Player Watch #35: Matt "The Swingman" Whitlock

[giantroo]

Welcome to Matt Whitlock!!!

Five things to know about Matt Whitlock

Get to know North Melbourne's No.27 pick of the 2024 Telstra AFL Draft

www.nmfc.com.au

 

[noobermensch]

Huge, what a dramatic end to night 1. I've got a couple of Matt Whitlock vids to check out:

 

[giantroo]

 

[Roostorm]

Welcome Matty……one of the twins…….you will be better than the last one …..lm backing ya in mate…. Here’s to a brilliant career…

Geezz Brady finally did it…..

 

[JGreezy]

He'll prove this to be a good trade

 

[Roostorm]

Huge, what a dramatic end to night 1. I've got a couple of Matt Whitlock vids to check out:

What’s your thoughts on him Noobermensch ….cheers in anticipation

 

[Passmore]

BoomerRoo

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Bloody hell, I’m one of Matt’s biggest fan’s but I don’t like torching our future 1 for a pick in the 20’s.

 

[The Filth Wizard]

He'll prove this to be a good trade

Matt filling out is a mouth watering prospect (wait...), we'll have three giants in Whitlock, Dawson and Chom that will be dangerous at either end of the ground. And that's if Goad just stays a ruck.

 

[Nate1993]

Rated him better than Jack. Can play both ends, was a key defender yet managed to snag 27 goals throughout the season.

 

[Roostorm]

Bloody hell, I’m one of Matt’s biggest fan’s but I don’t like torching our future 1 for a pick in the 20’s.

That’s the conundrum…..a high pick for that draft place….and do we miss out..
Obviously they rate him…..
So fudge it boots an all…get around the locksmith…..

 

[noobermensch]

What’s your thoughts on him Noobermensch ….cheers in anticipation

I like him a lot. Look, all of the talls falling in this range of the draft have flaws, which is why they didn't go higher. He's not as consistently clean overhead as you'd like at this stage. That might come with more development, more core strength etc. When he's on song he can pluck them so we know he's capable. Both he and Jack are raw right now, sometimes look a bit like Bambi on ice, but the physical talent is there in spades with their height and the way they move.

The two things he's better at than Jack in my mind is that firstly he's better below his knees, and secondly he's more intense and competitive.

 

[Colby Cheer Squad]

Matt filling out is a mouth watering prospect (wait...), we'll have three giants in Whitlock, Dawson and Chom that will be dangerous at either end of the ground. And that's if Goad just stays a ruck.

Get the lad on the W. Dawson diet post haste.

 

[Better Loosen Up]

Let me just get this straight, Jobe Shanahan was still on the board right? Mind boggling trade!

 

[Roostorm]

I like him a lot. Look, all of the talls falling in this range of the draft have flaws, which is why they didn't go higher. He's not as consistently clean overhead as you'd like at this stage. That might come with more development, more core strength etc. When he's on song he can pluck them so we know he's capable. Both he and Jack are raw right now, sometimes look a bit like Bambi on ice, but the physical talent is there in spades with their height and the way they move.

The two things he's better at than Jack in my mind is that firstly he's better below his knees, and secondly he's more intense and competitive.

Cheers…..that is a very exciting prospect….prepared to play the long game….and fits the age profile we are assembling….very happy to take the gamble …
thanks for your reply and excellent analysis over the many months leading up to the draft….look fwd to next years …cheers mate

 

[longyroos]

If you know, you know.

 

[travelli]

Reckon he'll be building for a year or two, but that is what you get with young talls. Is a bit like Petrie? He moves well and we have started our forward future.

 

[The Dingrel]

What’s your thoughts on him Noobermensch ….cheers in anticipation

My two bobs worth is he looks like a very very difficult player to defend against.....fast on the lead, takes them out in front, has a long reach, ,,,,,,just need to put on a bit of size for AFL, but Darling has bought us time to allow him to develop. A trade like this was always on the cards after bringing Darling in. Clarko is building a very versatile team, and the talls we have are all athletic!

 

[RightWingRoo]

With taking O'Sullivan we really, truly don't need anymore mids.
It's down to how Whitlock might rate against any talls who might go early next year. And the benefit of an extra year of development he'd have over them.

I'm just relieved we picked a rated KPF tbh. This is what we got Darling over for, to help develop a young forward.

It's risky, but we'll still likely have 2 picks inside 25 next year.
Can look to really nail down on list needs and not have any pressure to pick the best available.

 

[Dan]

Welcome aboard Matt.

We paid a small fortune to get you…..so ahh….you know no pressure or anything.

 

[Brissyroo]

My two bobs worth is he looks like a very very difficult player to defend against.....fast on the lead, takes them out in front, has a long reach, ,,,,,,just need to put on a bit of size for AFL, but Kennedy has bought us time to allow him to develop. A trade like this was always on the cards after bringing Kennedy in. Clarko is building a very versatile team, and the talls we have are all athletic!

Darling?

 

[Benj7]

MASSSSIVEEEE WOULD HAVE TAKEN HIM TOP 10 in the 2025 draft. flipping stealll

Stern look

 

[Ligma]

Rising star winner 2025

 

[Brissyroo]

And I was betrayed for suggesting our F1 for 10....

 

[Friday Night Lights]

With taking O'Sullivan's we really, truly don't need anymore mids.
It's down to how Whitlock might rate against any talls who might go early next year. And the benefit of an extra year of development he'd have over them.

I'm just relieved we picked a rated KPF tbh. This is what we got Darling over for, to help develop a young forward.

It's risky, but we'll still likely have 2 picks inside 25 next year.
Can look to really nail down on list needs and not have any pressure to pick the best available.

Agreed. 2 picks in 25 and two years worth of futures to use too. There’s a lot more currency to use as of next year.