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.

 

[Hawk the Talk]

McKercher’s gut running and explosiveness is outstanding… I agree with ssssss that he reminds me of Ben Cousins in that way. It’d be hard to be disappointed with that pick. I’m still leaning towards Duursma though. I think he could end up being something special.

Gettin our hands on the Suns pick and being able to take McKercher, Duursma/Watson and McCabe would be bloody amazing. Then attack Naughton hard in FA next year and hope the drama keeps coming with the Dogs.

 

[Dewyyyyy]

I’d lean with Colby & Watto but happy with Duursma too. All 3 bring something different and will be stars.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

It's a tough one. You can always find mids.

 

[chopflop]

I like duursma but I can't help getting flashes of Will Hoskin-Elliot... Mckercher I am far more confident will be A grade

 

[Blackhawk42]

I like duursma but I can't help getting flashes of Will Hoskin-Elliot... Mckercher I am far more confident will be A grade

Skill wise, Hoskin-Elliot can't be necessarily be questioned. He just never fully developed physically. Much like Jayden Stephenson. Solid players who will have flashes of brilliance and long careers.

Duursma already looks more built than both of those players and he's still a kid. Combine his skill set with extra strength and size and you've got a serious player.

 

[TheFourPillars]

I like duursma but I can't help getting flashes of Will Hoskin-Elliot... Mckercher I am far more confident will be A grade

Skill wise, Hoskin-Elliot can't be necessarily be questioned. He just never fully developed physically. Much like Jayden Stephenson. Solid players who will have flashes of brilliance and long careers.

Duursma already looks more built than both of those players and he's still a kid. Combine his skill set with extra strength and size and you've got a serious player.

I haven't seen much of Duursma in person. He came down to training two years ago but didn't get involved much. So i just have the highlights but he does look a lot like Hoskin-Elliot. Does he have speed?

 

[nelk boys]

I haven't seen much of Duursma in person. He came down to training two years ago but didn't get involved much. So i just have the highlights but he does look a lot like Hoskin-Elliot. Does he have speed?

Yes, he has good bursts of speed.

Needs to build his tank.

 

[TheFourPillars]

Yes, he has good bursts of speed.

Needs to build his tank.

Ahh ok. So that would also be a point of difference say from a McKercher or Wiz

 

[Davo-27]

If North get their compo for losing their KPD, it might go like this

Pick 1 - North - Harley Reid (obvious Pick 1)
Pick 2 - GCS - Bid Jed Walter (match bid)
Pick 3 - North - Daniel Curtin (North need kpp)
Pick 4 - WCE - Colby McKercher (best mid available)
Pick 5 - Haw - Nick Watson/Zane Duursma (best available)

Nick Watson is a quality small forw with pace and good marking ability for a small, a lot of x-factor and knows where the goals are, performs in big games, tough, never backs away from a fight, needs to work on his defensive work, but ok in that regard, had a few games playing the Caleb Daniel

5

Caleb Daniel

Age

29

Ht

171cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.3

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.4

4star

D

19.5

4star

K

11.1

4star

HB

8.4

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

CL

1.0

3star

D

16.4

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

9.2

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.2

2star

role as small defender that counter punches and did well there getting a fair bit of loose ball and using his pace.

Zane Duursma has been top tier as a forward the last 2 years, he has tried to expand his game with midfield time, but just seems average in the midfield, good goal sense, great mark on a lead, knows how to find space In forward line, beautiful kick at goal, moves well on the field through traffic.

 

[H00t]

Ahh ok. So that would also be a point of difference say from a McKercher or Wiz

All three are pretty quick from what I’ve seen.

 

[noobermensch]

Ryley was one of the few Dragons players that stood up to the heat early as the Knights applied manic pressure around the ground and built a big lead. Sanders kept cracking in at the contest, and without him the scoreline might have gotten ugly.

 

[TDS7]

Ahh ok. So that would also be a point of difference say from a McKercher or Wiz

Duursma's biggest strength is his aerial presence. The kid flys for everything and has a habit of sticking the mark. He provides good crumbing work and some smooth balance and agility on the ground, but in the air there are very few better. This has me leaning him over Watson, Nick can take a good mark but Duursma is reliably excellent.

 

[TheFourPillars]

If North get their compo for losing their KPD, it might go like this

Pick 1 - North - Harley Reid (obvious Pick 1)
Pick 2 - GCS - Bid Jed Walter (match bid)
Pick 3 - North - Daniel Curtin (North need kpp)
Pick 4 - WCE - Colby McKercher (best mid available)
Pick 5 - Haw - Nick Watson/Zane Duursma (best available)

Nick Watson is a quality small forw with pace and good marking ability for a small, a lot of x-factor and knows where the goals are, performs in big games, tough, never backs away from a fight, needs to work on his defensive work, but ok in that regard, had a few games playing the Caleb Daniel role as small defender that counter punches and did well there getting a fair bit of loose ball and using his pace.

Zane Duursma has been top tier as a forward the last 2 years, he has tried to expand his game with midfield time, but just seems average in the midfield, good goal sense, great mark on a lead, knows how to find space In forward line, beautiful kick at goal, moves well on the field through traffic.

Yep lines up with what he was doing pre season for us this year.

 

[hardway]

I like duursma but I can't help getting flashes of Will Hoskin-Elliot... Mckercher I am far more confident will be A grade

I have the Mortons flashbacks. Might just be a brothers thing.

 

[chopflop]

I have the Mortens flashbacks. Might just be a brothers thing.

That's the other one I see a bit. Cale Morton consensus top 3 pick pre draft!

 

[sohsam]

7 and 11 probably gets us Caddy and O'Sullivan.

that is not bad is it? getting 2 quality forwards instead of one. between O'sullivan and McCabe you would think one of them can hold down Key back position. They can both interchange between forward and back. It all depends how badly we want a small forward in Watson. Could caddy become a player like roughead, looks more that way, perhaps duursma is more classy, although haven't both gone missing in games. draft is abit of a lottery anyway. There will be players at top of the table who are more consistent than others.

 

[The Chad and I]

Is Duursma the next Hird or Morton?
Every draftee has champion/spud players they are similar to.
Risk/Reward.


Mark MacKenzie has been particularly good at seeing through exposed form to project the full potential of a draftee.
That's why we now have a pick 76 meme as one of the best contested marks leading our forward line.
MM is very astute judge of talent and also character.

I really like all of the top 6-7 prospects.
So if we choose Watson, I'll back MM's call.
If he chooses Duursma, I will also back him.

 

[Steven Tyler]

Ryley was one of the few Dragons players that stood up to the heat early as the Knights applied manic pressure around the ground and built a big lead. Sanders kept cracking in at the contest, and without him the scoreline might have gotten ugly.

You’re doing great work with the updates
Thank you

 

[Topiary]

Great write up. I would almost agree with your top six choices but for what we NEED I'd swap Colby with Watson. Duursma is winning me over as the first pick but caddy is the big tease in the pack for mine.

For what it is worth, my opinion has changed slightly to Duursma when we missed on Riccardi. Watson represents what we desperately need also. I truly hope we can get another top ten pick.

 

[almuz]

Caddy was BOG as his Knights team upset a nearly full strength, top of the table Dragons outfit. He was especially dominant in a first half in which Northern were rampant, surging out to a big lead. Unfortunately, his kicking on goal was rather wayward as he managed only 4.3 with 2 more out on the full.

He looks Curnow-esq at times. Love the ground ball follow up and big tackles too.

I know it's all about best player available during a rebuild but a player like this is exactly what we need up forward.

 

[noobermensch]

You’re doing great work with the updates
Thank you

No worries at all. I've mostly been posting the kids that I think will be contenders for your first pick, but I make 2 or 3 videos most days and have vision on a lot of the deeper prospects. So if anyone wants a look at someone I havent posted here yet just let me know.

 

[MasterSamurai]

No worries at all. I've mostly been posting the kids that I think will be contenders for your first pick, but I make 2 or 3 videos most days and have vision on a lot of the deeper prospects. So if anyone wants a look at someone I havent posted here yet just let me know.

Ok , with your much better understanding of the draftees this year, I have a question. Keeping in mind that this is for the needs of Hawthorn only and not the general consensus. At our pick , we'd most likely have both Caddy and Duursma available, which one do you see as more likely to help Hawthorn Frwd line almost immediately? I am split down the middle on this more than any time I can remember re-drafts. Thanks in advance.

 

[Brishawk]

No worries at all. I've mostly been posting the kids that I think will be contenders for your first pick, but I make 2 or 3 videos most days and have vision on a lot of the deeper prospects. So if anyone wants a look at someone I havent posted here yet just let me know.

Archer reid, logan morris and O’Sullivan please, whenever you get around to ut

If also suggest everyone on this board would love a luke mccabe video.

 

[noobermensch]

Archer reid, logan morris and O’Sullivan please, whenever you get around to ut

If also suggest everyone on this board would love a luke mccabe video.

I've just done the one Logan Morris video, but it was probably his best game of the season:



I have more Archer Reid than this, but these are two solid recent games:




Connor O'Sullivan is one of my person favourites:

 

[noobermensch]

If also suggest everyone on this board would love a luke mccabe video.

I'm going to assume you mean Will McCabe not his dad?