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]

Daniel Curtin gave a dominant performance on his debut in the WAFL Seniors as a key defender last week. He showed his defensive capabilities, as he held up well in 1 on 1s. He probably didn't show his intercepting abilities as much as he might normally do, but he certainly showed the speed and composure that make him such a unique prospect. He also had another good performance, it seems, in Round 18 this week, with 20 disposals and 6 marks. He was my #2 prospect coming into the year and will finish it just behind Walter at #3. I think it is almost certain that either West Coast or North Melbourne will take Curtin, as both are in need of a key position player and midfielder as well as the overall best talent. That makes our selection very interesting, with McKercher probably on the board. From a positional standpoint, we don't need McKercher, as we can hardly get MacDonald and Mackenzie midfield minutes as it is. But he would add the zip that our midfield is perhaps missing. That said, I still think it has to be Watson or Duursma, even if McKercher is on the board. But it does make our choice much harder.

Watched half of these highlights before reading your comments, I felt it wasn't quite to the high standard of performance I was used to seeing from Curtin.

Then I realised: holy moly!!
He is performing at this level against fully grown MEN!

 

[noobermensch]

Curtin's second senior WAFL game over the weekend was even more impressive than his first.

 

[The Chad and I]

Curtin's second senior WAFL game over the weekend was even more impressive than his first.

Incredibly impressive composure under pressure, great mobility, and his decision making-kick execution was sublime a few times.
He would have been capable of playing AFL this season.

If he is available then we simply have to take him despite having more urgent needs in the forward half.

Curtin + Duursma/Watson would be an +A draft if we somehow managed to pull it off.

 

[Platten44]

Incredibly impressive composure under pressure, great mobility, and his decision making-kick execution was sublime a few times.
He would have been capable of playing AFL this season.

If he is available then we simply have to take him despite having more urgent needs in the forward half.

Curtin + Duursma/Watson would be an +A draft if we somehow managed to pull it off.

Would still only be C+ from Max Laughton at Fox Sports.

 

[The Chad and I]

The only caveat on Curtin is that his highlights do not show many one on one contests, or many marking contests in general.
He seems to thrive when the ball is on the ground, which jives with his good form as a midfielder too.
Hard to tell what he would be like as an accountable KPD.

 

[peetoo]

I recon eagles will take a punt on Reid

 

[Mojo]

I recon eagles will take a put on Reid

If I was WC, I'd strongly consider splitting that pick. Their list re-build is monumental.

The going rate seems to be 3 first-round picks. Back in your List Management and recruit 3 players instead of 1.

 

[Brishawk]

If I was WC, I'd strongly consider splitting that pick. Their list re-build is monumental.

The going rate seems to be 3 first-round picks. Back in your List Management and recruit 3 players instead of 1.

My guess is their priority is curtin. Limited options available to them if they want him. Will probably go top 4 and possibly at pick 2.

 

[HAWKS2016]

Cal Twomey's Phantom Form Guide August edition: Cal Twomey's Phantom Form Guide: Top draft prospects' August ranking

 

[TylerDurden]

 

[Hawk the Talk]

Duursma with the big move!

We’ll get Duursma or Watson… loving it.

 

[TylerDurden]

McCabe at 15. Wow.

 

[TylerDurden]

Duursma with the big move!

We’ll get Duursma or Watson… loving it.

Depends on MacKay compo. Could be Colby, which is also a win.

 

[hawkinoz]

I think North not making an offer to McKay tells you they are pretty confident in getting pick 3.

They’ll be mad not to take Curtin with one of those picks if WC hold at 1. We’ll get one of Colby, Duursma or Watson. All very exciting

I think Compo rules need to change.

Only needs to be paid based on the last offer that was rejected by the player. If North value McKay at 600k for 5 yrs, then compo should be based on that.

Obviously same for other teams.

Also think WCE are bluffing and will take Curtin or Reid at 1. Maybe even Curtin if they are not able to trade for 2 with gurantee North won't pick Curtin.

In Cal's draft McCabe is at 15, Dogs FS Croft is at 11, surely their 2nd pick( Lions F1) is at risk.

 

[SSSSSS]

Depends on MacKay compo. Could be Colby, which is also a win.

Our running power with Weddle, Ward, McKercher, Amon and CJ would be out of this world.

Forward line is the pressing need though but if McKercher is best available we must pick him. Can't afford to be cute with our picks yet.

 

[Sixpence]

Depends on MacKay compo. Could be Colby, which is also a win.

Would be happy with any of Watson, Curtin, McKercher or Duursma. All of which would add something to our side.

Still have a preference for Curtin though.

 

[AussieToffee15]

Curtin's second senior WAFL game over the weekend was even more impressive than his first.

How about the time he has with the ball - its rare that players literally stop the game. He reminded me of a tall Pendlebury.

Would like to see more highlights of him in aerial contests. Is he a big midfielder or our Sicily replacement? From the highlights, he comes across as a big midfielder playing in defence...

 

[user33]

Would be happy with any of Watson, Curtin, McKercher or Duursma. All of which would add something to our side.

Still have a preference for Curtin though.

Just curious why you have a preference for Curtin? Do you see him expanding his game into becoming a midfielder?

I have fears of taking another key defender so high when you can find the likes of Blanck for nothing.

 

[Sixpence]

Just curious why you have a preference for Curtin? Do you see him expanding his game into becoming a midfielder?

I have fears of taking another key defender so high when you can find the likes of Blanck for nothing.

We need more KP depth. It's one of our weakest areas. Blanck is going well, but we need more than just him. Curtin and McCabe could really shore up our backline.

If Curtin can also push up into the midfield or up forward, then all the better.

 

[danielG]

Agree. I think it's done.

Not as bad a result for Hawks now Duursma has surged into top 3 calculations.. One of Watson, Duursma or Curtin is a great result..Two of the three along with McCabe would be a ridiculously good haul and might elevate us to a c minus rating from fox footy!!

 

[VandoHawk]

Going by Cal's rankings 5 prospects in the top 15 are unavailable (Walter, Read, Rogers, Croft, McCabe). If North get Pick 3 and Sanders as a pre-list that means another 2 players get pulled.

This is a very compromised draft. At Pick 3 we still get access to a quality player (Duursma, Curtin or Watson) but probably from Pick 8 onwards you're having to consider second round prospects.

 

[TDS7]

Curtin won't be a key back guys. He's the same height as DGB and frankly not as strong or as quick over 10 metres. At AFL level he's an interceptor and accumulator a la Scrimshaw. If we wanted a second KPD it's O'Sullivan or Murphy which we would be able to pick up with a pick we get from any GWS trade. That's not to say Curtin isn't a great player, he's well worth a top 3 pick, but picking him up as a key back is unrealistic.

 

[Sixpence]

Curtin won't be a key back guys. He's the same height as DGB and frankly not as strong or as quick over 10 metres. At AFL level he's an interceptor and accumulator a la Scrimshaw. If we wanted a second KPD it's O'Sullivan or Murphy which we would be able to pick up with a pick we get from any GWS trade. That's not to say Curtin isn't a great player, he's well worth a top 3 pick, but picking him up as a key back is unrealistic.

He's the same height as KPF prospect Jed Walter, 1 cm shorter than AA Sam Taylor, 2 cms taller than AA Steven May. His height isn't a blocker to being an AFL KPD.

 

[chopflop]

Curtin won't be a key back guys. He's the same height as DGB and frankly not as strong or as quick over 10 metres. At AFL level he's an interceptor and accumulator a la Scrimshaw. If we wanted a second KPD it's O'Sullivan or Murphy which we would be able to pick up with a pick we get from any GWS trade. That's not to say Curtin isn't a great player, he's well worth a top 3 pick, but picking him up as a key back is unrealistic.

Spot on. He is more Scrim kolodjasni than a true KPP.

 

[daniel23]

Going by Cal's rankings 5 prospects in the top 15 are unavailable (Walter, Read, Rogers, Croft, McCabe). If North get Pick 3 and Sanders as a pre-list that means another 2 players get pulled.

This is a very compromised draft. At Pick 3 we still get access to a quality player (Duursma, Curtin or Watson) but probably from Pick 8 onwards you're having to consider second round prospects.

The whole system is a joke especially when the afl constantly harp on about an equal competition. This is as compromised as the start of gc and gws years. Thankfully we fall into the elite top 6 of this draft because I'd be trading out of the first round .