Player Watch 2023 AFL Draft Pool Discussion Thread

Who would you prefer we pick with our first pick?

  • Nick Watson

    Votes: 157 37.6%
  • Zane Duursma

    Votes: 135 32.3%
  • Colby McKercher

    Votes: 51 12.2%
  • Daniel Curtin

    Votes: 51 12.2%
  • Nate Caddy

    Votes: 11 2.6%
  • Conor O'Sullivan

    Votes: 7 1.7%
  • Ryley Sanders

    Votes: 4 1.0%
  • Darcy Wilson

    Votes: 2 0.5%

  • Total voters
    418

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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.
 
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A top five pick beckons. We have the makings of a great squad with maybe only one glaring need, which is another KPF and maybe a midfielder.

However players like Caddy, Duursma and Watson are really exciting.
Harley will be an animal once he reaches 21, 22.... Could not play one game this year and still be pick 1.

If anyone's watched Watson, you always leave with the impression, no one can keep up with him. His pace, leap, agility and IQ is freaky. His size doesn't hurt him at all.

These 2 are some of the better prospects I've seen since 2018.
 
Harley will be an animal once he reaches 21, 22.... Could not play one game this year and still be pick 1.

If anyone's watched Watson, you always leave with the impression, no one can keep up with him. His pace, leap, agility and IQ is freaky. His size doesn't hurt him at all.

These 2 are some of the better prospects I've seen since 2018.
Reid is a generational talent. And Watson has that freaky x factor you can't teach. Will be a match winner.
 

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The only concern for Watson is his size. It will potentially impact his game at AFL level. He may only ever be a forward and not make the transition into a midfield option.
 
The only concern for Watson is his size. It will potentially impact his game at AFL level. He may only ever be a forward and not make the transition into a midfield option.
This is the reason I'm not that fond of Watson for our pick. What he brings to the table is sparks of brilliance every so often, but the majority of the time he's just any other small forward. He doesn't have the frame to play at stoppages, he's 6kgs lighter than Caleb Daniel at the moment, and his disposal over distance and stamina aren't at the level where he can pester opposition by running all day up and down the ground from the pocket. It's all well and good to think he's the most skilled player in the draft, he very well might be, but whether he is what player is going to be best for our team is a different discussion. There's a team out there that will be ecstatic to take Watson knowing he'll never be more than a small forward, and that he very well might be a great one, I just don't think that team is us.
 
This is the reason I'm not that fond of Watson for our pick. What he brings to the table is sparks of brilliance every so often, but the majority of the time he's just any other small forward. He doesn't have the frame to play at stoppages, he's 6kgs lighter than Caleb Daniel at the moment, and his disposal over distance and stamina aren't at the level where he can pester opposition by running all day up and down the ground from the pocket. It's all well and good to think he's the most skilled player in the draft, he very well might be, but whether he is what player is going to be best for our team is a different discussion. There's a team out there that will be ecstatic to take Watson knowing he'll never be more than a small forward, and that he very well might be a great one, I just don't think that team is us.
Twitch Wtf GIF by ClassyBeef
 
This is the reason I'm not that fond of Watson for our pick. What he brings to the table is sparks of brilliance every so often, but the majority of the time he's just any other small forward. He doesn't have the frame to play at stoppages, he's 6kgs lighter than Caleb Daniel at the moment, and his disposal over distance and stamina aren't at the level where he can pester opposition by running all day up and down the ground from the pocket. It's all well and good to think he's the most skilled player in the draft, he very well might be, but whether he is what player is going to be best for our team is a different discussion. There's a team out there that will be ecstatic to take Watson knowing he'll never be more than a small forward, and that he very well might be a great one, I just don't think that team is us.
I wouldn't be surprised to see him slip out of the top 10. Clubs seldom use top picks on small forwards and small defenders. Then there's the fact that he's so short which typically hurts a draftee's chances of going higher.

I'm not saying that he won't or shouldn't go top 10. Just pointing out that drafting trends indicate players of his size and position tend to slip. Will be a steal for any club who picks him up I'm sure.
 

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What's the likelihood Caddy grows a few more centimetres and becomes KP height? He'd be exactly what we need (assuming we don't have pick 1)
190cm was his posted height at the start of 2022. I'd say he's 192-194 right now, but that might be my eyes not working. Regardless, his leap lets him play above his height and his body work and forward craft are brilliant for his age. If Sicily can be a KPD, Caddy can be a KPF.
 
190cm was his posted height at the start of 2022. I'd say he's 192-194 right now, but that might be my eyes not working. Regardless, his leap lets him play above his height and his body work and forward craft are brilliant for his age. If Sicily can be a KPD, Caddy can be a KPF.
The recent articles have him at 191cm but of course that could be wrong. Assuming we have the midfield pieces sorted, we really need a mobile Roughie type player and Caddy looks like he could become that
 
The recent articles have him at 191cm but of course that could be wrong. Assuming we have the midfield pieces sorted, we really need a mobile Roughie type player and Caddy looks like he could become that

Agree that a player like Cadman (barring any superstar midfielders being available) should be the kind of player we are looking at.

Cadman was drafted at 195cm, which isn't exactly tall for a KPF. Hopefully Caddy can sneak a few more cm's in before the end of the year.
 
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Agree that a player like Cadman (barring any superstar midfielders being available) should be the kind of player we are looking at.

Cadman was drafted at 195cm, which isn't exactly tall for a KPF. Hopefully Cadman has sneak a few more cm's in before the end of the year.
Caddy, yeah?
 
Is there any scope for Duursma to move into the midfield?

Could he play a similar role to Erasmus from the 2021 draft?
I watched one game of his last year. He rolled through there. Absolute class. Hopefully he gets good midfield time this year
 
How long ago was this? I was hoping he could reach 175cm at a minimum.

Doesn't need to, the kid is all class. I just watched some of the Vic Metro games and found why they nick named him the wizard.
 
Agree that a player like Cadman (barring any superstar midfielders being available) should be the kind of player we are looking at.

Cadman was drafted at 195cm, which isn't exactly tall for a KPF. Hopefully Caddy can sneak a few more cm's in before the end of the year.

Sheehan reckons Caddy could grow to 195cm :oops:

Caddy is a different player to Cadman, he's much more mobile and agile and our squad needs a Caddy type more than a Cadman.
 
Sheehan reckons Caddy could grow to 195cm :oops:

Caddy is a different player to Cadman, he's much more mobile and agile and our squad needs a Caddy type more than a Cadman.

I like what I'm hearing.

Cadman was a wingman prior to his draft year though and he's very mobile. So if Caddy is better in that regard, and grows those extra cms, then he will surely be our number one target.
 

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Player Watch 2023 AFL Draft Pool Discussion Thread

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