 it will be for a draft windfall which may be exactly what we need then as we are competing to secure a trade for a positional need. with the likelihood of Curtin McKercher available at our pick we need the suns pick and get them both. I wouldn’t trade the second down if those 2 or Duursma are available at 4 and 5.

The prospect of McKercher as a store of value for future top draft picks, that's actually not a bad back-up plan as it would give us access to elite talent at a time when we should be pushing into the top 8.

If he is the one we want with our first pick, I don't view the prospect of him leaving for the Tassie team to be a deterrent.
We win either way.

 

[jenniferHAWKinS]

McKercher has definitely shown more than Duursma. The only reason Duursma and Watson are being ranked near McKercher for us is need not ability.

Interviews and the like behind the scenes might change the rankings but performance wise McKercher is comfortably sitting 3rd behind Reid and Walter.

Duursma and the Wiz have just as much ability if not more than McKercher. Not many players have the skill set of Z Duursma’s in the AFL, maybe Fritsch but plenty of talented midfielders on the mould of McKercher and there isn’t really a player like the Wiz! Are people judging Zane based on Xavier’s drop off in form over the last 2 seasons. Zane and Willem have far more upside than Xavier. Hope McKercher is taken by the midfield happy Kangas so we get to pick Zane or the Wiz. Our forward line needs either if not both!

 

[sohsam]

I'm hoping we pick up the Wizard. Really feel he is what our list is lacking.

On Pixel 5 using BigFooty.com mobile app

apparently he will drop back alittle to No 7, does anyone else feel is good idea to trade with GWS to get their first 2 (pick 6 + 13). Caddy, O'Sullivan should be still available at pick 6 too. It all depends how quickly the talent drops off after Pick 6 to judge how valuable pick 13 will be. Mind you we are getting Will mcCabe too which maybe as highly rated as pick 17.

 

[H00t]

Duursma and the Wiz have just as much ability if not more than McKercher. Not many players have the skill set of Z Duursma’s in the AFL, maybe Fritsch but plenty of talented midfielders on the mould of McKercher and there isn’t really a player like the Wiz! Are people judging Zane based on Xavier’s drop off in form over the last 2 seasons. Zane and Willem have far more upside than Xavier. Hope McKercher is taken by the midfield happy Kangas so we get to pick Zane or the Wiz. Our forward line needs either if not both!

McKercher has just about been in the bests and had 30 possessions in every game up until his injury.

Also knocked it out of the park at the championships every game where Watson and Duursma didn’t.

Not to say Zane doesn’t have talent, just McKercher definitely proven himself ahead so far.

 

[bigmaxi]

I know they call him a wizard but will he be able to ruck or play kp

Hand size ?

 

[hawkmang]

Hand size ?

Big sleeve to hand ratio could be problematic

 

[FB19]

apparently he will drop back alittle to No 7, does anyone else feel is good idea to trade with GWS to get their first 2 (pick 6 + 13). Caddy, O'Sullivan should be still available at pick 6 too. It all depends how quickly the talent drops off after Pick 6 to judge how valuable pick 13 will be. Mind you we are getting Will mcCabe too which maybe as highly rated as pick 17.

Not with our first but maybe with the suns pick. Also gws picks are 6 and 15 as they made the prelim.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

McKercher has definitely shown more than Duursma. The only reason Duursma and Watson are being ranked near McKercher for us is need not ability.

Interviews and the like behind the scenes might change the rankings but performance wise McKercher is comfortably sitting 3rd behind Reid and Walter.

Yeah that's simply not correct, draft watchers and scouts don't rank based on Hawthorn's needs.

Rookie Me Central
3) Duursma
4) McKercher

Cal Twomey
3) Duursma
4) McKercher