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.

 

[Bugs1977]

Wiz won't be picked for midfield, there are other prime mid choices in the draft before the wiz, he will be much sought after as a Frwd but more so, for extreme football smarts .

I actually go against the grain and think his height will be an advantage at AFL level. 80% of players these days can't stick a proper tackle and someone of his height is bound to get multiple head heigh free kicks a game due to that sloppiness.

 

[cryptor]

Is there any other knock on Watson other than his height?

Seems to be a very long list of positives yet people seem fixated on the one negative. Which could even be an advantage in a lot of situations.

 

[Bugs1977]

Are we almost at a point we need to add a poll for draft preference to this thread… mods?

 

[chopflop]

To be honest, Yes.
And was flabbergasted when we blew those picks on draft night.

But happily enjoying my humble pie now.

Like many did. The OP is dismissive of O'Sullivan as a top ten talent and that is what I am responding to. I haven't watched alot of him but I see

• high production (20+) possession games
• bit of a bolter this year (late development)
• great speed for a tall and excellent agility
• serviceable skills
• a true KPP size and a frame that will fill out
• above average body positioning in marking contests and reading the flight of the ball.

I would have o'sullivan closer to 5 than 10 and nowhere near second round.

 

[Brishawk]

Is there any other knock on Watson other than his height?

Seems to be a very long list of positives yet people seem fixated on the one negative. Which could even be an advantage in a lot of situations.

He is an elite small forward talent. His height comes into it when 4P starts shooting from the hip and claiming he can play anywhere

Just posted a discussion of the relationship between height and position etc. here for a longer discussion to not drag down this thread.

AFL Player Heights

Hoping this thread can do the heavy lifting on this topic instead of it all existing in the AFL draft thread :) As this is inspired by Nick Watson, I'm going to focus on small players whom we might think could be forwards, mids and forward mids. I am also including defender mids as that is what...

www.bigfooty.com

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Is there any other knock on Watson other than his height?

Seems to be a very long list of positives yet people seem fixated on the one negative. Which could even be an advantage in a lot of situations.

Height, and therefore size in general, is a huge knock / point of consideration. He's going to be coming up against players 30kg and 20cm on him if he runs through the midfield.

We do need a quality small forward with Brockman on his way out and Wingard being injured. So I'm all for Watson if that's who the club decides to take.

There's simply no way he's playing all over the field though. He may be able to do it for his High School side, but it won't happen at AFL level.

 

[bigmaxi]

Like many did. The OP is dismissive of O'Sullivan as a top ten talent and that is what I am responding to. I haven't watched alot of him but I see

• high production (20+) possession games
• bit of a bolter this year (late development)
• great speed for a tall and excellent agility
• serviceable skills
• a true KPP size and a frame that will fill out
• above average body positioning in marking contests and reading the flight of the ball.

I would have o'sullivan closer to 5 than 10 and nowhere near second round.

Big fan of O’Sullivan if we score an extra pick, him, Macabe and possibly Serong and tall backs sorted. Maybe just maybe one of them could go forward.

 

[hawk65]

Is there any other knock on Watson other than his height?

Seems to be a very long list of positives yet people seem fixated on the one negative. Which could even be an advantage in a lot of situations.

He’s not great in the ruck.

 

[noobermensch]

A standout Champs carnival from Curtin in a WA team that struggled at times. He showed his versatility playing through the midfield and in defense, and ended up being named at CHB the All Australian team.

 

[RoughysMullet]

A standout Champs carnival from Curtin in a WA team that struggled at times. He showed his versatility playing through the midfield and in defense, and ended up being named at CHB the All Australian team.

Love Curtin but he only projects as a tall mid or 3rd defender at the top level and a small/mid forward is a massive list need at the moment - Wingard cooked, Brocky back to WA, Bruest nearing the end and jury still out on Butler.
Our pick has to be Watson or Duursma

 

[KeeperLeaguer]

It's between Watson, Curtin & Duursma. I don't think McKercher is in the equation.
From what I'm told anyway - depending on which direction the club wants to go.

 

[TylerDurden]

 

[Platten44]

It's between Watson, Curtin & Duursma. I don't think McKercher is in the equation.
From what I'm told anyway - depending on which direction the club wants to go.

The club are never going to leak their exact plan/preferences. It’s the player we talk to least to look out for.

 

[FB19]

The club are never going to leak their exact plan/preferences. It’s the player we talk to least to look out for.

The club haven’t contacted me yet.

 

[Mopar Jason]

Jon Ralph (Herald Sun) says rival clubs believe we are right into Duursma as he fits our need for a dynamic forward also because we have added Newcombe, Ward and Mckenzie to our midfield brigade in the last couple of years

 

[The Chad and I]

THOUGHT EXPERIMENT:
Do you expect Watson to be as good as Pickett?
Would you trade pick 3 for Kysaiah Pickett

36

Kysaiah Pickett

Age

24

Ht

171cm

Wt

73kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.0

2star

K

4.7

2star

HB

3.3

3star

M

0.7

1star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.7

3star

D

8.0

2star

K

4.7

2star

HB

3.3

2star

M

0.7

1star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.7

3star

D

8.0

2star

K

4.8

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

0.8

1star

T

2.4

4star

CL

0.8

3star

?

They're the same height.

 

[The Cleaner]

Jon Ralph (Herald Sun) says rival clubs believe we are right into Duursma as he fits our need for a dynamic forward also because we have added Newcombe, Ward and Mckenzie to our midfield brigade in the last couple of years

Imagine being paid to impart these blinding revelations to the world.

 

[cryptor]

THOUGHT EXPERIMENT:
Do you expect Watson to be as good as Pickett?
Would you trade pick 3 for Kysaiah Pickett?

They're the same height.

Pickett is actually 1cm taller than Watson so this argument is complete garbage.

 

[The Chad and I]

How did you rare Josh Weddle pre-draft? Another second round talent?

Weak argument.

O'Sullivan's ball handling and skills are merely adequate, and his movement is lumbering more than athletic.
He is already a decent size competing against boys.

I just don't see anything special about him to make me want him at Hawthorn.

 

[A Diakos]

Can Watson kick 50
Metres ??

Does he have strength and power ??

When I saw him v country he didn’t make the distance from 50 out

If he has Speed strength power and can kick 50 metres his lack of height won’t be a problem

From the one time I watched im
Not convinced he has those qualities in abundance …albeit he looked good a clever player

Same game I did like dursma

 

[mknaven]

Like many did. The OP is dismissive of O'Sullivan as a top ten talent and that is what I am responding to. I haven't watched alot of him but I see

• high production (20+) possession games
• bit of a bolter this year (late development)
• great speed for a tall and excellent agility
• serviceable skills
• a true KPP size and a frame that will fill out
• above average body positioning in marking contests and reading the flight of the ball.

I would have o'sullivan closer to 5 than 10 and nowhere near second round.

IIRC you were a fan of Weddle (& Connor Mac?) pre-draft too, despite him likely playing a position we were somewhat well stocked in.

In any case I'm not sure how we get a pick high enough to grab him unless we again trade future picks.

 

[chopflop]

IIRC you were a fan of Weddle (& Connor Mac?) pre-draft too, despite him likely playing a position we were somewhat well stocked in.

In any case I'm not sure how we get a pick high enough to grab him unless we again trade future picks.

Weddle I liked in the top 10.
I was high on Connor MacDonald along with a few others on here, much preferred over more hyped types (sonsie and Zac taylor)
I also have my share of misses. I was big on will Phillips but that whole draft was poo.

This year I haven't watched anywhere near enough so far less conviction but I do like the o'sullivan package. I also agree with others that Curtin projects at worst as a third tall defender and I think, at best, a tall mid. Don't see a dominant KPD force.

A Haynes salary dump pick could be in the range (unlikely)

More likely would be a GCS pick. Think Sydney likely picks him if they keep their pick

 

[Judd2Sewell]

It's interesting the conversation in here because Sam certainly thinks he can play mid and wing and half back. Lets see it play out. Wiz will be picked up. Lets see what happens with his career. As i said he such an incredible talent forward of center that is where he will play. However he does have great endurance so he can be moved else where if required or if he is struggling.

Has Mitchell actually said this?

 

[TheFourPillars]

Has Mitchell actually said this?

No but he doesnt have to when wiz started at center bounces on the wing and half back along with playing in the forward line. During our intras over the last two pre seasons

 

[Judd2Sewell]

No but he doesnt have to when wiz started at center bounces on the wing and half back along with playing in the forward line. During our intras over the last two pre seasons

I remember watching him train two years ago, along with Duursma. They didn't participate in any intras at that point though.

I'd love to see him standing in the centre next to Nash and Reeves, even if it was only for a laugh.