Preview 2023 National Draft Preview Thread [currently: #2, #14 (PA), #19 (PP) #40, #52, #60]

[The Nostradamus]

I'm with The Nostradamus on this one.

Like Watson and there's something unconvincing about McKercher for me.

Not sure I'd go for Duursma instead but can definitely understand those 2 opinions.

Watson and 1 of Curtin, Caddy or Duursma for me

Don't be surprised if we have pick 1.

Wouldn’t trade more than our pick 3 compo/priority pick and ports pick for it

 

[Better Loosen Up]

I just cannot understand why any team would use a pick 1-3 on a small forward like Watson.

Sure, he might look pretty flashy against his own age group with his 3 goals from 10 possessions but I'd take a 30 possession, 2 goal midfielder any day of the week. The other thing to remember is when he takes the next step to the AFL, he's going to be up against smarter, open aged, seasoned defenders that are going to limit his opportunities.

Also, given the current state of our list, it just doesn't make sense. Yes, a flashy, small forward would be great but that sort of player is like a cherry on top type when you have all your other ducks in a row. What's far more critical for us are high quality key position players. O'Sullivan should be an absolute top priority and I'm sure there will be several other clubs lower in the order that will also be interested in him. To miss out on O'Sullivan in my mind would be a huge oversight.

Besides, we already have Brayden George who we haven't even seen yet who is basically still a new recruit for us as a small forward.

 

[The Filth Wizard]

Wouldn’t trade more than our pick 3 compo/priority pick and ports pick for it

What would you have accepted for pick 1 the last two years?

 

[ronpingwins]

Don't be surprised if we have pick 1.

Any chance you can expand on that?

 

[The Nostradamus]

What would you have accepted for pick 1 the last two years?

2 firsts (1 in the top 5) which is what we got and what I’m proposing to give up

 

[giantroo]

Spoiler

West Coast Eagles would demand huge trade deal to pass on drafting Harley Reid should they hold first pick​

The Eagles are confident Harley Reid would move to Perth despite reports to the contrary, writes MARK DUFFIELD

If West Coast still has the number one pick come round 24 it is theoretically tradeable, but it would take a trade offer bordering on ludicrous to get their attention.

The Eagles, who have flirted with the idea of trading the pick if it could get them multiple first round picks this season, are believed to be comfortable they could take and retain Victoria Country’s Harley Reid if they finish at the bottom of the ladder.

What sort of deal would it take to sway them?

Probably two picks inside of the top five of the draft.

The Eagles have not been swayed by the recent scuttlebutt that Reid might prefer that they did not draft him. He toured their facility at Mineral Resources Park when Victoria Country played WA in Perth three weeks ago and is understood to have told club officials he would happily come to WA if drafted by the club.

Eagles recruiters are set to visit Reid and his family in the next two weeks purely as a courtesy, to wish him the best for the remainder of the season, with a plan to make contact again in the lead up to the draft if they still hold the pick that would get him.

AFL talent ambassador Kevin Sheehan recently made it clear how valuable a talent he thought Reid was. He stated that if the Eagles could snare three first round draft picks, or two and a player from another club to hand over the pick which might get them Reid, he would consider it.

Reid appears to be locked into being the draft’s first pick later this year. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Otherwise, he said, he would take the player he views as “one out of the box”.

“I think you try and stretch it to three,” he told SEN earlier this month. “If you can get three players you might give up the first pick but you wouldn’t take two for a Harley. He might be that special player that really can do the Chris Judd type stuff if you like.

“He is pretty good but if you can get a third one in the deal – and that might be someone who has played a couple of years and is thrown in – a West Australian who is returning home as well as a couple of picks. A deal like that can really set your club up for the next three to five years. That might get the deal done. He looks to be one out of the box. I think you have got some bargaining power there if you are West Coast.”

​

Speculation that the Eagles might be prepared to split the number one pick if it netted them multiple players was fuelled by where West Australian talent is thought to sit in this draft.

Claremont defender/midfielder Daniel Curtin is rated a top five prospect, while Peel ruckman Mitch Edwards, Subiaco forward/mid Koltyn Tholstrup and Swan Districts defender Riley Hardeman are all rated inside the top 20.

Peel midfielder Clay Hall and East Fremantle mid/forward Koen Sanchez are believed to be inside the top 30 which would give the Eagles a lot of good options if they were, as Sheehan said, able to stretch a deal to three picks.

 

[justroyal]

I'm with The Nostradamus on this one.

Like Watson and there's something unconvincing about McKercher for me.

Not sure I'd go for Duursma instead but can definitely understand those 2 opinions.

I base this on no knowledge, but from those highlights - he does look quick. A build more of a small forward than a mid or half back, but a lot of manic kicks going inside 50.

And I’ve had enough of manic inside deliveries for the past two seasons.

 

[Sphynx]

I base this on no knowledge, but from those highlights - he does look quick. A build more of a small forward than a mid or half back, but a lot of manic kicks going inside 50.

And I’ve had enough of manic inside deliveries for the past two seasons.

LDU is a rough kick a lot of the time, would you pass on him knowing what we have now?

McKercher has massive clearance numbers, massive score involvements, massive ground ball get numbers and he kicks 1-2 goals per game consistently.

He also has elite athleticism with maybe top 1% AFL wide raw pace for a midfielder when he winds up.

He's pretty much a modern recruiters wet dream from an advanced analysis point of view.

 

[JGreezy]

If we have picks 2 and 3 then we have to call GC to at least discuss a trade built around 2 for 5 and Flanders.

From their perspective they are basically getting pick 2 for Flanders (minus oppurtunity cost of trading pick 5 for an F1 or whatever) and they get a 300 point discount on the Walter bid.

We are trading McKercher for Flanders and one of O'Sullivan/Curtin/Caddy.

Win win.

 

[justroyal]

LDU is a rough kick a lot of the time, would you pass on him knowing what we have now?

McKercher has massive clearance numbers, massive score involvements, massive ground ball get numbers and he kicks 1-2 goals per game consistently.

He also has elite athleticism with maybe top 1% AFL wide raw pace for a midfielder when he winds up.

He's pretty much a modern recruiters wet dream from an advance analysis point of view.

You’re right - and I can see a compelling case for McKercher and Sanders.

But I’d feel better knowing it was McKercher + a kpd and Sanders instead of Watson, McKercher and Sanders

 

[Better Loosen Up]

If we have picks 2 and 3 then we have to call GC to at least discuss a trade built around 2 for 5 and Flanders.

From their perspective they are basically getting pick 2 for Flanders (minus oppurtunity cost of trading pick 5 for an F1 or whatever) and they get a 300 point discount on the Walter bid.

We are trading McKercher for Flanders and one of O'Sullivan/Curtin/Caddy.

Win win.

We could still end up with McKercher under that scenario.

WCE bid on Walters at pick 1 - GC match
WCE take Reid at pick 2
We get McKercher at pick 3

Problem is, I can very easily see Hawthorn taking O'Sullivan at pick 4.

 

[HBFlanker]

We absolutely won't pass on McKercher.

1. There's an opportunity to draft two mates from Tassie together (I imagine our submission to the AFL regarding Sanders may have even expressly detailed this possibility, mimicking what the GC were given with Rowell and Anderson)

2. With his explosive pace and game break ability, he's probably got the highest ceiling in the entire pool, including Reid.


You simply do not miss an opportunity to add a dynamic explosive midfielder (that also racks them up at will with a big tank) at the top end of the draft. It invariably goes extremely badly for the team that passes on these types, as there's maybe 1 midfielder like this every draft and sometimes not even for 2-3 year periods.


It's the Wardlaw situation 2.0, which most West Coast fans immediately regret having seen him this year and his physical and game breaking qualities.

Like Carlton supporters regret not taking LDU.


McKercher playing as a wingman and a dedicated receiver to LDU, Wardlaw, Philips, Sanders, Simpkin is an absurd prospect. It's a bit like Brisbane being able to develop McCluggage in a similar role, however in this case McKercher is an absolute elite athlete.


Adding Sanders and McKercher should definitely mean Sheezel isn't forced to play anywhere other than the creative force from half back or up forward.

Understand those points, and they are well made.

However, I got slammed on here the other week for suggested Will Phillips would look at his options. Is this not adding to that?

We would essentially have a midfield mix of the following:

LDU
Simpkin
Wardlaw
Phillips
Sanders
Mckercher
Thomas
Powell
Scott
Tucker

With the potential for:

Sheezel
Greenwood
Shiels

That is a massive amount of Mids. Im not fully against it, but players will need to add strings to the bow.

My ideal starting three round 1 next year is LDU, Wardlaw, Thomas. SImpkin on the HFF, Phillips rotating, and obviously Scott on one wing. Other spots up for grabs.

If we do get pick 3 compo, one of those picks needs to be on a big, surely.

 

[joegreen]

Don't be surprised if we have pick 1.

Are you suggesting we'll trade for it? Not sure I'd trade 2 top 5 picks for 1, is Reid that much better than 2 of the others combined... From what I am reading on here, I would think not.

Or are you suggesting we are going to lose to Wet Toast this weekend and further they pinch another along the way and we drop to last on the ladder?

 

[The Filth Wizard]

If we have picks 2 and 3 then we have to call GC to at least discuss a trade built around 2 for 5 and Flanders.

From their perspective they are basically getting pick 2 for Flanders (minus oppurtunity cost of trading pick 5 for an F1 or whatever) and they get a 300 point discount on the Walter bid.

We are trading McKercher for Flanders and one of O'Sullivan/Curtin/Caddy.

Win win.

I can't see GC trading their first pick into anything but pick 1 if they were trading up. Their academy pick is a top 2 player in the draft. They will more likely trade out and potentially we could offer our 2024 first rounder into that deal and get three in the top 5 this year.

 

[The Filth Wizard]

Are you suggesting we'll trade for it? Not sure I'd trade 2 top 5 picks for 1, is Reid that much better than 2 of the others combined... From what I am reading on here, I would think not.

Or are you suggesting we are going to lose to Wet Toast this weekend and further they pinch another along the way and we drop to last on the ladder?

I think he's suggesting the latter.

 

[LeFtBehinD]

Yeah would be insane for GC to risk pick 2 when WC could just bid on their player at pick 1.

 

[Passmore]

Understand those points, and they are well made.

However, I got slammed on here the other week for suggested Will Phillips would look at his options. Is this not adding to that?

We would essentially have a midfield mix of the following:

LDU
Simpkin
Wardlaw
Phillips
Sanders
Mckercher
Thomas
Powell
Scott
Tucker

With the potential for:

Sheezel
Greenwood
Shiels

That is a massive amount of Mids. Im not fully against it, but players will need to add strings to the bow.

My ideal starting three round 1 next year is LDU, Wardlaw, Thomas. SImpkin on the HFF, Phillips rotating, and obviously Scott on one wing. Other spots up for grabs.

If we do get pick 3 compo, one of those picks needs to be on a big, surely.

Put a line through Shiels and Greenwood. Both have a year left at best and ideally it's at VFL level. Tucker can plug in where needed week to week.

Scott, McKercher wings
LDU, Wardlaw, Phillips CBA.
Sheezel, Thomas, Simpkin HF, pushing into midfield
Powell, Sanders bench rotation.

That's in a scenario where nothing goes wrong.

Sent from my SM-A908B using Tapatalk

 

[Gumble Frankieton]

Where is that from? Some bad spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Tom Browne Farewell Tour?

 

[joegreen]

I think he's suggesting the latter.

Depressing but possible. As attractive as pick 1 is, which then means the McKay compo is 2, I'd rather not finish last again. Sigh...

 

[The Filth Wizard]

Depressing but possible. As attractive as pick 1 is, which then means the McKay compo is 2, I'd rather not finish last again. Sigh...

I can't see it but then we're basically looking upwards from the bog of eternal stench.

 

[Lomas]

I can't see it but then we're basically looking upwards from the bog of eternal stench.

You remind me of the babe.

 

[Sphynx]

Understand those points, and they are well made.

However, I got slammed on here the other week for suggested Will Phillips would look at his options. Is this not adding to that?

We would essentially have a midfield mix of the following:

LDU
Simpkin
Wardlaw
Phillips
Sanders
Mckercher
Thomas
Powell
Scott
Tucker

With the potential for:

Sheezel
Greenwood
Shiels

That is a massive amount of Mids. Im not fully against it, but players will need to add strings to the bow.

My ideal starting three round 1 next year is LDU, Wardlaw, Thomas. SImpkin on the HFF, Phillips rotating, and obviously Scott on one wing. Other spots up for grabs.

If we do get pick 3 compo, one of those picks needs to be on a big, surely.

I think all of Simpkin, Thomas, Powell and Phillips long term fits/futures are still to be decided.

Simpkin has absolutely no place keeping some of these prospects out long term, he's never going to be anything other than a B+ midfielder with his disposal by foot and size/speed. He's going to need to get a lot more versatile imo. The 6 year contract has shit contract written all over it with the amount of talent we have in his position.

Thomas is the most valuable long term proposition, but there's other factors at play obviously.

Powell is last in line for mid positions with potentially the top 2 midfield prospects in this draft coming in the door.

Phillips I'm bigger on and is just a slower burn like Cunners was imo. He has more physical AFL attributes than Powell and a much higher ceiling than Jy imo.

 

[ferball]

Depressing but possible. As attractive as pick 1 is, which then means the McKay compo is 2, I'd rather not finish last again. Sigh...

The Eagles have to win twice as many games in the last quarter of the season as they've won all year. They won't catch our percentage so they have to win twice and we can't beat them or anyone else.

 

[andana]

I think all of Simpkin, Thomas, Powell and Phillips long term fits/futures are still to be decided.

Simpkin has absolutely no place keeping some of these prospects out long term, he's going to need to get a lot more versatile imo.

Thomas is the most valuable long term proposition, but there's other factors at play.

Powell is last in line for mid positions with potentially the top 2 midfield prospects in this draft coming in the door.

Phillips I'm bigger on and is just a slower burn like Cunners was imo.

Spot on.
I'd give Jy a run at the vacant forward pocket position.

 

[Mav]

Understand those points, and they are well made.

However, I got slammed on here the other week for suggested Will Phillips would look at his options. Is this not adding to that?

We would essentially have a midfield mix of the following:

LDU
Simpkin
Wardlaw
Phillips
Sanders
Mckercher
Thomas
Powell
Scott
Tucker

With the potential for:

Sheezel
Greenwood
Shiels

That is a massive amount of Mids. Im not fully against it, but players will need to add strings to the bow.

My ideal starting three round 1 next year is LDU, Wardlaw, Thomas. SImpkin on the HFF, Phillips rotating, and obviously Scott on one wing. Other spots up for grabs.

If we do get pick 3 compo, one of those picks needs to be on a big, surely.

Collingwoods mids:
Adams
Allan
Bianco
Crisp
Daicos
Daicos
Degoey
Lipinski
Macrae
Mitchell
Pendlebury
Richards
Sidebottom

and thats not including rookies. Obviously some play forward, some play back and some are learning their craft in the VFL. We still need more mids.