Draft Profile Matthew Watson

[chinggis77]

Anyone know how he went at Draft Camp in the 20m sprint/endurance stakes?

Too big? Everyone should have a look at Matthew Pavlich when he played U18's. Big ???'s over him as he was thought of as being way too big.

 

[Toadvine]

Pavlich carried his weight a lot better, He had zip and agility. Not Watson.

 

[Raymann]

Pavlich carried his weight a lot better, He had zip and agility. Not Watson.

Could not agree with you anymore...

Monstered thru junior footy including tac. wont be able to do the same against men - what's the upside?

Will get picked up in the third or forth round!

Good luck to mat, i hope he makes it!

 

[bombermick]

Looks a bit like an inferior Michael Hurley. A big strong lad but not blessed with a whole lot of pace. Can he go forward?

 

[chopperduck]

Lack of pace is a concern, and at 100kg may be a bit on the heavy side.

Things that may be fixed in a professional sports environment and training perhaps. I guess that is a call the recruiters will make. If he is near 100kg no doubt they will strip him down and try get a bit more speed from him.

 

[folester41]

rather a tall thats heavy and needs to slim down, as opposed to a really skinny kid who needs to stack on 15 kg's.

 

[wceblog]

I don't see his straight line pace as a huge concern - he seems about average for a key position player.

He relies primarily on his reading of the play to beat his opponent rather than 1-1 body strength, so I don't buy the 'man against boys' argument.

He would be ideally suited to a club where he can be used as a 2nd tall defender that can zone off and set up a lot of quality play from the back half.

He's ready to come into AFL straight off the bat which will fast track his development.

I'm not sure where he'll get picked up - that's up to the various recruiters rankings and opinions, which clubs think he'll fit into their defensive set-up etc. but I find it hard to see him not being at least a good player at AFL.

 

[Raymann]

rather a tall thats heavy and needs to slim down, as opposed to a really skinny kid who needs to stack on 15 kg's.

Foles - so you would be in the Brisbane camp and pick a mature body Daniel Rich instead of a skinny Stephen Hill.

Personally i would select Stephen Hill everyday.

 

[WALL-e]

Notte v Rutten

Depends on the player.

 

[Raymann]

Notte v Rutten

Depends on the player.

Wall-E - i hear you buddy!

The recruiters that i speak to always ask the same question - "what's the upside"?

Not saying Watson wont be drafted, he will! IMO later rather than early, unless a club has an immediate need for a defender.

i note thatin the Prelim against Dandy (i saw the game) he had 20 possies, all long kicks!

i thought that was a little unusual.

 

[krisholio14]

The question I ask about this fellow is - How much development does he have left in him?

I think that's why opinions on where he will go in the draft are so varied.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

The question I ask about this fellow is - How much development does he have left in him?

I think that's why opinions on where he will go in the draft are so varied.

True, that is THE question which will determine whether he goes high 1st round or not.

I'd be happy to have him though...he definitely fits our needs.

 

[ajsuperstar]

is he a better player than mccarthy? maybe with less potential however?

 

[TerryWallet]

does anyone know what his 20m sprint time was at Draft Combine?

I read somewhere that it was something like 2.93 which onlookers were pleasantly surprised with.

 

[Aliago]

is he a better player than mccarthy? maybe with less potential however?

theyll be different players. watson will the traditional full back, whereas mccarthy will turn out to be a half back flanker

 

[folester41]

if watson somehow makes it to thirty, i hope we have a serious look, we need a full back, and if his pace is good enough, i think he would be perfect.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

if watson somehow makes it to thirty, i hope we have a serious look, we need a full back, and if his pace is good enough, i think he would be perfect.

Next to zero chance of that. I can't see that many clubs, particularly mine, passing on him.

 

[folester41]

i wouldnt have thought so, because i rate him too, but if his athleticism isnt up to scratch then he may just slide.

 

[Blue and Silver]

Apparantley he tested better than expected at the DC

 

[Pure_Ownage]

i wouldnt have thought so, because i rate him too, but if his athleticism isnt up to scratch then he may just slide.

I'm not concerned about it.

There were players (like Gordon apparently) that tested much slower than Watson, and he reads the play so well that he'll make up for his lack of pace.

I'd be stoked with him at 15 but I think GC would be mad not to take him first.

 

[folester41]

I'm not concerned about it.

There were players (like Gordon apparently) that tested much slower than Watson, and he reads the play so well that he'll make up for his lack of pace.

I'd be stoked with him at 15 but I think GC would be mad not to take him first.

yeah watson is the type of player gold coast would be crazy not to take, just like i think they would be mad not to take darling.

im interested to see which way geelong go with their first round picks, atleast if you pick up watson he can learn from the best in the game for a season or two.

 

[Silvagnis]

im interested to see which way geelong go with their first round picks, atleast if you pick up watson he can learn from the best in the game for a season or two.

Watson might end up playing Harley's old role.

A few have suggested that Watson is better suited to CHB like Hurley because he isn't quick. Taylor has CHB with Mackie rebounding and Gillies possibly playing full back because he's quick.

No brainer for Geelong.

 

[folester41]

Watson might end up playing Harley's old role.

A few have suggested that Watson is better suited to CHB like Hurley because he isn't quick. Taylor has CHB with Mackie rebounding and Gillies possibly playing full back because he's quick.

No brainer for Geelong.

i certainly dont see him as a chb, and you could very well be on the money with regards to harleys position. i also wouldnt be suprised to see him play as a foward, either in the beggining or down the line. he isnt a natural foward but he has those traits that could see him be effective in a foward that line that gets good service from its midfielders.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Watson might end up playing Harley's old role.

A few have suggested that Watson is better suited to CHB like Hurley because he isn't quick. Taylor has CHB with Mackie rebounding and Gillies possibly playing full back because he's quick.

No brainer for Geelong.

Not a bad observation.

Given Watson's ability to read the play and take strong marks, and then be damaging by foot the other way, this might be the ideal role for him. I still think he could be developed into a very good key position defender though, just needs the right tutelage, and I'm sure Scarlett would be great for him in this regard.

Would be a good combination, because of his strengths, with Gillies, who by contrast isn't very damaging with the football, nor does he read the play very well, but is good in body contests and exceptionally quick. You could have Gillies playing deep on either talls or smalls, and Watson running the show around the half back line.

I'd certainly like him at 15, I still think GC won't let him through though. Having said that, our best chance is that they may not want both him and McCarthy, and McCarthy is a typical Clayton pick, so we might get lucky.

 

[Silvagnis]

Picks of the draft: Matthew Watson

RUNNING AND JUMPING

Watson was the heaviest player at the draft camp but also had the highest skinfolds, which may need a bit of attention. His running right foot jump (73cm) was better than his left (57cm) and his 2.98 second sprint time suggested he's not as sluggish as some have thought. Watson did a level 12.11 beep test, 11.14 minutes for the three-kilometre time trial and his repeat sprint time of 24.78 seconds (for six 30-metre sprints) put him inside the top 40 players tested. He had the third biggest handspan at the combine (25.2cm).

Picks of the draft: Matthew Watson