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

[pupstar]

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

He would want to improve. Lets hope he does.

 

[zoomba23]

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.

Can you see Colby McKercher of all people becoming a 'human wrecking ball?' I would've thought your noun description of Scott would apply to Colby too

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

Can you see Colby McKercher of all people becoming a 'human wrecking ball?' I would've thought your noun description of Scott would apply to Colby too

Just wait a couple of years. Colby will be Cousins v2.

 

[amaz199]

Just wait a couple of years. Colby will be Cousins v2.

 

[Sphynx]

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

He wont struggle at all.

He averaged 6 clearances a game at u/18 level.

Not every clearance is a hardball get. In fact it's the complete opposite and hardball get clearance mids are becoming dinosaurs to most clubs, as most of them are big, poor on the spread etc. Hardball clearances are messy, not clean and often don't result in the same impact as a loose ball clearance.

Clubs prefer loose ball clearance midfielders - See Nick Daicos, who is hardly Patrick Cripps himself.

Colby was a loose ball contested possession and clearance machine at u/18 level. I see him very much being like Nick Daicos up the ground. People compare Nick to Harry, but they aren't in the midfield, Harry is a lot harder, he buries his nose in much more contested and is more like someone like Pendles. Daicos is quicker around the contest and in the initial spread than Harry

Colby will be very much like ND up the ground imo.

Not to mention Colby averaged 1.4 goals per game in u/18's, so add's a huge offensive presence there...

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

View attachment 2148714

Sans ice + coke.

 

[amaz199]

Sans ice + coke.

New Hungry Jacks deal - no burger, no fries, just coke with ice.

 

[My Left Foote]

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

His second year in the system next year, no need to rush him as inside mid, he'll roll through there eventually but that may not be for another year or two.

 

[shintemaster]

His second year in the system next year, no need to rush him as inside mid, he'll play roll through there eventually but that may not be for another year or two.

Yep.

Best thing is that he has such a good spread of attributes that you don't need to fast track him to have great impact all through his career. Lightning fast, clean disposal means he can build and impact wherever suits him and the team best at each stage.

 

[DuckYeah]

Can you see Colby McKercher of all people becoming a 'human wrecking ball?' I would've thought your noun description of Scott would apply to Colby too

Colby has size between his shoulders, isn’t skinny and he isn’t soft. He looks small but its deceptive, he’ll gain a heap of size. Hopefully without compromising his speed

 

[Shermanator]

This kid gunna b good.. real, real good!..

 

[DuckYeah]

This kid gunna b good.. real, real good!..

Absolutely. He’s a certified gun

 

[Hazey1977]

Colby has size between his shoulders, isn’t skinny and he isn’t soft. He looks small but its deceptive, he’ll gain a heap of size. Hopefully without compromising his speed

Reckon he can get close to Lachie Neale's build?

Sent from my SM-G781B using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[KangaRooster]

We’ll have elite mids who each love having a ping at goal on the run in Colby Harry and George, goals from your mids being a great indicator for success in the modern game

 

[Event Horizon]

His second year in the system next year, no need to rush him as inside mid, he'll roll through there eventually but that may not be for another year or two.

As long as we move him away from the backline

 

[My Left Foote]

As long as we move him away from the backline

He'll play wing next season.

 

[The Warlord]

Can you see Colby McKercher of all people becoming a 'human wrecking ball?' I would've thought your noun description of Scott would apply to Colby too

He was trying fend offs and bursting through tackles late in the season.

He's got a low centre of gravity and a big arse, he's going to be a solid customer at 26.

 

[DuckYeah]

Reckon he can get close to Lachie Neale's build?

Sent from my SM-G781B using BigFooty.com mobile app

I reckon he will come close.. i was incredibly surprised when I saw him live for the first time. He has plenty of growth in his body.

He’s an absolute freak of a footy player. Those bounces on the wing are etched in my memory bank. Never seen a first year player do that in the modern game.

He’s more important than LDU in my opinion.

 

[The Filth Wizard]

I reckon he will come close.. i was incredibly surprised when I saw him live for the first time. He has plenty of growth in his body.

He’s an absolute freak of a footy player. Those bounces on the wing are etched in my memory bank. Never seen a first year player do that in the modern game.

He’s more important than LDU in my opinion.

I’m glad he turned your head, iirc you weren’t convinced pre-draft.

I too think he’s a freak. He’s capable of being the best of them.

 

[DuckYeah]

I’m glad he turned your head, iirc you weren’t convinced pre-draft.

I too think he’s a freak. He’s capable of being the best of them.

not convinced, didn’t think he had a lot going and you know I love my good kicks of a footy. When I see an easy missed target im off em

 

[The Warlord]

I’m glad he turned your head, iirc you weren’t convinced pre-draft.

I too think he’s a freak. He’s capable of being the best of them.

He will break games apart so others can feast on the goo inside.

 

[ferball]

I reckon he will come close.. i was incredibly surprised when I saw him live for the first time. He has plenty of growth in his body.

He’s an absolute freak of a footy player. Those bounces on the wing are etched in my memory bank. Never seen a first year player do that in the modern game.

He’s more important than LDU in my opinion.

You've changed your tune.

NTTAWWT

A mate of mine used to coach his dad in u19s. He said he told him he'd never make it. Doesn't know where the kid got it from. LOL.

 

[DuckYeah]

You've changed your tune.

NTTAWWT

A mate of mine used to coach his dad in u19s. He said he told him he'd never make it. Doesn't know where the kid got it from. LOL.

He’s still a 7/10 kick of the footy. That hasn’t changed

 

[joegreen]

Pick 2: Colby McKercher​

Expectations: Exceeded​

Playing off half-back, as well as on a wing for parts of the season, Colby McKercher never put a foot wrong as soon as he stepped into an AFL match.

A skilful and efficient ball user, McKercher was utilised well by coach Alastair Clarkson in the defensive third, often cutting through the opposition's set-up with chiselling kicks. The 19-year-old averaged the fifth-best disposal efficiency out of players who participated in ten or more games, with a rate of 80.3%. McKercher also averaged five rebound 50s per game in 2024, leading the draft class in this metric.

McKercher also recorded three-straight weeks of 30+ disposals, before a career-high 37 disposal performance in a return from a bone stress injury in Round 17.

As a number two pick, McKercher was always expected to seamlessly transition into the AFL level, but perhaps not quite to this level. An exciting, long career ahead.

Reviewing the top 10 picks of the 2023 AFL Draft and the early draft steals

We take a look at last year's draft selections 12 months on.

www.zerohanger.com

 

[ferball]

He’s still a 7/10 kick of the footy. That hasn’t changed

8/10 officially. His Kicking efficiency is 80.4% or 80.5% depending how you measure it.