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.

 

[BIGHAWK23]

Sanders won't be selected in the top 3 (if they don't get free access)

Im aware on talent thats correct, but its shocking treatment (we only want you if your free)

Fancy making the kid go through all that he has (getting approved etc)

And then abandoning him

 

[Hawk the Talk]

Reid will go to North and Curtin to the Eagles. Picks will get swapped but it’ll 100% happen

 

[Platten44]

Im aware on talent thats correct, but its shocking treatment (we only want you if your free)

Fancy making the kid go through all that he has (getting approved etc)

And then abandoning him

his career will be much better off away from North

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Nice couple of posts on the Duursma/Watson choice.
Watson is clearly going to become a very good small forward, but I would not take him ahead of Duursma.
If we take Duursma at our first pick, and Watson is still on the board for our second top 10 pick (hypothetical), then sure, I'd take him and I'd be happy about it. No bashing here - but the choice is clear with our first.

Get Duursma!

I'd even take him at #4 if we managed to get the GCS's pick. I think he will be a fan favourite excitement machine as a small forward.

But like you I think it should be absolutely clear cut with our first pick. There are just too many pro's and workable con's with Duursma compared to Watson.

 

[noobermensch]

Its a measure of how consistently excellent Ryley Sanders has been this season that he can have a relatively quiet game by his standards and still rack up 26 touches with some highlight sequences.

 

[Threadkilla]

Its a measure of how consistently excellent Ryley Sanders has been this season that he can have a relatively quiet game by his standards and still rack up 26 touches with some highlight sequences.

His posture and gait reminds me of Worps. Hard to tell from that snippet, but does he have a yard of pace?

 

[KeeperLeaguer]

I'd even take him at #4 if we managed to get the GCS's pick. I think he will be a fan favourite excitement machine as a small forward.

But like you I think it should be absolutely clear cut with our first pick. There are just too many pro's and workable con's with Duursma compared to Watson.

This is an excellent way of outlining it.
He doesn't have areas in his game that can't be fixed (not that he has that many anyway), his biggest would be his kicking efficiency - that's just my pov, and that can be fixed. Easily.

He's a very smooth mover with exquisite skills who attacks the ball in the air, he's someone we need roaming the forward line.

If the reports are true and we might be getting Henry I'd love to slot him & Duursma into our forward mix.

 

[noobermensch]

His posture and gait reminds me of Worps. Hard to tell from that snippet, but does he have a yard of pace?

The combine will tell us. I've heard people say that he was rapid in his testing at u16 level, but to me he does look slower than you'd like.

 

[FB19]

This is an excellent way of outlining it.
He doesn't have areas in his game that can't be fixed (not that he has that many anyway), his biggest would be his kicking efficiency - that's just my pov, and that can be fixed. Easily.

He's a very smooth mover with exquisite skills who attacks the ball in the air, he's someone we need roaming the forward line.

If the reports are true and we might be getting Henry I'd love to slot him & Duursma into our forward mix.

Henry is not a forward could be the new sign to tap. Ned Ryerson just an FYI at this stage.

 

[PMBangers]

The combine will tell us. I've heard people say that he was rapid in his testing at u16 level, but to me he does look slower than you'd like.

Better 20m than McKercher in pre season

 

[TylerDurden]

Its a measure of how consistently excellent Ryley Sanders has been this season that he can have a relatively quiet game by his standards and still rack up 26 touches with some highlight sequences.

Star.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

Whoever we get we will probably know a few days in advance. A few more leaks to the media now that Clarko isn't here. Deliberate leaks.

 

[naysayer]

Show me the bashing?

It's not bashing to point out the obvious height issue, and it's not bashing to claim that there is absolutely no way Watson would be playing in the backline at AFL level.

The criticisms raised are in the context of us discussing top five pick worthy draft talents. It's relative.

If Duursma's tank is the only concern for him then we are laughing. IF Duursma could improve his tank then he would certainly be a better wingman at AFL level, given Watson isn't going to grow and cannot compare with Duursma's contested marking and aerial ability, regardless of his occasional speccy. But it's a fairly moot point as they are both forwards and will spend the majority of their time there in the AFL.

Have no problem with the critique, but the way he's spoken about in here, you wouldn't think we were talking about the top scorer from the champs. Just a few pages ago was the suggestion that we'd be better off picking Darcy Wilson. Since we're comparing Watson and Duursma though, I'll mount a case for the defence:

Duursma also has question marks over his height. He's a third tall, and while his size is exciting for a midfielder, he's hasn't been an elite midfielder. The bigger question mark is over his tank. It's not fait accompli that a young player coming into the competition will be able to build their aerobic capacity quickly. The gap between junior level and AFL in terms of running is huge, and the assumption that mid-sized forwards will become elite goal kicking mids is fraught. For every Petracca, Fyfe and Martin there are players like Raynor, Hoskin-Elliot, Heeney, Zurhaar, Stringer, Powell-Pepper, Gresham who didn't get there for one reason or another.

At the moment Duursma is only elite as a medium forward, and I could easily see him playing most of next year at Box Hill while he builds the required fitness and puts on size to compete in marking contests. His skillset might take a few years to have any impact at AFL level.

Watson, on the other hand, is a small forward, and has the tank to play every game next year. His elite speed and one touch ball-handling should make him an instant threat in the forward fifty. The fact he can jump on heads and kick goals out of nothing is a bonus. He doesn't need to push anyone out of the way to play his natural game.

I have no problem picking up Duursma first if we judge him to be the better talent, but in terms of whose game will translate to AFL level, it's a complex call. I'd take Watson.

 

[RX Hawk]

Let's keep this simple and think through. Eagles have 1 and North will have 2 & 3 (assuming worse case compensation for McKay at 3) and we will have 4.
For sure both Reid and Curtin will be gone at 1 & 2. That means North can only take one of Duursma, Watson, McKercher. The key should be to get Suns pick 4(5 after North compo) so we could get the other two. It's simple as that.
All this noice about other players (Esava, Ben, Henry and Gresham) should be secondary although they are important.
So let's discuss how best we could secure Suns pick.

 

[The Chad and I]

Have no problem with the critique, but the way he's spoken about in here, you wouldn't think we were talking about the top scorer from the champs. Just a few pages ago was the suggestion that we'd be better off picking Darcy Wilson. Since we're comparing Watson and Duursma though, I'll mount a case for the defence:

Duursma also has question marks over his height. He's a third tall, and while his size is exciting for a midfielder, 1. he's hasn't been an elite midfielder. The bigger question mark is over his tank. 2. It's not fait accompli that a young player coming into the competition will be able to build their aerobic capacity quickly. The gap between junior level and AFL in terms of running is huge, and the assumption that mid-sized forwards will become elite goal kicking mids is fraught. 3. For every Petracca, Fyfe and Martin there are players like Raynor, Hoskin-Elliot, Heeney, Zurhaar, Stringer, Powell-Pepper, Gresham who didn't get there for one reason or another.

4. At the moment Duursma is only elite as a medium forward, and I could easily see him playing most of next year at Box Hill while he builds the required fitness and puts on size to compete in marking contests. His skillset might take a few years to have any impact at AFL level.

5. Watson, on the other hand, is a small forward, and has the tank to play every game next year. His elite speed and one touch ball-handling should make him an instant threat in the forward fifty. The fact he can jump on heads and kick goals out of nothing is a bonus. He doesn't need to push anyone out of the way to play his natural game.

I have no problem picking up Duursma first if we judge him to be the better talent, but in terms of whose game will translate to AFL level, it's a complex call. I'd take Watson.

1. I am happy to take Duursma as a medium-sized forward, who may develop some midfield abilities.
Nothing wrong with being mostly ("just") a forward like Breust and Rioli.

2. Almost every junior has the ? about developing physically.

3. This applies to every single draftee. There's the star comparison, and the spud comparison. Obviously the draft is about mitigating the risks, but we must apply criteria equally, and not mark down a player for something every single (top) draftee has to deal with: living up to expectations and fulfilling their potential.

4. I could see him playing as many games as Ward/MacDonald did in their rookie seasons.

5. I agree. Watson is ready to go. He is a great prospect. I just don't want him with our first pick (3).

 

[Brucie Buffer]

I have no doubt we will land a gun with our pick. I am just glad the decision isn’t mine. The more I read the more confused I get.
We haven’t been able to fix DGB’s tank so I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that it’s an easy fix for every player that comes into a professional environment.
We need to find a way to get the Suns pick, I’m on the Watson train, but that could change by the morning.

 

[Del33640]

I raise you...

a man could tear his own eyes and ears out with a blunt stick after exposure to that horsesh$&.

Entire club should have been folded on tje spot.

 

[BIGHAWK23]

I have no doubt we will land a gun with our pick. I am just glad the decision isn’t mine. The more I read the more confused I get.
We haven’t been able to fix DGB’s tank so I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that it’s an easy fix for every player that comes into a professional environment.
We need to find a way to get the Suns pick, I’m on the Watson train, but that could change by the morning.

Fixing a tank is a two-way street

 

[Manila_Hawk]

a man could tear his own eyes and ears out with a blunt stick after exposure to that horsesh$&.

Entire club should have been folded on tje spot.

Worst part was seeing Big Boy in the clip. Can't unsee it now.

 

[Mojo]

I wouldnt put it beyond him. I mean after all he is the wiz lol

*Dung beatle.

 

[Dipper]

Worst part was seeing Big Boy in the clip. Can't unsee it now.

Ha! I thought that must be the most un-Bigboy like thing he's ever done in his life.

Whilst Nick Riewoldt probably pulls that kind of thing in front of the mirror every day.

 

[Brucie Buffer]

Fixing a tank is a two-way street

That’s disappointing if that’s the case, being our earliest pick in a while like everyone else had high prospects of and was excited to watch him come on.

Hopefully another pre season, who knows?

 

[noobermensch]

Boom 2024 prospect Finn O'Sullivan turned in an excellent performance to help the Oakleigh Chargers get up against rivals the Sandringham Dragons.

 

[peetoo]

It isn't ever that simple, but he's certainly a good chance of coming to us if available at our selection.

I actually think we lack a player like Duursma on our list more so than pure smalls.

I've still got Sam Butler as my breakout player of 2024.

And Ramsden

 

[Brant]

And Ramsden

Looked terribly slow in his last game.
Hoping it was just a TV thing.