Opinion 2023 AFL Draft Prospects

[doggies ftw]

If Smith leaves, should get Watson and Sanders

Yeah if Smith wanted to leave I’d want pick 4 & F1 for Smith & F2 and agree Watson & Sanders would be a great combo there. Or Sanders/McKercher if available to rebuild our midfield in one sweep

 

[Angak]

I had been scared off by the descriptions of him not being particularly quick or having great disposal, but after finally watching some footage I'm higher on him than I was. If he's not quick, he's also not slow from what I can tell, and his first couple steps out of a stoppage seem to get him clear enough. And his highlights at least show some very good delivery (as highlights should of course).

He's that solid accumulator mid without a massive point of difference that I always have trouble judging at this level. Some of them becomes stars, others average vanilla midfielders, and I can never pick the traits that determine which it will be from the limited footage available. But I'd be happier taking him that I was, after actually seeing how he looks.

What I like about him is he always seems to have time and space when others seem to be fluffing about around him. He isn't explosive but he has sharp turn which should translate to the next level.

 

[Munnez]

Surely we take Curtin if he’s still available, he looks to be Bont 2.0

Can play immediately as a third tall while he does a couple of preseasons to develop a tank for midfield duties

 

[Doggy]

Yeah if Smith wanted to leave I’d want pick 4 & F1 for Smith & F2 and agree Watson & Sanders would be a great combo there. Or Sanders/McKercher if available to rebuild our midfield in one sweep

Vic Metro coach was on TR today .. Watson when in the midfield in the champs was influential so he can roll up through there

 

[goodcop badcop]

Yeah alright after watching a bit more Sanders footage I’m on board too (man there’s a lot of YouTube footage this year). He doesn’t really fit for a year or two like Watson or McKercher who could play round 1 and add to our premiership ambitions but I guess that’s not what we should be looking at anyway.

He very well might be the best option for us long term, especially if Baz doesn’t stick around. Pretty nice package though - definitely not quick but he at least seems to always be on the move from the stoppage, don’t think he compares at all to Macrae really. He does look like the type where it wouldn’t really surprise at all if he ends up being one of the top 2 mids from the draft looking back in a few years.

Did he test at the combine?

I love Watson he’s still my favourite but we really can’t lose here, we’re guaranteed one of the top prospects so you can see why we were so keen on moving up to maximise the Dunks compo. It’s also why the Hawks supporters suggestions we need to move up a spot this year are ridiculous, we really don’t at all. We’re guaranteed Watson/McKercher/Curtin/Duursma/Sanders and you really can’t go wrong

I have his pre season testing, not sure of his national combine testing and whether he's improved on that.

Speed
5m 1.06
10m 1.79
20m 3.05

Agility
8.67

For his position, he is quicker then quite a few big name inside mids like Bont, Cripps etc. He does have below average agility for his position as a negative. He has very good endurance and a very good vertical leap as a positive.

Comparing him to other players of his position, the most similar player athletically of note is Taylor Adams from the results I have. Sanders is less athletic, but has a burst and then drop off in a similar way.



For those that are comparing him to Macrae athletically. Macrae has a much better athletic profile, you just very rarely see it in games. I looked back at his career highlights a while ago and noticed his burst speed only on a couple occasions.



Matt Crouch is another I've seen Sanders compared to. Crouch is much slower.

 

[murphy's twin]

Sanders does make a lot of sense for us for the long term.

We really should be thinking of long term needs.

The timing of it makes perfect sense too. I’d imagine he would take over from Libba in 2026.

 

[doggies ftw]

I have his pre season testing, not sure of his national combine testing and whether he's improved on that.

Speed
5m 1.06
10m 1.79
20m 3.05

Agility
8.67

For his position, he is quicker then quite a few big name inside mids like Bont, Cripps etc. He does have below average agility for his position as a negative. He has very good endurance and a very good vertical leap as a positive.

Comparing him to other players of his position, the most similar player athletically of note is Taylor Adams from the results I have. Sanders is less athletic, but has a burst and then drop off in a similar way.
View attachment 1830627


For those that are comparing him to Macrae athletically. Macrae has a much better athletic profile, you just very rarely see it in games. I looked back at his career highlights a while ago and noticed his burst speed only on a couple occasions.

View attachment 1830634

Matt Crouch is another I've seen Sanders compared to. Crouch is much slower.

View attachment 1830629

Thanks mate, not great testing but doesn’t look to show too badly in his game.

He’s really grown on me after having a proper watch - the way he seems to read the play within the stoppage - it’s not a coincidence he seems to constantly read the tap and get the clearance with the ball never touching the ground - that’s football smarts.

He meets the ball on the move and is always on his feet and then happy to run & get involved on the spread too. I love an inside midfielder who plays the game on the move - separates the top liners from the Mitchells, wouldn’t surprise at all to find out in a few years he’s right up there from this draft. Sanders & Harmes would add a genuine harder edge to us instantly, which is much needed.

Crazy to think Macrae put up that 20m time once upon a time. He’s never really shown his speed over distance in game but he’s definitely slower now, he’s had such a wild transition throughout his career - was genuinely a slight, flashy outside mid who would run the length of the ground side stepping everyone as a junior and had such a dramatic change to a bulky inside pretty dour mid. Man I hope he can find his best again.

 

[DueWest]

Right now as far as list needs goes Watson before Sanders and McKercher before both

Longer term McKercher looks the goods and could be best out of this draft crop

Prefer Watson to Sanders, seems more explosive and has ability to change games although Sanders at the same time will have a good career

 

[weltschmerz]

Top seven is Reid, Walter, McKercher, Duursma, Curtin, Sanders, and Watson, then I reckon there's a drop. Could also include the Suns ruck in that top tier but he's not relevant anyway. There'll be two of these guys left when we take our pick. My preference would be to not take Duursma, but whatever happens, we'll get our pick of two very good players.

(Still quietly crossing my fingers for a McKercher slide though.)

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

I just want a player who can take to the ground round 1.

 

[SweatOnMySkin]

I'm completely happy with Sanders if thats what we end up with. For those who haven't seen his highlights package they probably should. He's not remotely slow as some seem to think. has a great step in traffic, uses the ball well delivering inside 50 and pops up for a few goals. In a lot of ways he's exactly what we need in preparation for the post-Libba, Treloar, Macrae times which are coming like a freight train. He's also ready to go, he'd play round 1

 

[doggies ftw]

I'm completely happy with Sanders if thats what we end up with. For those who haven't seen his highlights package they probably should. He's not remotely slow as some seem to think. has a great step in traffic, uses the ball well delivering inside 50 and pops up for a few goals. In a lot of ways he's exactly what we need in preparation for the post-Libba, Treloar, Macrae times which are coming like a freight train. He's also ready to go, he'd play round 1

Bont, Baz & Sanders really is the absolute prototype modern starting trio on paper, for post Libba/Treloar/Macrae era.

 

[Here we go dogs]

I love what Watson can do year 1. I don’t think any player matches how Watson could potentially reshape this side day dot next year adding zip at half forward.

I think we should be chips in next year.

 

[SweatOnMySkin]

I'm happy with Watson too if thats who we get. My concern is that we really need midfielders though, and with us not having a first rounder next year now we're talking 2025 before we can use a high pick on one unless one of our big names leaves this or next year

 

[murphy's twin]

We could really really do with both Sanders and Watson.

I think with how much we need to spend to keep both Jamarra and English (and Naughts already), I think we need to be proactive with Smith IF he is a good chance to go next year.

 

[murphy's twin]

I love what Watson can do year 1. I don’t think any player matches how Watson could potentially reshape this side day dot next year adding zip at half forward.

I think we should be chips in next year.

This is why we should really consider taking both Watson and Sanders.

If it’s not Smith, then maybe English is the one to go?

 

[Euku]

Sanders is underated is tougher a better mark and better in the clinches than mckercher, mckercher can turn it on and is quick but I like Sanders better creates time and space, I'm in the minority on this though I believe he will be the best player from this draft

 

[Nat Fyfe]

I have nothing against Sanders - I actually really wanted him with our pick 10. My issue is I don’t believe he’s going to be the same level of player as McKercher or Watson, and I don’t believe he’s worth spending 3 first round picks to trade up for. Great player, but there’s many like him in every draft

 

[_Cerberus_]

Sanders is underated is tougher a better mark and better in the clinches than mckercher, mckercher can turn it on and is quick but I like Sanders better creates time and space, I'm in the minority on this though I believe he will be the best player from this draft

Its because everyone likes flashy toys. They want all the stuff that excites them.

Never mind, that flashy players are more likely to flop at AFL level, or be inconsistent. Some will go on to be match winners now and then yes. It's those hard at it, contested players that stand up in finals the most, or play more consistently. Hence I'd not be against him.

Reckon he can easily play round one. Body is ready size wise. And I'd be okay with it, given he plays two ways and is hungry. Selwood wasn't flashy or fast. But went on to be one of the hardest, most contested players in the league, and a good leader too. We all moan how teams focus to much on atheltic ability and not enough pure football ability. Which is why I like Sanders, as he has pure football ability in spades, and has potential leadership vibes.

I'd still pick McKercher first if available for sure, and maybe Watson / Duursma as well. The only thing with Sanders, is that it seems weird to trade up to 4 for him, when he might be there at 7-8. But then again sometimes you have to trade ahead of some teams, to stop them trading up themselves.

 

[murphy's twin]

Its because everyone likes flashy toys. They want all the stuff that excites them.

Never mind, that flashy players are more likely to flop at AFL level, or be inconsistent. Some will go on to be match winners now and then yes. It's those hard at it, contested players that stand up in finals the most, or play more consistently. Hence I'd not be against him.

Reckon he can easily play round one. Body is ready size wise. And I'd be okay with it, given he plays two ways and is hungry.

Can’t agree with you anymore.

We have too many flashy types atm.

We need more of the 2016 type dogs brigade.

 

[Struggle]

In my completely uninformed rankings based on giving up halfway through highlight packages
Mckercher



Watson
Sanders

Duursma

Curtin

 

[House_of_Dahl]

A fair few North peeps are keen on Curtin and Duursma if they keep 2 and 3. Outside chance even Sanders.

Would leave McKercher and Watson to us/Hawks.

I'd be stoked with Watson but REALLY stoked with McKercher

 

[Dale4captain]

A fair few North peeps are keen on Curtin and Duursma if they keep 2 and 3. Outside chance even Sanders.

Would leave McKercher and Watson to us/Hawks.

I'd be stoked with Watson but REALLY stoked with McKercher

Honestly Sanders makes a lot of sense for their midfield balance. He’s very similar to JHF in that he’s a balanced stoppage midfielder and pairs really well with Wardlaw, LDU (who is similar to Mckercher) and Simpkin. That’s a really good centre square combo. If they didn’t pick up Stephens from Sydney then Mckercher might have been a better fit.

Can 100% see them taking Curtin, too. They’re screaming for quality talls. Duursma likewise for a point of difference degoey/dusty type.

Knowing north though, they’ll take the safe midfielders and stockpile even more of the same type of player and further ruin their list build.

 

[Mojorisin]

Honestly Sanders makes a lot of sense for their midfield balance. He’s very similar to JHF in that he’s a balanced stoppage midfielder and pairs really well with Wardlaw, LDU (who is similar to Mckercher) and Simpkin. That’s a really good centre square combo. If they didn’t pick up Stephens from Sydney then Mckercher might have been a better fit.

Can 100% see them taking Curtin, too. They’re screaming for quality talls. Duursma likewise for a point of difference degoey/dusty type.

Knowing north though, they’ll take the safe midfielders and stockpile even more of the same type of player and further ruin their list build.

They also have Phillips and Powell and have supposedly told Stephens he will be getting minutes in the midfield.

 

[House_of_Dahl]

OK I've gotten myself comfortable with Sanders too (so now content with any of a top 7).

Midfield renewal will be needed. He's almost zero risk. Not slow (just not fast). Good defensively too. Potential to be a better Dunkly. Likely to be at least similar.