Review 2023 National Draft Review Thread II [McKercher, Z.Duursma, Goad, W.Dawson, Hardeman, Maley]

[chubbspeterson]

Interesting that Curtin's manager said he'd discussed WCE F1 with teams like Dees for pick 6. Eagles get Curtin at 6 and Collard at 11. Could Freo get aggressive and offer three firsts to Dees for pick 6 if Curtin is on the board?

 

[DuckYeah]

Interesting that Curtin's manager said he'd discussed WCE F1 with teams like Dees for pick 6. Eagles get Curtin at 6 and Collard at 11. Could Freo get aggressive and offer three firsts to Dees for pick 6 if Curtin is on the board?

He wont be on the board by pick 6. He’ll be top 3 EEEEZZEEEEEE

 

[Tas]

I know we have inside mids already but I would prefer Sanders over McKercher. I think Sanders has massive Mitchel vibes and will be a superstar of the comp.

Would you play Sanders and Wardlaw on the ground at the same time in the middle?

Can probably ask the same question about LDU, Thomas, Phillips, Powell and McKercher.

When the music stops, people will be left without a spot.

 

[LB2Snake]

As in, WC want to take him later on in the draft like 6-10 hoping to get a swap of picks there?

Or suss like he knows he might get picked at one? Kind of seemed like he knows something about wc drafting him. It’s really ******* confusing now.

Prob less the latter…….but I def reckon it’s a buyer beware operative.

 

[SpiderBurton22]

Nostra’s Twatter handle revealed.

Haha. Just going through his timeline, apart from the Watto and Curtin mentions this post 100% confirms it's him.

 

[Kanga Glory]

Draft Intel: All the latest AFL Draft news from around Australia​

The tall that could be a ‘Mr Fix It’ for Essendon. Plus, could West Coast pull off a surprise and overlook Harley Reid at pick 1? And which AFL clubs do this year’s top prospects follow?
Chris Cavanagh
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@chriscavanagh1

7 min read
November 10, 2023 - 6:00AM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroo

Meet the stars of the 2023 AFL draft
introducing a few standout stars of the 2023 ADL draft.



Excitement is building with the 2023 AFL national draft now a little over a week away.
Here’s the latest news and views from around the country.
THE ‘SET AND FORGET’ DEFENDER WHO COULD JOIN DONS
A top-10 draft prospect who has been strongly linked to Essendon says he has become most comfortable in defence after being used as a ‘Mr Fix It’ throughout much of his junior football.
Connor O’Sullivan shapes as the best key defender in this year’s draft class, standing 198cm and boasting a more mature body than most.
Recruiters believe the Murray Bushrangers product is a “set and forget” prospect who would be a dependable pillar in any AFL backline for many years to come, but he could also be a swingman and feature in the forward line at times if required.
O’Sullivan has only settled in defence this year, after previously spending some time forward and though the middle of the ground.
He even spent some time in the ruck while playing for Albury in the Ovens & Murray Football League grand final in September.
“Having dad (Jamarl) as coach for a few years, I was chucked around everywhere,” O’Sullivan said.
“I think that is one of the strengths of my game, that I’ve been able to be a bit of a Mr Fix It. But this year I’ve been pretty comfortable playing down back.
“I think I’ve got pretty good workrate moving around the ground for a taller guy. I’d like to say I’ve got good skills below my knees with ground balls and marking is my other strength.”
O’Sullivan has worked with his own personal trainer in recent years to prime himself for the AFL and is said to be one of the hardest trainers at the Bushrangers alongside fellow first-round draft prospect Darcy Wilson.
“I sought some outside help to try and build on some of my weaknesses or things I want to improve on even more,” O’Sullivan said.
“It’s been really good being able to seek that outside help and be a bit more specific on what I want to build on.”
O’Sullivan also possesses strong leadership qualities and was picked to captain the Allies in one match during the under-18 national championships this year.
“I’d like to hope I lead by example,” O’Sullivan said.
“But I’m pretty vocal out on the ground. I have tried to make that one of my focuses.”

Connor O'Sullivan has been strongly linked to Essendon. Picture: Getty Images
PICK 1, DANIEL CURTIN?
The manager of top West Australian draft prospect Daniel Curtin believes his client is worthy of being the No.1 pick in this year’s draft – ahead of Harley Reid.
Jason Dover from TLA Worldwide said this week that West Coast should seriously consider keeping the first selection in the draft and picking Curtin ahead of Reid.
Reid has been widely regarded as the No.1 pick for more than 12 months, but Dover said Curtin was one of the best prospects from the west that he had seen.
“If I’m West Coast and I’ve got pick one, I wouldn’t be trading that. I’d be taking Dan Curtin with pick one,” Dover said on SEN radio in Perth.
“We talk about generational talent. Dan in my eyes is a generational talent and one of the best that’s come out of WA in a long time.
“What I’ve told clubs (is) he’s the best I’ve seen come out of WA in over a decade …(as a) footballer and a well-rounded person.”
Dover said there was real interest in Curtin from Hawthorn (pick 4), as well as Melbourne (pick 6) if he got that far.
The Eagles have also kept a close eye on him throughout the year.
The 197cm Curtin is expected to start his AFL career as a key defender but also impressed playing through the midfield for much of this year.

Daniel Curtin’s manager says West Coast should select him at pick 1. Picture: Getty Images
WHO DO THIS YEAR’S DRAFT CLASS FOLLOW?
One of the most popular AFL teams among this year’s top draft prospects is no team at all.
Three top-10 prospects in this year’s draft pool – Colby McKercher, Nate Caddy and Zane Duursma – say they like to follow AFL players rather than a specific team.
However, a range of clubs are represented among many of the other top prospects.
Likely No.1 pick Harley Reid is a Geelong supporter, as is West Australian ruckman Mitch Edwards and Victorian wingman Cooper Simpson.
Small forward Nick Watson follows reigning premier Collingwood, while Jake Rogers and Archer Reid are also fans of the black and white.
George Stevens, Archie Roberts and Arie Schoenmaker are all Carlton fans, while St Kilda also has a trio of supporters who could be top-20 picks in Ollie Murphy, Koltyn Tholstrup and Riley Hardeman.
Top-five chance Daniel Curtin is a Fremantle supporter, along with Zane Zakostelsky and Lance Collard.
Father-son prospect Jordan Croft and Tasmanian James Leake both support the Western Bulldogs, while Jed Walter will end up at the Gold Coast Suns but has long been a hardcore West Coast fan.
South Australian Will McCabe – a Hawthorn father-son prospect – unsurprisingly follows the Hawks, where his father Luke played 138 games.
Ryley Sanders and Ethan Read have both grown up following the Suns, while Connor O’Sullivan and Caiden Cleary are Sydney supporters.
Darcy Wilson follows North Melbourne, where his great uncle Mick Nolan played 107 games between 1973 and 1980.

Darcy Wilson is a North Melbourne supporter, having had a relative play for the Kangaroos. Picture: Michael Klein
IS IT ‘BULLDOG’ OR ‘WIZARD’ WATSON?
Top-five draft prospect Nick Watson says he is happy to go by either of his two nicknames, which both lend themselves to different aspects of his game.
The small forward took on the nickname ‘Bulldog’ during much of his junior football, because he was tenacious and went low and hard at contests.
Over the past two years Watson has also been dubbed ‘The Wizard’, given his ability to create some magic and kick miraculous goals at the attacking end of the ground.
“Some friendship groups calls me The Wizard, some call me Bulldog,” Watson said.
“I don’t mind. It’s pretty funny.
“The Bulldog sort of came from the grunt in my game and the way I run through packs. Then The Wizard started last year and it’s starting to get a bit of grip now.”
Watson is firmly in the frame to join either Hawthorn (pick 4) or the Western Bulldogs (pick 5) at the pointy end of this year’s draft.
He was the leading goalkicker at the under-18 national championships this year, booting 14 goals from four games for Vic Metro including five first-half goals in a match against Western Australia.

Small forward Nick Watson has two nicknames. Picture: Getty Images
‘DEVELOPMENT PLAYER’ TO TOP PROSPECT
A Gippsland Power teammate says that Tew Jiath deserves everything that comes his way after emerging as a top-30 draft prospect following a breakout season.
Jiath – the younger brother of Hawthorn’s Changkuoth Jiath

9

Changkuoth Jiath

Age

25

Ht

185cm

Wt

78kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.5

4star

K

5.0

2star

HB

9.5

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.5

4star

MG

91.0

1star

No current season stats available

D

14.5

4star

K

5.0

2star

HB

9.5

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.5

4star

MG

91.0

2star

– only joined the talent pathways with the Power this year but shot up club draft boards in the second half of the season after making his Coates Talent League debut in round 9.
The athletic 188cm defender plays similarly to his brother and has a strong intercept game.
In a round 18 game against the Dandenong Stingrays, Jiath logged 29 disposals, 13 rebound 50s, 12 intercept possessions, six spoils and six tackles.
“At the start of the year he was more of a development player and then halfway through the year he got the call up to play his first game and ever since he played that first game he just turned it on,” Power teammate and top-five draft prospect Zane Duursma said of Jiath.
“He’s been incredible. He deserves everything he gets for the next few months ahead.”
Jiath is linked to Hawthorn’s Next Generation Academy, but the Hawks would only be able to match a bid on him if he slips past pick 40.

Tew Jiath (right) has been a draft bolter this year. Picture: Getty Images
TOWERING RUCK STILL GROWING
The equal-tallest player at the national draft combine believes he is still growing as he looks set to become one of the biggest ruckmen in the AFL next year.
West Australian Mitch Edwards measured a towering 206.2cm at the draft combine in Melbourne last month but might not be done just yet.
“I got growing pains the other day so I reckon I might be (still growing), actually,” Edwards said.
The big man is linked to Fremantle’s Next Generation Academy, but the Dockers would only be able to match a bid on him after pick 40.
That looks unlikely, with Edwards tipped to be snapped up somewhere in the second-round of the draft.
“I would say I’m an athletic ruckman with a fair bit of potential,” Edwards said on SEN radio in Perth earlier this month.

​

 

[giantroo]

 

[Gumble Frankieton]

You see it on those cash converters ads, especially where he virtually snatches that PS4 away from the other customer. Obviously a self-entitled immature tool.

There’s something unavoidably funny about a highly paid footballer pretending to shop at Smack Converters. Not quite up to the acting standard set by the 2 Woodies doing that yoghurt ad though.

 

[shintemaster]

Me to North Melbourne:

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Interesting that Curtin's manager said he'd discussed WCE F1 with teams like Dees for pick 6. Eagles get Curtin at 6 and Collard at 11. Could Freo get aggressive and offer three firsts to Dees for pick 6 if Curtin is on the board?

The one position where Freo are set is in their key defensive stocks. Pearce, Cox, Chapman, Ryan ect. They need forwards and midfielders.

 

[Lomas]

All this 'Curtin at number 1' talk seems just right for the eagles to trade then say they would have picked Curtin anyway.

 

[Passmore]

.

Sent from my SM-A908B using Tapatalk

 

[year of the roo]

Happy deadline day to all who celebrate it.

 

[Harris 10]

Correct. Saints had Petracca 1 and McCartin 2 like most other teams. Petracca then interviewed terribly - total lack of maturity - and McCartin was really impressive, especially in relation to the mature way that he was dealing with his diabetes.

Petracca is now what most thought he could be but his first 5 seasons weren't great, which was clearly maturity related. And the concussion issues killed what might have been a great career for McCartin.

The ACL Petracca did in first season was one of the major factors in his development.

 

[archerboy]

His hip swivel is extremely Mitchell like

As Shakira said, the hips don't lie

 

[DesertRoo]

Would you play Sanders and Wardlaw on the ground at the same time in the middle?

Can probably ask the same question about LDU, Thomas, Phillips, Powell and McKercher.

When the music stops, people will be left without a spot.

I’m just glad Geelong never picked Selwood because they already had Ablett/Bartel/Ling/Kelly/Corey/Chapman that could’ve been a big mistake.

 

[spurs]

Would you play Sanders and Wardlaw on the ground at the same time in the middle?

Can probably ask the same question about LDU, Thomas, Phillips, Powell and McKercher.

When the music stops, people will be left without a spot.

You throw in Phillips and Powell like they are certainties of playing in the middle when they have done nothing yet. For me, we take McKercher and Sanders. If Powell and Phillips are any good they will find for spots.

 

[HBFlanker]

I hope to god i have egg on my face but drafting Duursma makes no sense to me.

Its just not a need for us, and opens up the potential for Zurhaar to carck the sads internally.

 

[Heaps of fun]

tZ's twitter being found because he spams the exact same stuff there as here is the best draft update in weeks.

 

[hsquid]

Would you play Sanders and Wardlaw on the ground at the same time in the middle?

Can probably ask the same question about LDU, Thomas, Phillips, Powell and McKercher.

When the music stops, people will be left without a spot.

I hope to god i have egg on my face but drafting Duursma makes no sense to me.

Its just not a need for us, and opens up the potential for Zurhaar to carck the sads internally.

200cm ruckman....why?

we got moran and hale for god sakes

and McIntosh

 

[Mav]

If Zurhaar cracks the sads then Duursma has earnt a spot ahead of him. And that means we've upgrade Zurhaar so it's a great pick.

 

[apollo_creed]

I don't particularly care who we draft (as long as we have either 1 and 3 and or 2 and 3) but West Coast not having pick one or drafting Reid would be one of the funniest things in a long time. Nothing to do with West Coast but they seem to have quite a lot of fans who legitimately seem to be in love with Harley Reid. There was one guy who was having a tantrum during the North Melbourne v Gold Coast game when Gold Coast got a few goals ahead and since they've secured the number one pick there's been quite a few of them venture on here with their proclamations. He'll definitely need some fairly good security if he goes over there as there's a handful of Big Footy WC posters who'll be stealing his underwear and picking his discarded coffee cups out of the bins over there.

 

[Psicosis]

I hope to god i have egg on my face but drafting Duursma makes no sense to me.

Its just not a need for us, and opens up the potential for Zurhaar to carck the sads internally.

Call me crazy, but an elite forward half player is a need for us. We do have a few forward flank types, but none have been consistent or good enough to justify passing on an elite prospect. Duursma is likely to be better then all of them (bar Sheez).

If Zurhaar cracks the sads, tough s***.

2023:



2022:



2021:

 

[LB2Snake]

Hilarious WC poster on the MB thread suggesting it's "probably best for all if Curtin drifts to pick 10 and then Adelaide trades for WC assets" or something along those lines, as Curtin doesn't wanna leave WA.

WA media is just the mouthpiece for WC recruiting department. Completely reeks of a "We would've taken Curtin at 1, but we managed to get him at 6/10/11" or whatever type rubbish.

Just hold and call their bluff Brady......don't give up any more picks. I'd be changing our offer to 3 and 15 for 1 on draft night. Then they can get Curtin and Collard. Otherwise Colby and Dursma/Curtin for us.

 

[justroyal]

I hope to god i have egg on my face but drafting Duursma makes no sense to me.

Its just not a need for us, and opens up the potential for Zurhaar to carck the sads internally.

What I think will happen is that we will have drafted another X factor high-half mid.

But we’ll still be complaining about not having any smalls to crumb and we’ll be struggling for forward entries.

If Duursma can be a marking forward target their could be something there.