Player Watch #35: Matt "The Swingman" Whitlock! - Extends contract to 3 years.

[pupstar]

So you dont live in football territory and you want to question others? When was the last year you kicked a football?

All I'm asking is what you base their fitness level on as juniors.

 

[Hatchy1992]

Absolutely not. Even on junior careers. Whitlocks arent fit enough, temu versions

Are you basing this on their current levels or are you comparing them both as juniors?

 

[DuckYeah]

All I'm asking is what you base their fitness level on as juniors.

Fitness? No. Not fitness. As Key Position Players

 

[DuckYeah]

Are you basing this on their current levels or are you comparing them both as juniors?

Well at the same age.

Max dominated U/18’s.. bagged 8, Ben made all aus team. They are basically prototypical Key Position Forwards. Exactly what you want in 200cm KPF. IIRC Ben made the AA u/18 team? Or was it Max? Anyway one of em did and the other was clearly the best KPF in the draft.

Whitlocks: Jack was the better forward and Matt showed he could swing both ends. None really ripped anything apart (unlike the King Twins), neither of them the best in their positions in their junior years.

I’d take Gerreyn over Matt and Jack too.

There is a long way to go but i’d have either King over either Whitlock any day of the week.

Ive watched Matt closely and he just appears as though he finds himself in the wrong positions as a KPF and in no mans land quite often, no where near what a big key position player should be. The way he plays or the way he is comfortable playing doesn’t suit his strongest physical attributes.

Also, I couldn’t stand his “lad” debut video.

 

[Devil Fish]

Trade is looking like a huge win

Jackpot! Jackpot! Double Jackpot!

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Just don’t see a spot for him up forward.

 

[DuckYeah]

Just don’t see a spot for him up forward.

Will be interesting to see how he develops. I’d be playing him down back

 

[shintemaster]

Just don’t see a spot for him up forward.

Given the draft just gone on paper there is more of one than there is down back (all going well). It's clear to me they don't trust Comben forward, at least not desperate enough to roll with it until it works given he looks more comfortable in the backline. With Dawson, Thredgold & Comben we have 3 young talls down there already. Up forward Darling will be gone in a year or so, Larkey will be 28 this year and then we have our MSD draft pick from last year. Whitlock timing wise should be hitting his prime as Larkey is on the back end of his.

 

[DuckYeah]

Given the draft just gone on paper there is more of one than there is down back (all going well). It's clear to me they don't trust Comben forward, at least not desperate enough to roll with it until it works given he looks more comfortable in the backline. With Dawson, Thredgold & Comben we have 3 young talls down there already. Up forward Darling will be gone in a year or so, Larkey will be 28 this year and then we have our MSD draft pick from last year. Whitlock timing wise should be hitting his prime as Larkey is on the back end of his.

Do you think Cobden could be a premiership backman? I dont. I also have doubts on Dawson but there is plenty of time to see development with him.

And Darling shouldn’t be anywhere near the best 22 in 2026.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Given the draft just gone on paper there is more of one than there is down back (all going well). It's clear to me they don't trust Comben forward, at least not desperate enough to roll with it until it works given he looks more comfortable in the backline. With Dawson, Thredgold & Comben we have 3 young talls down there already. Up forward Darling will be gone in a year or so, Larkey will be 28 this year and then we have our MSD draft pick from last year. Whitlock timing wise should be hitting his prime as Larkey is on the back end of his.

Yeah, but I don’t think three KPF’s (with Zurhaar and Curtis) is the way to go.

 

[shintemaster]

Yeah, but I don’t think three KPF’s (with Zurhaar and Curtis) is the way to go.

I think you're overthinking it somewhat though. They're mostly looking minimum 2+ years down the track. Agree 3 tall KPF's with Zurhaar and Curtis is on the slow side, but Darling will be gone, they will want to push Curtis up field plenty and the extra on the bench will mean you can rotate talls through a bit more. I just think of it as Darling a straight swap for Whitlock the Curtis, Zurhaar and 2 genuine smalls more often than not.

 

[DuckYeah]

they will want to push Curtis up field

One of the most dangerous forwards inside 50 in the comp and you think they will want him up the ground more with the likes of Wardlaw, Sheezel, LDU, Kerch and co? Absolutely not, he is a forward 3rd machine

 

[pupstar]

One of the most dangerous forwards inside 50 in the comp and you think they will want him up the ground more with the likes of Wardlaw, Sheezel, LDU, Kerch and co? Absolutely not, he is a forward 3rd machine

Totally agree leave him forward

 

[zoomba23]

One of the most dangerous forwards inside 50 in the comp and you think they will want him up the ground more with the likes of Wardlaw, Sheezel, LDU, Kerch and co? Absolutely not, he is a forward 3rd machine

Robbing someone to pay someone inferior is our speciality. Don't rag on it

 

[Shinboner1]

Just don’t see a spot for him up forward.

i think he locks down a spot when darling retires.
Larkey, Whitlock and trembath for the next 6+ years.

 

[speedy]

i think he locks down a spot when darling retires.
Larkey, Whitlock and trembath for the next 6+ years.

It’s a tough one. I think whitlocks best position is as a 3rd defensive tall. Unfortunately one of our swing men has to play forward. Maybe Comben with a bit more maturity can be given another go up forward in 2-3 years. He’s still only played 48 games.

 

[RooInNorthLondon]

It is clear the club are going to give him first look up front again this year. Let us hope he takes full advantage and starts to establish himself. I am hopeful that at least one of him and Trembath will do just that. We chose not to ‘draft over them’ suggesting some confidence internally.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

I think you're overthinking it somewhat though. They're mostly looking minimum 2+ years down the track. Agree 3 tall KPF's with Zurhaar and Curtis is on the slow side, but Darling will be gone, they will want to push Curtis up field plenty and the extra on the bench will mean you can rotate talls through a bit more. I just think of it as Darling a straight swap for Whitlock the Curtis, Zurhaar and 2 genuine smalls more often than not.

You’re probably spot on the money.

I just feel Whitlock is more suited to the back half.

 

[SunnyBoner]

I'm happy for our emerging talls in Matlock, Thredgold and Goad to spend 2026 learning their craft in the VFL with the occasional AFL game and then go bang in 2027. I suspect Corr and Darling will play significant mentoring roles in the reserves.

 

[giantroo]

 

[Makeshift Park]

He needs a big scary beard to complete the look.

 

[Shack18]

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Looks to have put on a lot size !!

 

[Shinboner1]

View attachment 2484777

that neck

 

[Supreme_Chancellor]

Interesting take on the Matlock trade.

 

[Jasemon]

Interesting take on the Matlock trade.

Fantastic, extremely well thought out analysis. As with all drafting and trades it’s always going to be a wait and see but I truly believe North have done really well when you look at the last two drafts in totality.