Preview 2023 National Draft Preview Thread [currently: #2, #14 (PA), #19 (PP) #40, #52, #60]

[the big lebowski]

Rachele 180cm
Rankin 181cm
Watson 169 cm

This is a big difference in height. The other difference is Rachele & Rankin will also play some mid minutes at some stage.
I have said many times Watson is an excitement machine and the fans will love him including me but there is a big difference between NAB and AFL.
C. Daniel is the same size. He's a jet but there is no denying he gets rag dolled and he plays loose. Time will tell i guess but i cant see a 169cm player going at the same draft range as Rachele & Rankin. I stick with my range of 12-20 for Watson...still a first rounder. Time will tell

Maybe you’re right but I don’t see height as having anything to do with their games.

 

[Sphynx]

Rachele 180cm
Rankin 181cm
Watson 169 cm

This is a big difference in height. The other difference is Rachele & Rankin will also play some mid minutes at some stage.
I have said many times Watson is an excitement machine and the fans will love him including me but there is a big difference between NAB and AFL.
C. Daniel is the same size. He's a jet but there is no denying he gets rag dolled and he plays loose. Time will tell i guess but i cant see a 169cm player going at the same draft range as Rachele & Rankin. I stick with my range of 12-20 for Watson...still a first rounder. Time will tell

Watson is as good as Rankine at the same age.

You list his height as some sort of negative.

It’s not if you’ve watched enough of him.

His got the most ridiculous agility you are likely to see on a football field to match with electric pace.

169cm makes him harder to defend, not easier.

His low center of gravity and agility means he turns and loses defenders like few others.


I’ve stated before, but there won’t be a small defender in the league able to go with him in space at AFL level. Not one. He’s like if you mixed a more athletic Charlie Cameron with Stephen Milne…

Caleb Daniel doesn’t have anywhere near the same athleticism as Watson. He’s also a defender where height is much more relevant than a small forward.

 

[Shermanator]

Watson is as good as Rankine at the same age.

You list his height as some sort of negative.

It’s not if you’ve watched enough of him.

His got the most ridiculous agility you are likely to see on a football field to match with electric pace.

169cm makes him harder to defend, not easier.

His low center of gravity and agility means he turns and loses defenders like few others.


I’ve stated before, but there won’t be a small defender in the league able to go with him in space at AFL level. Not one. He’s like if you mixed a more athletic Charlie Cameron with Stephen Milne…

Caleb Daniel doesn’t have anywhere near the same athleticism as Watson. He’s also a defender where height is much more relevant than a small forward.

Imagine him patrolling the forward line with PC, Cheezel and the Bull… **** there’s some serious excitement there!..

 

[pushintheback]

It’s not if you’ve watched enough of him.

Ive seen him play from a very young age and he's a jet, no question.

 

[Ligma]

I was thinking because Drury is apparently going to play in defence, I reckon we are/should pushing for Watson?

 

[Psicosis]

Clarko needs his Cyril. Someone whose presence alone turns a forward line into chaos. Clarko would have watched a lot of the Wizard down at Caufield Grammar playing with his son. Won’t be surprised at all if we are already into him & end up taking him.

 

[pushintheback]

I was thinking because Drury is apparently going to play in defence, I reckon we are/should pushing for Watson?

Having seen Drury play a lot across his junior career I think this is a good move to play him to defence, he will play similar to Jake Bowey. He's not gifted with a lot of speed, however, he is a good user and makes reliable decisions.

Clarko needs his Cyril. Someone whose presence alone turns a forward line into chaos. Clarko would have watched a lot of the Wizard down at Caufield Grammar playing with his son. Won’t be surprised at all if we are already into him & end up taking him.

I assume you are thinking with pick 8? Personally I think thats a bit high for him but I wouldn't be shocked if he was taken then. However, with 2 picks inside rnd 1 and none in rnd 2, we could see some selection trades with the #8 pick.

 

[Psicosis]

I assume you are thinking with pick 8? Personally I think thats a bit high for him but I wouldn't be shocked if he was taken then. However, with 2 picks inside rnd 1 and none in rnd 2, we could see some selection trades with the #8 pick.

I think someone will pull the trigger on him in the first 5 picks, personally

 

[PMBangers]

Interesting discussion. One which I’m not equipped to provide anything real.

That said, his under 17 year doesn’t appear too far off rachele’s u18 draft year statistically. Certainly rachele’s looks a bit better, but I can’t see why Watson wouldn’t improve this year and if he does, why couldn’t he go in a similar draft range to rachele. Or rankin for that matter.

Watson's also far more defensively accountable than Rachele which will hold him in good stead, stronger athletically too

 

[roos_fanatic08]

I like your optimism but a slight exaggeration. Out of this lot who is Watson better than?
Shai Bolten
Charlie Cameron
Tyson Stengle
Jack Ginnivan
Kysaiah Pickett
Jamie Elliot
Cody Weightman
Jack Higgins
Lincoln McCarthy
Dylan Moore
Toby Greene
Luke Breust
Tom Papley
Gryan Miers - I will concede he's better than Gryan

Bolton and Moore have been playing more as midfielders so I’ll exclude them.

I’d be very confident that Watson will surpass the output of Ginnivan, Elliot, Weightman, Higgins, McCarthy and Miers within a couple of seasons at AFL level.

I really rate Papley, Greene and Stengle but I legitimately believe Watson has more tools in his arsenal than all of them.

I’ve never been so convinced of a sub 175cm player making it as I have been with Watson.

 

[JGreezy]

If we end up with two top 10 picks then I'm all about drafting a guy who is high risk/high reward.

Watson is the guy who might just be an x-factor who could win you big games with a few plays.

I'm all about best available, but if we drafted Watson and a KPF next year then the forward line talent would be stacked.

Watson, Sheezel, Curtis and Zurhaar would be an absolute handful with Larkey and another tall target.

 

[shinboner magic]

Clarko needs his Cyril. Someone whose presence alone turns a forward line into chaos. Clarko would have watched a lot of the Wizard down at Caufield Grammar playing with his son. Won’t be surprised at all if we are already into him & end up taking him.

Is the only thing he’s lacking height ?
How’s his tank ?
Skills?
Heart ?

 

[LB2Snake]

Bolton and Moore have been playing more as midfielders so I’ll exclude them.

I’d be very confident that Watson will surpass the output of Ginnivan, Elliot, Weightman, Higgins, McCarthy and Miers within a couple of seasons at AFL level.

I really rate Papley, Greene and Stengle but I legitimately believe Watson has more tools in his arsenal than all of them.

I’ve never been so convinced of a sub 175cm player making it as I have been with Watson.

Surely he’ll grow a bit anyway no?

 

[Shermanator]

There’s been some comparisons of Watson with the Tip Rat from St Kilda.

Milne is the exact same height as Watson and he kicked nearly 600 career goals..

We’re do we sign?..

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

There’s been some comparisons of Watson with the Tip Rat from St Kilda.

Milne is the exact same height as Watson and he kicked nearly 600 career goals..

We’re do we sign?..

Just as long as he doesn’t have the same proclivities for being a total POS I’m all for it!

 

[pushintheback]

Watson's also far more defensively accountable than Rachele which will hold him in good stead, stronger athletically too

I completely disagree with this statement. The big knock on Watson is his lack of defensive and his aerobic fitness. Relook at the VC v VM final when Harley Reid was playing on him. Harley just kept running off him time after time and Watson did not chase him. Additionally the HB's that played on him during the NAB season ran off him all the time.

 

[pushintheback]

If we end up with two top 10 picks then I'm all about drafting a guy who is high risk/high reward.

Watson is the guy who might just be an x-factor who could win you big games with a few plays.

I'm all about best available, but if we drafted Watson and a KPF next year then the forward line talent would be stacked.

Watson, Sheezel, Curtis and Zurhaar would be an absolute handful with Larkey and another tall target.

Yeah fair point.

There’s been some comparisons of Watson with the Tip Rat from St Kilda.

Milne is the exact same height as Watson and he kicked nearly 600 career goals..

We’re do we sign?.

Milne is 176cm. Watson is 169cm. However I get your point. If Watson has 600 goals next to his name at the end of his career then the risk v reward has been worth it. If this is the train of thought can he go #1?

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Surely he’ll grow a bit anyway no?

You’d think he’ll grow at least a couple of cm’s from age 17 to 18, but some kids just stop growing altogether at 16. Depends on his genetics I guess.

 

[pushintheback]

You’d think he’ll grow at least a couple of cm’s from age 17 to 18, but some kids just stop growing altogether at 16. Depends on his genetics I guess.

Watson was the same height at 12 years old. I think he's done.

 

[Psicosis]

Just going to leave this here…

 

[hoffseason gains]

Just going to leave this here…

View attachment 1587055
View attachment 1587056

I need him to be a roo

 

[JGreezy]

I need him to be a roo

If the right team finishes last (WC or GWS) and Harley makes it known that he wants to stay in Victoria then we will likely be best positioned to move up.

 

[DesertRoo]

If the right team finishes last (WC or GWS) and Harley makes it known that he wants to stay in Victoria then we will likely be best positioned to move up.

I think a lot rides on Chomp, if he doesn’t make it to the end of the season, I think they’ll have to bite the bullet and try to pick up a tall.

 

[Psicosis]

I think a lot rides on Chomp, if he doesn’t make it to the end of the season, I think they’ll have to bite the bullet and try to pick up a tall.

Harley Reid can play key forward. He can play just about every position on the ground. Guy is a freak.

 

[JGreezy]

I think a lot rides on Chomp, if he doesn’t make it to the end of the season, I think they’ll have to bite the bullet and try to pick up a tall.

There's a lot of questions that need answering before we need to worry about that decision. There could be ways to trade up and still bring in a tall forward, depending on how other things play out.