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.

 

[Dewwwww]

If Caddy has a strong Nat champs then you would think he will become our man.

As nice as Harley would be if you look at how our midfield has been performing this year with natural development and games experience into Mackenzie / Connor Mac / Ward it’s hardly an area that needs to be addressed.

We need elite talent into the forward half.

The last time we picked up a 193cm key forward with a top3 pick it ended up working out alright for us!

 

[Billyc]

If Caddy has a strong Nat champs then you would think he will become our man.

As nice as Harley would be if you look at how our midfield has been performing this year with natural development and games experience into Mackenzie / Connor Mac / Ward it’s hardly an area that needs to be addressed.

We need elite talent into the forward half.

The last time we picked up a 193cm key forward with a top3 pick it ended up working out alright for us!

With a bit of midfield ability too, Roughy could be a decent analogy. Would be the perfect complement to Lewis. Caddy and Duursma both hold a lot of appeal as forward half impact players who can also play midfield.

 

[offtherails9]

I stopped following too closely with the NFL Draft a few years ago, because each year I would fall in love with a player who I would love to see be drafted by Green Bay, only for the team to trade down or the player be picked earlier or whatever.

I'm afraid this has now happened for me for an AFL player. Caddy is the one. He'll be pick 3. Hope we have pick 3.

 

[Brishawk]

Caddy is what we need. Playing in the midfield shows how competitive he is in a contest and at ground level. We need this kid. Time to tank for caddy?

 

[pushintheback]

Caddy is what we need. Playing in the midfield shows how competitive he is in a contest and at ground level. We need this kid. Time to tank for caddy?

Caddy was awesome yesterday but don’t be fooled by Twomeys midfield post. He just went in the the centre bounces a few times but didn’t actually spend time as a pure mid. Twomey looking for a bit of click bait with that post.

 

[VandoHawk]

I haven't seen much of Caddy, does he play similar to Roughead?

 

[daniel23]

Caddy was awesome yesterday but don’t be fooled by Twomeys midfield post. He just went in the the centre bounces a few times but didn’t actually spend time as a pure mid. Twomey looking for a bit of click bait with that post.

Good, we need the fwd version .

 

[Brishawk]

Caddy was awesome yesterday but don’t be fooled by Twomeys midfield post. He just went in the the centre bounces a few times but didn’t actually spend time as a pure mid. Twomey looking for a bit of click bait with that post.

Yeah I don’t see him as a mid. I think it’s good for his development and to show some skills etc but a tall forward that is good at ground level is a huge advantage. It’s the difference between Roughead and tippet. The later probably better overhead but the former was elite at ground level (even played mid for hawks) and that made roughy a far superior player (along with a bunch of other things I won’t go into here).

Caddy doesn’t have to be a mid but if he is competitive at ground level and in contests, as well as being a marking target, he is going to be great at afl. (Caveat I’ve only seen highlights/involvements videos so not trying to imply he can live up to what I just said. It’s just a good sign!)

 

[bigmaxi]

Is Dingley really that much closer to the surf than Waverley?

Best surf in Victoria is just down the road to Philip Island.

 

[TDS7]

Just to get his stats up here:

Nate Caddy
4 goals 2 behinds
21 disposals, 10 kicks 11 handpasses
6 marks
4 tackles
4 inside 50s

I'll watch the game later today while the other games are on and do a write up, but it's an impressive game on paper.

 

[geelongrecruit5]

Caddy was awesome today. Too big and strong. His reach is incredible. He’s risen in my rankings. A big champs could actually see him contend for a top 3. He might be 193cm but he plays like he’s 200cm+

So much up side to Caddy, he still looks so raw but produces glimpses of an established footballer. Imagine him after training full time for a few years….oh my!

 

[peetoo]

Not sure there has ever been a better bottom age highlights package than his.
Looks to have a complete game and the confidence to match.

Anyone have any info on his endurance/work ethic?

The promotion matches too. We hear there’s considerable effort going into promoting him

 

[kenneje]

Adding Caddy or Watson + McCabe to the team that played on the weekend is keeping me up at night.

It's looking like a great draft to have a top 5 pick and secure some forward half talent.

 

[hawkguru]

Caddy reminds of Sicily when he started, similar build too

 

[FB19]

Adding Caddy or Watson + McCabe to the team that played on the weekend is keeping me up at night.

It's looking like a great draft to have a top 5 pick and secure some forward half talent.

 

[hawkguru]

So much up side to Caddy, he still looks so raw but produces glimpses of an established footballer. Imagine him after training full time for a few years….oh my!

More like.....

 

[jenniferHAWKinS]

We must draft best available. Stock pile as much young talent as possible and then fill the missing pieces in later.

 

[matey]

Not knowing the character, work ethic, discipline and dedication of Caddy, Wizz, Zane etc I am sure MM will find out but still on the best talent train! If we need a KPF I reckon after this season our young midfield has announced itself and a few will be smart enough to want to come to us

 

[tl92]

We must draft best available. Stock pile as much young talent as possible and then fill the missing pieces in later.

I personally hate the throwaway term ‘best available’. Their positions need to be considered. We’d be crazy to draft another loose defender, ruckman or inside mid just because they’re the ‘best available’. Its the best player for our list profile which for mine should be a key forward, key defender (McCabe) and a classy small to medium forward. Thankfully this draft looks to have all those positions well and truely available around our picks.

 

[H00t]

I personally hate the throwaway term ‘best available’. Their positions need to be considered. We’d be crazy to draft another loose defender, ruckman or inside mid just because they’re the ‘best available’. Its the best player for our list profile which for mine should be a key forward, key defender (McCabe) and a classy small to medium forward. Thankfully this draft looks to have all those positions well and truely available around our picks.

With later picks that becomes much more a focus.

No point mucking around with early picks. No team would pass up Harley for A. Reid or Caddy just because they needed a tall forward.

Well saint kilda would. But they are a perennial basket case.

 

[tl92]

With later picks that becomes much more a focus.

No point mucking around with early picks. No team would pass up Harley for A. Reid or Caddy just because they needed a tall forward.

Well saint kilda would. But they are a perennial basket case.

No team finishing last has just one hole on their list to fill and Harley can play anywhere. In the first round there are always going to be lineball calls and that players position should and I believe does come into key consideration.

 

[H00t]

No team finishing last has just one hole on their list to fill and Harley can play anywhere. In the first round there are always going to be lineball calls and that players position should and I believe does come into key consideration.

It would come down to the very last tiebreaker. But there’s so many other ways to split them from the interviews, to potential upside, training habits, home state etc with that players can be split before getting to position they play.

I only mention Harley because he is this year. The most obvious example of picking for need over ability was McCartin over Petracca.

With early picks better to just back in who they reckon will be the better player. Getting an A grader is more important than having an extra of one position.

 

[TheFourPillars]

You pick best available for ure first pic especially if ure rebuilding. There is no guarantee the youngsters on the list will succeed. Its just about bringing talent into the club.

 

[Hawk1986]

As I have said before, love the idea of Caddy to partner with Lewis.

But what I like best, is that it seems (at this early stage) picks 2-4 will have some really strong forward players with x-factor to choose from, in Caddy, Watson or Duursma. I think these types will compliment our current mix really well.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]