Player Watch 2023 AFL Draft Pool Discussion Thread

Who would you prefer we pick with our first pick?

  • Nick Watson

    Votes: 147 36.2%
  • Zane Duursma

    Votes: 136 33.5%
  • Colby McKercher

    Votes: 50 12.3%
  • Daniel Curtin

    Votes: 51 12.6%
  • Nate Caddy

    Votes: 10 2.5%
  • Conor O'Sullivan

    Votes: 6 1.5%
  • Ryley Sanders

    Votes: 4 1.0%
  • Darcy Wilson

    Votes: 2 0.5%

  • Total voters
    406

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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.
 
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Many. Including his four games against VFL or equivalent sides. (Coburg, Box Hill, Carlton, Port Adelaide). Failed to have an impact in all four.

I encourage you to watch the highlights below and pin point exactly where you think my statement is wrong.

There’s a reason I don’t have an agenda against other prospects like Curtin or Mckercher. Will get towed up at AFL level.


Very good, watching games live is needed to informatively assess players. FWIW, I've been a huge fan of Colby since watching him last year. Unlike you I have concerns with Nick because in Coates League games I’ve attended he has been restricted playing in the forward 50 and only had an impact when moved behind the ball or on ball where he had more freedom. He certainly is a highlight reel however he needs to work harder when the opposition has possession.
I wouldn’t rule out trading up to pick one for Harley otherwise taking Daniel Curtain at pick four to play as a key defender. He looked really comfortable and composed playing in the WAFL and having spoken to him before the draft combined he really impressed me.
 

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Very good, watching games live is needed to informatively assess players. FWIW, I've been a huge fan of Colby since watching him last year. Unlike you I have concerns with Nick because in Coates League games I’ve attended he has been restricted playing in the forward 50 and only had an impact when moved behind the ball or on ball where he had more freedom. He certainly is a highlight reel however he needs to work harder when the opposition has possession.
I wouldn’t rule out trading up to pick one for Harley otherwise taking Daniel Curtain at pick four to play as a key defender. He looked really comfortable and composed playing in the WAFL and having spoken to him before the draft combined he really impressed me.
Interesting stuff HH. I will be interested to see on draft night. As both the Wiz and Curtin will most like be available at our pick do we bite the bullet on Curtin as we rate him higher or do we go with the Wiz. This is especially so given we are taking Mcabe later on
 
Interesting stuff HH. I will be interested to see on draft night. As both the Wiz and Curtin will most like be available at our pick do we bite the bullet on Curtin as we rate him higher or do we go with the Wiz. This is especially so given we are taking Mcabe later on

It all depends on how likely we believe Curtain could become a genuine AFL Key Defender in the future.
Blanck is still reasonably youngish, but no certainty to make it.
Frost is on his last legs and not a genuine key defender.
Sicily has been forced to play tall.
DGB is now playing as a 3rd tall forward.

There's certainly a good case to be made for all of Duursma, Watson, and Curtain at our pick. Happy to back the club whichever way they go as I see plenty of upside in all of them.
 
Very good, watching games live is needed to informatively assess players. FWIW, I've been a huge fan of Colby since watching him last year. Unlike you I have concerns with Nick because in Coates League games I’ve attended he has been restricted playing in the forward 50 and only had an impact when moved behind the ball or on ball where he had more freedom. He certainly is a highlight reel however he needs to work harder when the opposition has possession.
I wouldn’t rule out trading up to pick one for Harley otherwise taking Daniel Curtain at pick four to play as a key defender. He looked really comfortable and composed playing in the WAFL and having spoken to him before the draft combined he really impressed me.
I’m thinking Curtin will be our best bet if Eagles take Reid and McKercher is off the board.

Primary concern is that we need the KPD. That alone is enough to make it the right choice for us. Added bonus is that he can also play midfield.

I’m not concerned about go home factor. We have a great club environment and I’d back that in to keep him unless he has twins too. Maybe even then.

Not sure his selection would have any impact on any potential trade for Harley Reid down the track. There’s no guarantee either player would want to be part of a swap if one or both decided to return to their home state.
 
Interesting stuff HH. I will be interested to see on draft night. As both the Wiz and Curtin will most like be available at our pick do we bite the bullet on Curtin as we rate him higher or do we go with the Wiz. This is especially so given we are taking Mcabe later on
I don’t believe we rate Curtin higher.
If it was Duursma yes, (we are already interested in the youngest Duursma).
 
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Very good, watching games live is needed to informatively assess players. FWIW, I've been a huge fan of Colby since watching him last year. Unlike you I have concerns with Nick because in Coates League games I’ve attended he has been restricted playing in the forward 50 and only had an impact when moved behind the ball or on ball where he had more freedom. He certainly is a highlight reel however he needs to work harder when the opposition has possession.
I wouldn’t rule out trading up to pick one for Harley otherwise taking Daniel Curtain at pick four to play as a key defender. He looked really comfortable and composed playing in the WAFL and having spoken to him before the draft combined he really impressed me.
Not many forwards have an impact if the ball isn’t in their forward 50. Nick has proven he can win centre clearances and play roles elsewhere on the ground.

Absolutely zero chance we land Harley. Impossible.

Curtin’s my second pick after Watson. Knock on him is his ability to defend and whether he actually is a KPP. He has said many times he sees himself as a midfielder.
 
So we should be looking at Xavier, as a direct projection of what Zane will be?

Your baits are getting better.
That isn’t the point. My point is all draft picks get compared to players this time of year. Zane has just been compared to Silk. A ridiculous comparison.
 
How so? Everyone’s a future star this time of year. The Burgoyne comparison will be laughable in a few years time. Just like Xavier’s comparison to Trent Cotchin. Absolutely relevant.

It's such a moronic point and it shouldn't have to be explained to you, yet again.

Xavier is irrelevant. His projections, etc. are irrelevant. His player comparisons are irrelevant. Your post was irrelevant. At no point was Xavier ever rated as a consensus top 4 pick in his respective draft. At no point was he ever as highly touted as Zane is.

To suggest that Zane is being overrated - despite essentially every draft watcher having him either 3 or 4 on their lists - because Xavier hasn't lived up to his early hype is mind numbingly stupid.
 
It's such a moronic point and it shouldn't have to be explained to you, yet again.

Xavier is irrelevant. His projections, etc. are irrelevant. His player comparisons are irrelevant. Your post was irrelevant. At no point was Xavier ever rated as a consensus top 4 pick in his respective draft. At no point was he ever as highly touted as Zane is.

To suggest that Zane is being overrated - despite essentially every draft watcher having him either 3 or 4 on their lists - because Xavier hasn't lived up to his early hype is mind numbingly stupid.
It's like comparing Matty Lloyd to Brad Lloyd.
 
Not many forwards have an impact if the ball isn’t in their forward 50. Nick has proven he can win centre clearances and play roles elsewhere on the ground.

Absolutely zero chance we land Harley. Impossible.

Curtin’s my second pick after Watson. Knock on him is his ability to defend and whether he actually is a KPP. He has said many times he sees himself as a midfielder.
The problem was not the lack of ball inside the forward 50, Nick was simply out manoeuvred and played by his direct under age opponents. The primary reason for drafting Nick would be for him to play as a forward, not elsewhere.
Impossible, WCE could be hanging out for the Centrelink Shinbeggars to crack and trade pick 2 and the charity pick 3. On draft night I wouldn’t rule out pick 4 and a future first coming into play.
Based on my conversation with Daniel, he considers his best position is as a defender. Time will tell.
 
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