Opinion 2023 AFL Draft Prospects

[Bonti 5416]

Duursma is pretty consistently featuring higher on power rankings than Watson. Hawks gave a fair bit of game time to Fergus Greene this year and Duursma does the same thing he did, but significantly better. Added to that the impending retirement of Breust, I can definitely see them wanting the dynamic medium forward with x-factor.

I reckon it’s Duursma for the Hawks, unless North take him in which case it’ll be Watson. If North don’t take Curtin he probably slides to us

Spot on!
Agree with your summation

 

[Mofra]

Duursma is pretty consistently featuring higher on power rankings than Watson. Hawks gave a fair bit of game time to Fergus Greene this year and Duursma does the same thing he did, but significantly better. Added to that the impending retirement of Breust, I can definitely see them wanting the dynamic medium forward with x-factor.

I reckon it’s Duursma for the Hawks, unless North take him in which case it’ll be Watson. If North don’t take Curtin he probably slides to us

They've been linked to him for months now. He's quality, and if he fails to make a midfield transition you're getting a gun medium forward.

 

[Mofra]

Watson would be unprecedented at Pick #6 for a small goalsneak as far as I can tell. Cyril Rioli is the only comparison I can find at Pick #12 or a mature aged Ballantyne at Pick #21 which is less risky.

Betts was overlooked and taken at the pre-season draft, Milne was rookie draft, Farmer and Matera were foundation and zoned players respectively (so who knows). This says to me that he is rated to be an almost guaranteed 200 game / 300 goals player.

I get this feeling we will either be praising or cursing this lads name in years to come. My gut says we will take Sanders, but I guess we have a small wait to see what Sam does and the other teams above us.

Rachale went at pick 6 in 2021.
Rankine went at pick 3 in 2018.

Both are more 'pure' small forwards than Watson though who did spend time up the ground too this year

 

[adogsfan5]

Looking likely we’re gonna end up with one of Sanders or Watson?

 

[LondonBulldog]

I dont buy the 'best available every time' line unless there is clear daylight between the picks. But maybe Watson is just that good. Thats fine.

That goes for curtin and dursma as well. You go back and look at Bonts highlights and there is this skinny kid that moves well, has sharp hands and a neat left foot, but dosnt scream superstar exactly - but Dalrymple saw it.

Yeap and that's what I see in Curtin, gee I hope he is still there at our pick.

 

[House_of_Dahl]

Looking likely we’re gonna end up with one of Sanders or Watson?

Honestly could be any two of these that are still there to pick from:

McKercher
Curtin
Duursma
Watson
Sanders

McKercher seems the least likely

 

[Euku]

Honestly could be any two of these that are still there to pick from:

McKercher
Curtin
Duursma
Watson
Sanders

McKercher seems the least likely

I think it's only Curtin Watson Sanders

 

[LittleG]

I would take:
McKercher
Curtin
Watson
Sanders
Duursma
Caddy

In that order. I am hoping that Duursma and Caddy are taken earlier than people expect.

That would push McKercher & Curtin down the order.


WC trade pick 1:
I still think WC trade 1 for 2 & 12. Thus Curtin goes pick 2. North then take Watson, as McKercher isn’t a need. Hawks take Duursma. We get McKercher, which would be my preference.

 

[Bulldogs85]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/draft/afl-draft-2023-every-clubs-current-picks-potential-targets-fathersons-academy-aces/news-story/9ce51dac6251f86424c84891cffad2e5

 

[murphy's twin]

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/draft/afl-draft-2023-every-clubs-current-picks-potential-targets-fathersons-academy-aces/news-story/9ce51dac6251f86424c84891cffad2e5

Need copy paste

 

[BulldogMuscle]

Need copy paste

WESTERN BULLDOGS​

Draft Picks after trade period: 5, 48, 50, 52, 53, 56, 69, 72, 75, 75, 90

From the outside, trading three first round picks to get one top-five selection seems exorbitant. But the two first round picks they traded (10 and 17) could have been swallowed up in the event of a top-10 bid for father-son prospect Jordan Croft. The club has been linked to livewire small forward Nick Watson, who would add serious ground level threat alongside the likes of Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Cody Weightman. But if Hawthorn takes Watson before them, ready-made inside midfielder Ryley Sanders would likely come into consideration. Sanders won the Larke Medal as the best player at the national championships, where he averaged 35 disposals and four tackles. With Tom Liberatore turning 32 next year, Sanders can be the Bulldogs’ next clearance king. The Western Bulldogs banked plenty of back-end picks to allow for an early bid for Croft, the son of 186-game player Matthew, who is a key forward with elite running capacity and athleticism. It remains to be seen whether the Bulldogs will take any picks beyond that, with three listed players still uncontracted.

 

[Frewy]

Rachale went at pick 6 in 2021.
Rankine went at pick 3 in 2018.

Both are more 'pure' small forwards than Watson though who did spend time up the ground too this year

Cheers for Rachele, much like Rankine and a couple of the others he sits around that more versatile 180 cm. It appears though that we have never seen anyone under 175 cm go under Pick#12 which both Cyril and Kozzie went at.

Either the recruiters and draft experts have changed their risk management process or we are looking at more than likely a very special player.

 

[_Cerberus_]

Twomey saying we might use four selections at the upcoming draft. Probably leaves those players waiting on a contract hanging a little bit longer.

 

[Mofra]

Cheers for Rachele, much like Rankine and a couple of the others he sits around that more versatile 180 cm. It appears though that we have never seen anyone under 175 cm go under Pick#12 which both Cyril and Kozzie went at.

Either the recruiters and draft experts have changed their risk management process or we are looking at more than likely a very special player.

Watson is amazing but I do wonder if he stands out a bit because this draft class isn't quite at the skill level of other years.
One game at the champs his kicks were hitting every target while pretty much everyone else out there was playing u12s footy. It was Caleb-like but my concern is as good as he is, did he play up the ground because he's versatile or because he's not a 'pure' small forward?

The draft watchers seem to think this is a good draft for rebounding defenders but quite a few seem to have question marks over their kicking from my eyeball test

 

[House_of_Dahl]

Caleb Daniel

35

Caleb Daniel

Age

28

Ht

171cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.3

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.4

4star

D

19.5

4star

K

11.1

4star

HB

8.4

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

CL

1.0

3star

D

16.4

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

9.2

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.2

2star

size, smarts and ball use, but with lighting pace, lighting decision making, and incredible goal sense. Can also roost a 60m goal.

 

[doggies ftw]

Twomey saying we might use four selections at the upcoming draft. Probably leaves those players waiting on a contract hanging a little bit longer.

4 seems right, I suspect we have two picks in mid to late 40s after Croft when alls said & done. Hopefully Lual and another pick would be great

 

[House_of_Dahl]

I hope we take 4 picks too

 

[stefoid]

Caleb Daniel size, smarts and ball use, but with lighting pace, lighting decision making, and incredible goal sense. Can also roost a 60m goal.

So Brent Harvey?

 

[TiAn_]

So Brent Harvey?

Good comparison tbh

 

[House_of_Dahl]

So Brent Harvey?

Good value if he plays till he's 40!

Edit - we should lock him away with a 22-year extension the day after we draft him

 

[TiAn_]

Watson is amazing but I do wonder if he stands out a bit because this draft class isn't quite at the skill level of other years.
One game at the champs his kicks were hitting every target while pretty much everyone else out there was playing u12s footy. It was Caleb-like but my concern is as good as he is, did he play up the ground because he's versatile or because he's not a 'pure' small forward?

The draft watchers seem to think this is a good draft for rebounding defenders but quite a few seem to have question marks over their kicking from my eyeball test

He’s a natural forward. He played there far more exclusively over the two years before this year. He’s super dangerous as the deepest forward. I think the moves to half back, midfield and wing across the year were to demonstrate the other strings to his bow. I know he’s a little bit shorter but he’s so much like Papley, but possibly a bit quicker/more athletic.

 

[doggies ftw]

I get the concerns on drafting a 170cm player that high but I don’t necessarily think there’s a comparable draftee in recent years nor do I think him going high is due to the current transition in the AFL of small forwards becoming more important. To my eye he’s just that special that he warrants a high pick despite his height whereas I don’t think you could say the same about many other small forwards coming through the system. He’s just that good.

Most guys his size are pretty slight too, or if nuggety definitely not that quick. Hes bloody powerful & the mix of speed & power combined with his skillset is just about unmatched.

I look at a guy like CD whose a fantastic player at that height but limited - honestly if he had elite speed he’d be one of the top handful players in the comp IMO, honestly he’d be like a mini Gary Ablett Jnr with his stoppage craft & skills - unfortunately he’s treacle slow so it becomes very limiting when combined with his height.

 

[coxman]

This is a guy on YouTube called truefooty, not sure if he is credible or not but thought I’d post the first round up to the Croft bid

 

[Mofra]

View attachment 1838511
This is a guy on YouTube called truefooty, not sure if he is credible or not but thought I’d post the first round up to the Croft bid

Remi Malek is quite the AFL fan

 

[Bonti 5416]

Its worth pointing out that Kozi had a pretty underwhelming draft year. Other than a few highlights and some afl traits he had not put it all together, it raised eyebrows when he went as low as he did. Its that pace that translates at AFL and forward craft (the big bumps dont hurt his chances either).

The wizard has kicked 70 goals this year. Including the most of any player at Champs with 14. If you haven’t watched his game against WA, do yourself a favour.



Also dont forget that he kicked 70 up the ground (high half forward/wing) majority of the time, a decision from the coaches in pre season to show his versatility and improve draft chances. He said as much in a gettable interview which you can listen to on Spotify.

He is exclusively small forward at next level. Cody Weightman

3

Cody Weightman

Age

24

Ht

179cm

Wt

75kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

6.5

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

2.5

2star

M

2.0

2star

T

1.0

3star

G

1.0

4star

D

6.5

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

2.5

2star

M

2.0

2star

T

1.0

2star

G

1.0

4star

D

6.5

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

2.5

3star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.0

3star

G

1.0

4star

and hopefully Charlie Clarke and the wizard could be the most envied (and hated) small forward brigade in the comp for years to come. Its too early to fall in love as hes not even a doggy yet but I think I already have.