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.

 

[2008wasoverDEW!]

In recent years the only time the media have had an accurate read on Hawthorn's preferred draftee has only been Cal Twomey a night or two before the draft.

He was spot on with Will Day, Josh Ward, and Cam Mackenzie. He only got DGB wrong as he wasn't expecting him to be available at our pick.

So I'm not reading too much into the Sanders info. There's still plenty of ducks and drakes to be played out over the next few weeks, but in general we will remain tight lipped right up until draft night.

Until then we speculate away.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

In recent years the only time the media have had an accurate read on Hawthorn's preferred draftee has only been Cal Twomey a night or two before the draft.

He was spot on with Will Day, Josh Ward, and Cam Mackenzie. He only got DGB wrong as he wasn't expecting him to be available at our pick.

So I'm not reading too much into the Sanders info. There's still plenty of ducks and drakes to be played out over the next few weeks, but in general we will remain tight lipped right up until draft night.

Until then we speculate away.

Still can't believe North picked Will Phillips.

 

[tl92]

Curtin and McCabe I’ll take at least 3 years to mature. Please remember this.

Interestingly a few have compared McCabe to Blakey. FWIW Blakey has pretty much been first choice since day 1 at the club with an even less developed body.

 

[hardway]

Haven’t seen much of this years draftees as yet just been reading a fair bit of what others have seen. However I did see Sanders play in the under 18’s final and he was a class above the rest on that day. This match also had Watson running around.

 

[Topiary]

Interestingly a few have compared McCabe to Blakey. FWIW Blakey has pretty much been first choice since day 1 at the club with an even less developed body.

My opinion of course, but if either come on early, it will be a bonus.

We must support their development with a good structural KPD.

 

[suedehead]

My opinion of course, but if either come on early, it will be a bonus.

We must support their development with a good structural KPD.

Getting a mature ager from the VFL like Ethan Phillips (as seems to be the plan) is a no brainer.

Costs nothing and, at worst, he's a big body who can fill the role as a stop gap while the kids develop.

At best, he could surprise and hold down a role in the medium-longer term. (I think Phillips is only 24.)

Sent from my SM-F711B using Tapatalk

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Getting a mature ager from the VFL like Ethan Phillips (as seems to be the plan) is a no brainer.

Costs nothing and, at worst, he's a big body who can fill the role as a stop gap while the kids develop.

At best, he could surprise and hold down a role in the medium-longer term. (I think Phillips is only 24.)

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North need KPD's too and chances are they will pick before us in the MSD.

 

[Mr Lizard]

North need KPD's too and chances are they will pick before us in the MSD.

Pre-season supplemental selection period

 

[smish]

North need KPD's too and chances are they will pick before us in the MSD.

Someone (I think KL) mentioned we can sign him as a SSP as he’s matured aged.

 

[Newmo89]

Someone (I think KL) mentioned we can sign him as a SSP as he’s matured aged.

If last year is anything to go on, the SSP will begin in early December and runs through until mid February, giving the club about 10 weeks to see how he fares in terms of the structure and system of the club's game plan.

 

[naysayer]

The more I think about this the more unlikely it seems it is to be true. By Mark Mackenzie's own admission, there is a group of players (McKercher, Duursma, Curtin, Watson and possibly Sanders) who we rate highly and could be available at our first pick. In order to say we're planning to take Sanders, it would mean that we either:
A) Rate Sanders at number 1 in that group
B) Know exactly who will hold picks 1,2&3 on draft night.

I don't think either of these can be true.

 

[HairyO]

Curtin and McCabe I’ll take at least 3 years to mature. Please remember this.

I dont think anyone is expecting us to win a flag within the next couple of years.

We still havent got a full season out of Mitch Lewis yet.

 

[TylerDurden]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-phantom-draft-2023-expert-chris-cavanagh-looks-at-how-the-first-round-should-fall/news-story/eb45a8723e3d6c19ad92013c2ddec713

Wiz.

 

[TylerDurden]

Meet the young guns who could be on their way to your AFL club next month

This draft offers something for everyone from a positional sense, but there are fewer safe picks than most years and an expectation things could get wild from midway through the first round.

www.theage.com.au

 

[KermitJagger]

With all of the Victorian expats that have moved up to Queensland in the past few years, Gold Coast's academy is simply becoming too fruitful to allow them preferential access to every single draftee that comes through.

 

[I got the outside word]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-phantom-draft-2023-expert-chris-cavanagh-looks-at-how-the-first-round-should-fall/news-story/eb45a8723e3d6c19ad92013c2ddec713

Wiz.

Is this the phantom? Can you post the order please? Archive not doing it for me.

 

[HairyO]

With all of the Victorian expats that have moved up to Queensland in the past few years, Gold Coast's academy is simply becoming too fruitful to allow them preferential access to every single draftee that comes through.

At some point they will rise up the ladder and wont have the picks. Plus, there is a heap of pressure on the AFL to stop the matching and discounts in the 1st round, so I assume the well dries up fairly soon for them.

 

[Tony3163]

Is this the phantom? Can you post the order please? Archive not doing it for me.

The age has a version, I imagine it’s similar.
Image from HS

 

[Topiary]

With all of the Victorian expats that have moved up to Queensland in the past few years, Gold Coast's academy is simply becoming too fruitful to allow them preferential access to every single draftee that comes through.

Agree and it has already started. The qld academy is matching a boom in participation and the AFL is more than happy it is starting to reap the rewards of its investment.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Agree and it has already started. The qld academy is matching a boom in participation and the AFL is more than happy it is starting to reap the rewards of its investment.

AFL will be happy

 

[Turly]

Curtin and McCabe I’ll take at least 3 years to mature. Please remember this.

Everyone was saying the same thing about our young star Will Day.

 

[The Gulden Child]

Everyone was saying the same thing about our young star Will Day.

Will was drafted in 2019. Matured this year, his 4th season? Showed he could play at the level in his first 3.

With due respect to your board.

 

[TylerDurden]

Will was drafted in 2019. Matured this year, his 4th season? Showed he could play at the level in his first 3.

With due respect to your board.

Battled ankle injuries and concussions early on. His body just wasn't ready for the rigours early days.

 

[Bugs1977]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-phantom-draft-2023-expert-chris-cavanagh-looks-at-how-the-first-round-should-fall/news-story/eb45a8723e3d6c19ad92013c2ddec713

Wiz.

A fair few people in the comment section on X (formerly twitter) seem to be adamant that it won't be Watson but rather Curtain who in that article is predicted to go 9th. If that's how the order plays out then I could see WC trying to buy back in to get Curtain.

1. WEST COAST: Harley Reid (MID/FWD)
2. NORTH MELBOURNE: Jed Walter (FWD) - Matched by Gold Coast
3. NORTH MELBOURNE: Zane Duursma (FWD/MID)
4. NORTH MELBOURNE: Colby McKercher (MID)
5. HAWTHORN: Nick Watson (FWD)
6. WB - Ryley Sanders (MID)
7. MELBOURNE: Ethan Read (RUC) - Matched by Gold Coast
8. MELBOURNE: James Leake (DEF/FWD)
9. GWS: Daniel Curtin (DEF/MID)
10. GEELONG: Nate Caddy (FWD)

 

[KermitJagger]

Agree and it has already started. The qld academy is matching a boom in participation and the AFL is more than happy it is starting to reap the rewards of its investment.

It's great for footy, but unlike the Sydney academies which still only pop out one truly elite talent every few years the Gold Coast and Brisbane academies are doing it every year now. Sunshine Coast, Townsville and Gold Coast are just too actively participating in footy for them to keep getting these benefits.