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

[shinboner magic]

Clarkson is becoming more and more the Clarkson we thought we were originally getting. I'm mesmerised.

Not till he punches holes in walls

 

[tales129]

Not till he punches holes in walls

Is he playing is he, oh **** I’m actually here to see Sean Darcy

 

[tales129]

I haven't seen O'Sullivan predicted to go any higher than 8.
Most have him down for 9 or 10.
You'd add a late first rounder to jump up a couple places?

Doesn’t matter. Best KPD in the draft, weitering esque and we get him as a side of chips to mckercher, reid and sanders.

Add Sean Darcy and Dylan stephens and all we need are a few kPF, flags baby

 

[JGreezy]

I try not to think about it but imagine if we were allowed to draft Walter at 2...

Talk about building the spine. Walter at 2, Curtin at 3 and then McKercher or Watson at 5.

Oh well...

If Croft is available then I think that we need to make it happen. He might be a couple of years away but he is a great fit.

Especially if we have a couple of top 5 picks, already. I would be looking to take a gamble at a high upside pick in the 10-15 range.

2 - McKercher
3 - Curtin/Watson
11 - Croft
14 - Edwards/Freijah
Trade F2 or trade up - Schoenmaker

 

[Ura]

I try not to think about it but imagine if we were allowed to draft Walter at 2...

Talk about building the spine. Walter at 2, Curtin at 3 and then McKercher or Watson at 5.

Oh well...

If Croft is available then I think that we need to make it happen. He might be a couple of years away but he is a great fit.

Especially if we have a couple of top 5 picks, already. I would be looking to take a gamble at a high upside pick in the 10-15 range.

2 - McKercher
3 - Curtin/Watson
11 - Croft
14 - Edwards/Freijah
Trade F2 or trade up - Schoenmaker

Would be shocked if Croft is available. He beat Murphy when they played though. Going to be a very interesting Monday to see compo.

 

[perplexed]

It’s not specifically that we have too many midfielders.

We have too many that don’t have the flexibility to play any other positions on the field.

Phillips, Powell especially have struggled playing anywhere outside the middle.

Wardlaw is centre square only. LDU much the same, although you wouldn’t want them anywhere else.

Thomas/Simpkin are about the only ones we have who have some sort of flexibility.

This. I'd also have Simpkin as a mid-only.
The game is moving away from these types. The finals teams play max 5. Collingwood only play 2; Mitchell and Adams.

 

[JGreezy]

This. I'd also have Simpkin as a mid-only.
The game is moving away from these types. The finals teams play max 5. Collingwood only play 2; Mitchell and Adams.

If you gave Simpkin the role that Turner was put in last season he would crush it.

 

[perplexed]

If you gave Simpkin the role that Turner was put in last season he would crush it.

Probably. But you don't need spend a first-round pick finding someone to play that role. My worry is that we keep recruiting mid-only types because they are the best available when we are already overloaded here. We become a great clearance team when the game is becoming all about speed in transition. I can understand McKercher, because transition is his strength. But Sanders, as good as he looks, is too much. If we do that we really need to offload guys like Phillips and Powell, which doesn't make much sense.

 

[JGreezy]

Probably. But you don't need spend a first-round pick finding someone to play that role. My worry is that we keep recruiting mid-only types because they are the best available when we are already overloaded here. We become a great clearance team when the game is becoming all about speed in transition. I can understand McKercher, because transition is his strength. But Sanders, as good as he looks, is too much. If we do that we really need to offload guys like Phillips and Powell, which doesn't make much sense.

I'm not really arguing the overall point, just that Simpkin is centre mid only.

He can bring a lot more to that role than Turner and be a positive player. While also being centre mid depth (considering how rarely we've had a full crew in there).

 

[Chadwiko]

Curtin to NMFC, please Clarko.

 

[shintemaster]

This. I'd also have Simpkin as a mid-only.
The game is moving away from these types. The finals teams play max 5. Collingwood only play 2; Mitchell and Adams.

Wardlaw can play all over IMO - way to much pace, power and aggression at the ball to not be useful outside the centre. Whether he's more valuable in there is another matter.

 

[giantroo]

Clarkson to run eye over top WA prospect at WAFL Colts GF

North Melbourne boss Alastair Clarkson has bounced into Perth for a spot of window shopping, labelling WA boy Daniel Curtin a ‘talent’ as the Kangaroos assess their draft plans.

thewest.com.au

North Melbourne boss Alastair Clarkson to run eye over top WA draft prospect Daniel Curtin while in Perth​

Aaron KirbyThe West Australian
Thu, 21 September 2023 8:32PM

North Melbourne boss Alastair Clarkson has bounced into Perth for a spot of window shopping, labelling WA boy Daniel Curtin a “talent” as the Kangaroos assess their draft plans.

The four-time premiership-winning coach was spotted at Perth airport on Thursday, in town for a speaking opportunity as a part of WAFL grand final day, giving him the chance to run the microscope over the potential top-5 draft prospect.

 

[Sphynx]

I imagine they will be over for the main face to face interview as well, meet his family etc..

 

[Makeshift Park]

Clarkson to run eye over top WA prospect at WAFL Colts GF

North Melbourne boss Alastair Clarkson has bounced into Perth for a spot of window shopping, labelling WA boy Daniel Curtin a ‘talent’ as the Kangaroos assess their draft plans.

thewest.com.au

North Melbourne boss Alastair Clarkson to run eye over top WA draft prospect Daniel Curtin while in Perth​

Aaron KirbyThe West Australian
Thu, 21 September 2023 8:32PM

North Melbourne boss Alastair Clarkson has bounced into Perth for a spot of window shopping, labelling WA boy Daniel Curtin a “talent” as the Kangaroos assess their draft plans.

The four-time premiership-winning coach was spotted at Perth airport on Thursday, in town for a speaking opportunity as a part of WAFL grand final day, giving him the chance to run the microscope over the potential top-5 draft prospect.

So WA journos do reckon a trade for #1 could be on the cards.

The Eagles are also believed to have strong interest in the homegrown defender and could potentially split the No.1 overall pick to follow last season’s strategy of picking WA players.

Maybe the trade speculation isn't just the result of #VICBIAS like the WC posters around here have been claiming, after all.

Spoiler: full article

North Melbourne boss Alastair Clarkson has bounced into Perth for a spot of window shopping, labelling WA boy Daniel Curtin a “talent” as the Kangaroos assess their draft plans.

The four-time premiership-winning coach was spotted at Perth airport on Thursday, in town for a speaking opportunity as a part of WAFL grand final day, giving him the chance to run the microscope over the potential top-5 draft prospect.

Curtin will run out in the Colts decider for Claremont against Perth after the senior side was eliminated in the semifinal against Subiaco.

“He’s a talented young lad,” Clarkson told Channel 10 about 18-year-old Curtin.

“There’s some really good kids at the top end of the draft, and we’ve obviously got pick two, so we’re going to get one of those boys.

“It’s a pity Claremont dropped out of the finals... we’ve been watching with interest.

“I’m going to the game, so hopefully I will see him perform really, really well.”

Curtin could be the perfect replacement for key position player Ben McKay, with Clarkson suggesting Curtin could be a like-for-like replacement, who has expressed his desire to depart Arden Street in Free Agency.

McKay leaving could give North Melbourne a second draft selection in the top five to go with pick two behind West Coast as compensation for losing the 25-year-old.

The Eagles are also believed to have strong interest in the homegrown defender and could potentially split the No.1 overall pick to follow last season’s strategy of picking WA players.

Victoria midfielder Harley Reid is the unbackable favourite to go with pick one, with many believing he could be a generational talent, leaving the cellar-dwelling Eagles a tough call.

Curtin’s prospects were boosted after a stellar performance at the U18 National Championships for Western Australia.

 

[The Filth Wizard]

"Curtin could be the perfect replacement for key position player Ben McKay

32

Ben Mckay

Age

26

Ht

202cm

Wt

104kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.5

2star

K

3.7

1star

HB

3.8

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.7

4star

MG

77.2

1star

D

7.5

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

3.0

2star

M

2.5

3star

T

1.5

2star

MG

88.5

2star

D

7.0

2star

K

3.4

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.0

4star

MG

67.8

1star

, with Clarkson suggesting Curtin could be a like-for-like replacement, who has expressed his desire to depart Arden Street in Free Agency"

 

[JGreezy]

Curtin worries me a bit that he might just be an average player (similarly with Duursma) because he's a jack of all trades. But if a time traveller told me that he develops into a good KPD then he's near the top of my board.

A good KPD with his other skills would be amazing for us.

 

[Wizkd]

Doesn’t matter. Best KPD in the draft, weitering esque and we get him as a side of chips to mckercher, reid and sanders.

Add Sean Darcy and Dylan stephens and all we need are a few kPF, flags baby

We aren't taking three midfielders with our first 3 picks

 

[tales129]

Curtin worries me a bit that he might just be an average player (similarly with Duursma) because he's a jack of all trades. But if a time traveller told me that he develops into a good KPD then he's near the top of my board.

A good KPD with his other skills would be amazing for us.

O’Sullivan

 

[DesertRoo]

Curtin worries me a bit that he might just be an average player (similarly with Duursma) because he's a jack of all trades. But if a time traveller told me that he develops into a good KPD then he's near the top of my board.

A good KPD with his other skills would be amazing for us.

The thing that worries me about Curtin is he has played he’s best football in the centre.
He’s 195cm and 93kg already, he’s a chance to put on a another couple of kg before round 1. He could legitimately be a beast in the centre.

 

[giantroo]

 

[outwecome2play]

We are in a great situation. We don't need to trade for pick 1. The Eagles know that we could be interested in Curtin so they have to make a choice pick him or Reid. They can't deal with another club because we will have one or two picks after them.
Even if we don't want Curtin the Eagles don't know this.

 

[SnowRoo]

Curtin worries me a bit that he might just be an average player (similarly with Duursma) because he's a jack of all trades. But if a time traveller told me that he develops into a good KPD then he's near the top of my board.

A good KPD with his other skills would be amazing for us.

Structurally I think Curtin is more important to us than Harley.

Ben leaving leaves a pretty big hole.

Curtin and Watson are the need picks.
Reid the cherry on top pick.
McKercher the too much talent to refuse pick.
Sanders the discount yes please pick.

Will be very interesting to see how the club plays things.

 

[SnowRoo]

Im certain at 2 we will go tall too, but in naming Walter.

 

[Shermanator]

Curtin worries me a bit that he might just be an average player (similarly with Duursma) because he's a jack of all trades. But if a time traveller told me that he develops into a good KPD then he's near the top of my board.

A good KPD with his other skills would be amazing for us.

He's been doing exceptionally well in the WAFL as a rookie and the seasoned recruiters reckon he has the exact same traits as a 19 year old Matthew Pavlich.

I'm not worried at all, in fact the exact opposite.

 

[DesertRoo]

He's been doing exceptionally well in the WAFL as a rookie and the seasoned recruiters reckon he has the exact same traits as a 19 year old Matthew Pavlich.

I'm not worried at all, in fact the exact opposite.

Size/athleticism/endurance/skills
He is the complete package and has the potential to be best in draft class.