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.

 

[TDS7]

One of Reid, McKercher, Watson, and Curtin will be available at our pick. Regardless of positional need, I believe we should pick them up (in that order). I just get flashes of Daicos watching Colby, and you wouldn't pass on Daicos even if you had the Dogs midfield, just as we wouldn't pass on McCabe if we had a team full of 195cm Sicily's. He's been better than Reid this year, he doesn't have the upside or the versatility of Harley but he hasn't put a foot wrong all year. Watson and Curtin have both been great and again are just the best players available. If Curtin's best position is Mid then we can work him in there, great players make coaches make hard decisions at the selection table. I really hope we find a way to get another top 10 pick or two, there's a lot to like about this drafts top end and I think we could really set up our future without compromising on positional need.

 

[smish]

McKercher. Wow.

We're certainly going to have a few headaches at year end.

 

[Bugs1977]

McKercher looks like a great talent but with the way we have stockpiled young mids recently with pick 3 the list could maybe do with a Wizard/Caddy/Curtain that provide a point of difference ……… leave it up to MM of course and happy with whichever way we go.

I've taken that route ever since I was sold on Kozzie Pickett and then he went with Will Day. Leave it to the experts I say.

 

[TylerDurden]

McKercher. Wow.

We're certainly going to have a few headaches at year end.

He's a Zach Merrett clone. Top 3 lock.

 

[Roby]

He's a Zach Merrett clone. Top 3 lock.

I'd take Reid, Curtin, Walter and Watson before Mckercher. Though he's a very good midfielder whoever picks him.

 

[MasterSamurai]

We're gonna have some juicy choices come our pick! So that parts a lock. Now, for that second top ten. Do it MM, DO İT!

 

[Tomohawks]

I like McKercher a hell of a lot but there is a couple of reasons that I wouldn't take him at pick 3. Those being the go home Tassie factor where we may not get any compensation if he chose to do so (or sweet f..k all like we got for buddy) and the fact that we already have a smallish left sided mid for the future in Ward. Additionally, we need key position players and X Factor forwards more than anything with our midfield pretty much set for the long term now. I wouldn't be shattered if we took him by any stretch but there is just too many reasons for mine to look elsewhere at pick 3.

 

[The Chad and I]

"Go home Tassie factor"

LOL i've heard it all now.

 

[Mojo]

We're gonna have some juicy choices come our pick! So that parts a lock. Now, for that second top ten. Do it MM, DO İT!

Don't yell at him. He's trying his best!

 

[Dewnior]

He's a Zach Merrett clone. Top 3 lock.

Actually, he reminded me more of a young Lachie Neale.

 

[Brant]

MM has played it safe with our first picks so far, DGB was consensus top 7 pick, we bid on Campbell but when that was matched we settled with DGB.

Ward extremely safe, might not have the star quality but will be very good and has a low floor.

McKenzie - see above re: Ward.

I think he sticks with his history of safe firsts and takes Curtin. If he takes a shorter, high upside, riskier pick in Watson I’d be shocked.

Are you suggesting that DGB, Ward & CMac2 weren't best available (or thought so at the time)?

 

[chopflop]

One of Reid, McKercher, Watson, and Curtin will be available at our pick. Regardless of positional need, I believe we should pick them up (in that order). I just get flashes of Daicos watching Colby, and you wouldn't pass on Daicos even if you had the Dogs midfield, just as we wouldn't pass on McCabe if we had a team full of 195cm Sicily's. He's been better than Reid this year, he doesn't have the upside or the versatility of Harley but he hasn't put a foot wrong all year. Watson and Curtin have both been great and again are just the best players available. If Curtin's best position is Mid then we can work him in there, great players make coaches make hard decisions at the selection table. I really hope we find a way to get another top 10 pick or two, there's a lot to like about this drafts top end and I think we could really set up our future without compromising on positional need.

I got the order the same. Mckercher is too good to pass up if available at 3.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

Got to go best available. What we think the strengths and weaknesses of the side and our "need" now will be very different to what it looks like when we are challenging. It's bloody exciting to think about finally getting a player at the very pointy end of the draft.

 

[kenneje]

Looks great on both sides of the body

Thanks for posting this, first time I’ve seen footage.
WOW! Sam Walsh + George Wardlaw

We’re going to get an elite talent at our pick.

 

[Bugs1977]

Got to go best available. What we think the strengths and weaknesses of the side and our "need" now will be very different to what it looks like when we are challenging. It's bloody exciting to think about finally getting a player at the very pointy end of the draft.

My not be so pointy after we win our next 2 games which I do

 

[The Chad and I]

Hard pass on McKercher for our first pick.
He's competitive and an accumulator, but his disposal is rather sloppy.
Good finishing with the 2 goals, but I saw very little that impressed in general play to warrant using our first pick.

We simply don't need his type in a midfield with Ward, MacKenzie, MacDonald, Day, Worpel and others
Curtin and Watson much preferred IMO.

 

[chopflop]

Hard pass on McKercher for our first pick.
He's competitive and an accumulator, but his disposal is rather sloppy.
Good finishing with the 2 goals, but I saw very little that impressed in general play to warrant using our first pick.

We simply don't need his type in a midfield with Ward, MacKenzie, MacDonald, Day, Worpel and others
Curtin and Watson much preferred IMO.

Both goals were other worldly. The ability to navigate traffic in both instances was insane. He moves different. Only a few people in the comp can do that type of thing (pendles, daicos, ...)

 

[play2win]

i suppose he would be a point of difference in our midfield set-up, seems to avoid handballing to his teammates feet

 

[Roby]

Both goals were other worldly. The ability to navigate traffic in both instances was insane. He moves different. Only a few people in the comp can do that type of thing (pendles, daicos, ...)

That's a big call that you think he's the next Pendles or Daicos. Yes he's goals were amazing but there's definitely recency bias with Colby atm. I've seen him miss targets as well. People get enamored with highlights.

Also Daicos at junior level was something else... Even at 16 he looked way too good. I'm not surprised at all to the way he's playing now. I always thought Daicos would be better than JUH who got more hyped on his highlights. The thing with Daicos the hype was muted, there wasn't 17 other clubs chasing.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

McKercher looks like a very talented player, but we have more pressing needs to address - and right now midfield isn't one of them with Newcombe, Day, Worpel, Nash, Mackenzie, Ward and MacDonald on the list.

Unless players are moving on (discussion for another thread), or the club isn't confident in some of them, then I believe the club will be looking at Caddy, Curtin and to a lesser extent Watson.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Both goals were other worldly. The ability to navigate traffic in both instances was insane. He moves different. Only a few people in the comp can do that type of thing (pendles, daicos, ...)

Otherworldly? The first goal he ran fast sideways past two flat-footed opponents. It was a nice kick from that angle though.

The second goal he ran straight and moved past a defender that was already going the wrong way.

Nice goals, but hardly otherworldly IMO.

 

[chopflop]

That's a big call that you think he's the next Pendles or Daicos. Yes he's goals were amazing but there's definitely recency bias with Colby atm. I've seen him miss targets as well. People get enamored with highlights.

Also Daicos at junior level was something else... Even at 16 he looked way too good. I'm not surprised at all to the way he's playing now. I always thought Daicos would be better than JUH who got more hyped on his highlights. The thing with Daicos the hype was muted, there wasn't 17 other clubs chasing.

Lol.

 

[Roby]

Lol.

Have you seen Watson move? I'm not sure why you're so enamored with Mckercher over Watson if you're just talking about movement. Watson used to be a basketballer, he's movement is the top in this draft.

Have a look at his first goal against WA which was Cyril like. That goal was other worldly and I don't know anyone in this draft they could've scored that goal. He also scored two goals from the boundary in his five goal haul.

If your watching Watson play you can tell if he's left or right footed when he kicks, left or right handed when he handballs, until he has a set shot and then he kicks it with his right.

 

[chopflop]

Have you seen Watson move? I'm not sure why you're so enamored with Mckercher over Watson if you're just talking about movement. Watson used to be a basketballer, he's movement is the top in this draft.

Have a look at his first goal against WA which was Cyril like. That goal was other worldly and I don't know anyone in this draft they could've scored that goal. He also scored two goals from the boundary in his five goal haul.

If your watching Watson play you can tell if he's left or right footed when he kicks, left or right handed when he handballs, until he has a set shot and then he kicks it with his right.

I rate Watson also. There is alot to like about several of the top prospects.

 

[The Chad and I]

Watson looks a more talented and complete footballer than McKercher.
I'd take Watson as a midfield prospect or a forward before I'd take the latter.

I think this is a case of people wanting to boost a guy who has not had as much attention, and they're going overboard.