Player Watch 2023 AFL Draft Pool Discussion Thread

[Strapping Young Lad]

Same rule applies to this thread as other years, keep it on topic about the kids.
Don’t get bogged down on what other teams might do or where they will finish.

Trade speculation belongs here.
That's also where you can discuss your mock drafts or pick trades.

Any McCabe, Dear or Maginness talk belongs here.

 

[Kuuz]

The main thing that stuck out to me in commentary about Wiz was Twomey about a month or so ago, in the Gettable podcast, said he was one of the most exciting players to watch in juniors for a long time.

That recruiters literally were excited to go to his games, because he would just be so electric in games.

Would love to have that kind of player around as we grow.

TBH Curtain, Wiz or Big Game Zane would all be awesome additions. I feel like McKercher is probably the worst "fit", purely as we have a lot of players in and around his position.

Wish we had another pick in the top 10, but unlike Norf, we won't resort to free handouts.

 

[DannyJ]

We also need a game changer KPF as well. Get the FA budget and therefore strategy right. Very much like the idea of pick purchasing next year. Used properly, will help immensely.

We do need that, I think if GinniWiz hit the mark, and Lewis stays fit it'll be a luxury to have another key pillar like Ben King.

We need a full back desperately

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[TylerDurden]

Wiz is super keen to get to Hawthorn.

 

[TheFourPillars]

I think the only way we dont pick him is if we some how upgrade our pick. Or North or WCE pick him

 

[DannyJ]

I think the only way we dont pick him is if we some how upgrade our pick. Or North or WCE pick him

We live in a world where we will have one of Reid, Duursma, McKercher, or Watson on draft night.

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[toomanysquibs]

No-one will ever be like Cyril…. A push from Cyril made a play. He was the highest IQ player that the AFL has ever seen.the lowest posession but highest impact player ever

No 2023 draft option is close to Cyril on IQ

I don't think I've ever directly compared any player to Cyril.

I certainly didn't above.

 

[Howe Amazing]

Wiz is super keen to get to Hawthorn.

If not for height would be pick 1 I have heard. Based on that not fussed if we get pick 1 which is unlikely anyway

 

[CHUBBSS]

I am probably Curtin's biggest fan but even I'm starting to shift to team Wiz.

Ginnivan and Wiz put bums on seats for the next 10 years.

double down on goal kicking small forwards. Bennets Ginnevan and Wiz all learning from the goat is an excellent mix.

Bennets second half in the prelim with gold coast was pretty striking, he lifted when the game needed it, says a lot but will provide great pressure for ginnevan and the wiz

Butler the odd one out, may need a few more positions he can develop in

 

[suedehead]

We live in a world where we will have one of Reid, Duursma, McKercher, or Watson on draft night.

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Probably need to add Curtin to that.

Look how aggressively we tried to get a big-bodied KPD on the list during the trade period. It's clearly been identified as a deficiency that needs filling.

McCabe is promising but skinny. Curtin already looks much closer to a KPP body type than DGB who has had three years in the system.



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[DannyJ]

Probably need to add Curtin to that.

Look how aggressively we tried to get a big-bodied KPD on the list during the trade period. It's clearly been identified as a deficiency that needs filling.

McCabe is promising but skinny. Curtin already looks much closer to a KPP body type than DGB who has had three years in the system.



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I'll back the team in, but I'm hoping we'd only pick Curtin if he's rated higher than the others.

Never use a top 5 pick on a need. Best available has to be the selection

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[toomanysquibs]

I'll back the team in, but I'm hoping we'd only pick Curtin if he's rated higher than the others.

Never use a top 5 pick on a need. Best available has to be the selection

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Has to be the best available, by any definition choosing an obviously lesser player is madness no matter how badly you need them.

Which means our number one want would and should be Reid, like it would be for everyone else by the GCS.

Whoever they rank highest who is available at our pick is who we'll get. Not the best of what is left in a position we're patchy in.

 

[Agent_99]

What’s his kicking for distance like? Can he kick 50m?

 

[Slaatybaadfaast]

What’s his kicking for distance like? Can he kick 50m?

Good question. I imagine you're referring to Watson? Cyril routinely roosted goals from outside 50

 

[Blackhawk42]

Has to be the best available, by any definition choosing an obviously lesser player is madness no matter how badly you need them.

Which means our number one want would and should be Reid, like it would be for everyone else by the GCS.

Whoever they rank highest who is available at our pick is who we'll get. Not the best of what is left in a position we're patchy in.

It's never quite that cut and dry.

I have no idea exactly how our recruiters rate or rank players to place them in order, but there are still occasions where it isn't as simple as selecting the 'best available'.

For example, if we have McKercher rated ahead of Watson but it's by a negligible amount, it's entirely possible the frame of mind shifts to selecting the best available FORWARD rather than the best available talent who happens to be a midfielder. You risk screwing the balance of your list if you repeatedly use high picks on players of the same position. It's what we're currently laughing at North about.

If our midfield is currently an 8 out of 10 with scope for it being 10/10 from what already exists on our list, then our forward line is probably around 5/10 with scope for around 7.
Unless we believe McKercher (again, as an example in this scenario) is a talent we just cannot pass up under any circumstances and who we rate the better talent by a long way, then Watson should be the priority.

 

[2008wasoverDEW!]

As others have said, McKercher is probably the worst fit for us based on our current midfield depth. It will be a big bonus if North take him with one of their earlier picks, leaving us with more desirable choices.
From there my preference is still Duursma, then Watson, followed by Curtain.
Duursma has similar traits to Hird. A genuine marking target up forward that can drift through the midfield, and consistently hits the scoreboard. In my eyes he is the best fit for us as we have nobody of quality like him currently on our list.

Watson has that pure X-factor about him, that our list desperately needs. My only concern is that adding Watson to Bennetts, O'Sullivan, and to a lesser extent Butler, would be too many of a similar type on our list. In saying that, Watson would clearly be a higher quality forward pocket than the other guys. Gin & Wiz would be our small forward combo for the next 10 years.

 

[Kuuz]

I'll back the team in, but I'm hoping we'd only pick Curtin if he's rated higher than the others.

Never use a top 5 pick on a need. Best available has to be the selection

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Curtin is a really enticing prospect, but I'm always wary of taking talls as high draft picks. They are just far more speculative than smaller mids & forwards, purely because their development takes a lot longer.

I like our approach at trying to find talls that have a little more development in them, like a Blanck or Sticks Ryan, who we picked up at 21 & 26 respectively. Far less speculative at that point.

 

[KeeperLeaguer]

We live in a world where we will have one of Reid, Duursma, McKercher, or Watson on draft night.

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Not a bad world really is it?

 

[Roger Rogerson]

Wonder if there is a risk Nth take Duursma and Watson.

 

[Slaatybaadfaast]

Not a bad world really is it?

Or perhaps Curtin?

 

[projectdingley]

As others have said, McKercher is probably the worst fit for us based on our current midfield depth.

Spot on. Mckercher will be a fantastic player, no doubt about it. But it make’s absolutely zero sense for us to take him.

Top 4 in Peter Crimmins were all midfielders. Ward and Mackenzie both top 10 picks developing. Word on the street is we are up to our eye balls in the Bailey Smith pursuit aswell.

We just can’t afford to take another top 10 pick as a midfielder when we’ve taken two in the last two years. Dosent fill a need. 180cm limits him with where he plays on the ground.

Bulldogs a great example. Too many mids, with holes everywhere else. Macrae/Smith playing out of position and in the forward line just never works. Leads to players being unhappy and wanting out.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Wonder if there is a risk Nth take Duursma and Watson.

McKercher or Curtin. Easy done.

 

[parsons nose]

As others have said, McKercher is probably the worst fit for us based on our current midfield depth. It will be a big bonus if North take him with one of their earlier picks, leaving us with more desirable choices.
From there my preference is still Duursma, then Watson, followed by Curtain.
Duursma has similar traits to Hird. A genuine marking target up forward that can drift through the midfield, and consistently hits the scoreboard. In my eyes he is the best fit for us as we have nobody of quality like him currently on our list.

Watson has that pure X-factor about him, that our list desperately needs. My only concern is that adding Watson to Bennetts, O'Sullivan, and to a lesser extent Butler, would be too many of a similar type on our list. In saying that, Watson would clearly be a higher quality forward pocket than the other guys. Gin & Wiz would be our small forward combo for the next 10 years.

You will be happy to learn Duursma is keen to come to Hawthorn after Hawthorn made a compelling presentation to him. My source on this is rock solid.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

You will be happy to learn Duursma is keen to come to Hawthorn after Hawthorn made a compelling presentation to him. My source on this is rock solid.

So he's Norf bound. Good to know!

 

[projectdingley]

You will be happy to learn Duursma is keen to come to Hawthorn after Hawthorn made a compelling presentation to him. My source on this is rock solid.

I’ve officially seen it all. Apparently we are making ‘compelling presentations’ to draftees now.

It’s the draft mate.

 

[projectdingley]

View attachment 1837224

He's Hawthorn. Bring him home.

Did any of our track watchers on BigFooty get a glimpse of him during pre-season? If so, would love to know how he went, and whether he participated in match sim.