Player Watch #10: Colby McKercher - R9 AFL RS nom - goes bang w/ 37d on his return vs GCS

[shintemaster]

I'm not saying he hasn't. I have high hopes for him, I'm just asking for the instances in which he's shown footy IQ

Okay. For argument's sake I'll bite and say that later in the year in the VFL Zane was getting possessions like they were giving them away. To me that is a pretty good indicator of football smarts - when an undersized, raw, draftee is picking it up at will.

 

[zoomba23]

Okay. For argument's sake I'll bite and say that later in the year in the VFL Zane was getting possessions like they were giving them away. To me that is a pretty good indicator of football smarts - when an undersized, raw, draftee is picking it up at will.

That's a fair point too. I don't watch much VFL so you have me covered there

 

[Heaps of fun]

Fair enough, I'll concede that.

Next step is to know how to do it inside 50. He's talented when he gets it but that's no use when you go missing in your favoured position. Time on his side, but sometimes he'd be on the field and you would not notice him at all. I also don't know if he was the right pick, and it is grating seeing Watson do what he does, but there must be a way to use him well. Be hard pushed to have his attributes and not make a career of it.

Limited i50s and he was usually the fifth banana behind Larkey, Zurhaar, Curtis and Ford.

I reckon he finds his place as a quasi CHF like Zurhaar used to play and will end up being involved with an absurd amount of scores.

 

[shintemaster]

That's a fair point too. I don't watch much VFL so you have me covered there

I don't watch a lot but I keep an eye and read the reports, there were a few games he was getting numbers our 21 year old mids in waiting would be dreaming of, really promising signs. Anyway, back to Road Runner.

 

[AnEmptyChair]

don't mind me, just fantasising about caleb daniel

35

Caleb Daniel

Age

28

Ht

171cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.3

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.4

4star

D

19.5

4star

K

11.1

4star

HB

8.4

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

CL

1.0

3star

D

16.4

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

9.2

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.2

2star

releasing this bloke to the wing/midfield and what he could do forward of centre next year.

20+ goals from the wing a chance?

 

[Makeshift Park]

don't mind me, just fantasising about caleb daniel releasing this bloke to the wing/midfield and what he could do forward of centre next year.

20+ goals from the wing a chance?

Just imagine the ball movement.

How many goals will involve the chain Daniel > McKercher > Sheezel.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

Kerch’s papers are stamped never to play in the back line again. He might come down to provide occasional defensive relief as a wingman (think Sidebottom, Acres, Gulden) but we want him ball in hand either hitting Souva, Darling or Curtis lace out….or slotting it though from 50M out on the run.

 

[jay317]

How good is it gonna be to see this bloke flying down the middle of the ground and delivering inside 50 next year instead of taking kick ins.

 

[giantroo]

 

[Hotham FC]

Colby (& George W.) are the biggest winners of trade period.

 

[DuckYeah]

May allow? 100% allow unless we are riddled by injury

 

[Possession]

Don't think that I'm more excited to watch any single player than Kerch next year.

 

[shintemaster]

Don't think that I'm more excited to watch any single player than Kerch next year.

I could definitely see that. It will all depend on what he can put on size and fitness wise but he looks a machine when it comes to running. He's already a bit of a weapon, if he puts on size easily he will be extremely dangerous very quickly.

 

[Mixed Results]

The more I watch of the 2024 draft crop, the more I appreciate Colby McKercher.

He would have been a clear standout in this year's draft, and without a Harley Reid to be compared to, Colby would have received his own hyperbolic generational tags.

Colby is just an awesome midfielder who ticked literally every single box last year with ball in hand. You'd have to watch Jagga Smith highlights on 1.5x speed to replicate the Colby McKercher experience.

There's no doubt in my mind he'll be a phenomenal player, and I'm excited to see him in a Mid/Fwd role next year.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Hope he makes that wing role his own. Has been a long time since we have had a genuine line breaking wingman.

 

[Kanga Glory]

It's actually exciting to see what Colby can do been on a wing, will be a two way runner and basically a 70/80 meter player.
Hopefully there is some synergy with the forwards as he is a smart footballer

 

[King Corey]

Would like to see a 2 year extension, end of 2028.

 

[speedy]

It's actually exciting to see what Colby can do been on a wing, will be a two way runner and basically a 70/80 meter player.
Hopefully there is some synergy with the forwards as he is a smart footballer

So strike a line through Dylan Stephens?

He can join his buddy Zac in the VFL. Caleb has taken his hb role.

 

[hotchilli]

So strike a line through Dylan Stephens?

He can join his buddy Zac in the VFL. Caleb has taken his hb role.

Dyl clearly already needs to find a level of improvement to lock his spot into the best 22 as seen by his time between the VFL & AFL this year.

 

[Themanbun]

So strike a line through Dylan Stephens?

He can join his buddy Zac in the VFL. Caleb has taken his hb role.

Not necessarily. I think Stephens will challenge Scott for the other wing.

 

[hotchilli]

I really hope that Colby can develop into a similar player to McCluggage in terms of the outside mid tools with a hint of inside mid.

 

[zoomba23]

I really hope that Colby can develop into a similar player to McCluggage in terms of the outside mid tools with a hint of inside mid.

What are we hoping for Colby to do as an inside mid? Can see him struggling big-time against a bigger body, and maybe the sports scientists will correct me here, but I don't think his potential for future muscle growth is huge. Unless we just send him to every stoppage along the wing and get a set play going with X smashing the ball out of the area into his path, and classify that as inside mid craft

 

[Masked Avenger]

Colby is your deadset charge out of the middle, out of stoppages, line breaking midfielder - will be more physical, more inside but just as skilled and dynamic on the outside as peak Josh Kelly.

Big call I know but he looks a special player.

A further pre season will do him wonders.

I wouldn't be fiddling around with him on the wings for too long.

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

don't mind me, just fantasising about caleb daniel releasing this bloke to the wing/midfield and what he could do forward of centre next year.

20+ goals from the wing a chance?

Ideally, I hope he puts on 3-4 kgs to be able to break tackles. It’s only a matter of time.

Chuck him in the centre:

C:Ford McKercher Scott

An excellent mark on one wing who just needs the fitness and the permission to play on.

A human wrecking ball who will tear zones to pieces in the centre.

A whippet who doesn’t stop running back to support the defenders on the other wing.

 

[hotchilli]

What are we hoping for Colby to do as an inside mid? Can see him struggling big-time against a bigger body, and maybe the sports scientists will correct me here, but I don't think his potential for future muscle growth is huge. Unless we just send him to every stoppage along the wing and get a set play going with X smashing the ball out of the area into his path, and classify that as inside mid craft

I don’t think it’s ever going to be his primary role but I think he’s extremely capable of getting to a stage where he’s able to be rolled through the middle.