Player Watch #35: Matt "The Swingman" Whitlock!!!!! - selected with Pick 27 in the 2024 ND - Welcome to North Melbourne Matty

[chubbspeterson]

100% we wont know until the end of the 2025 season. But complete balls up. Its my opinion. You can have yours.

People will think I am having a crack at the kids. Im not. There was heaps of people sooking about my posts.

For every campaigner, THIS IS NOT ABOUT WHO WE DRAFTED. Its what we drafted and at what cost. Balls up.

Not sure how you can call it a fail right now. We won't know for 4-5 years.
So I take it you wanted...
1) Not FOS at pick 2? Who else then? Jagga? Smillie? Draper? Lindsay? Langford? Tauru?
2) Keep F1 and not get a tall in this year. Ludo or Duursma? Or is it just "we might miss someone" next year?
3) Urquhart pick 57? You don't like players that aren't elite kicks. So who else are you taking with pick 57?
4) River Stevens - You didn't rate him, that's fine. But again who are you taking with the pick?

At least put what you would have drafted this year or next year with the F1 than just aimless ranting.

 

[DuckYeah]

Duursma or Ludo

Who the F is Ludo? Watson?

Anyway, we could end up with pick 1 next year, could be 12 could be 18. Who knows?

The fact is, we potentially traded out a MATURE forward utilising our first round pick.

Its not all about the draft. Its also the attempt to acquire the services of a gun talent and appease the club they are contracted to.

I understand the point from the club. “No more draft”

But why smash ya next years first for what? Roll of the die? Why not use that for a bite at the contracted player cherry? Heaps of cap space, first round pick? Could wind up being a better player than Darling

 

[chubbspeterson]

Who the F is Ludo? Watson?

Anyway, we could end up with pick 1 next year, could be 12 could be 18. Who knows?

The fact is, we potentially traded out a MATURE forward utilising our first round pick.

Its not all about the draft. Its also the attempt to acquire the services of a gun talent and appease the club they are contracted to.

I understand the point from the club. “No more draft”

But why smash ya next years first for what? Roll of the die? Why not use that for a bite at the contracted player cherry? Heaps of cap space, first round pick? Could wind up being a better player than Darling

Archie Ludowyke, a 199cm key forward in next years draft or Willem Duursma (193cm tweener).

Sure potentially it was a trade chip, but how likely a Cadman type chooses us or even wants to leave?
Highly unlikely until we get better on the ladder. Ollie Lord might be a cheaper trade option.
I can't think of too many others on the market next year anyway that fit that mould. Oscar Allen ain't leaving WCE.
There's still the Tigers R2, our own R2 and future picks that can be traded if someone becomes available.
So maybe the club decided they can't get anyone in the market, so we have to get it through the draft. So get Matt in now and start the physical development and football learning 12 months earlier.

 

[outofthegloom]

Worst trade in modern history. No questions or doubts about it.

I'm ok with this trade...

If we traded F1 for Richmond pick 11 (ended up 14) we may have picked Whitlock if he was our target, and we wouldn't have anything else. There would be minimal outcry about the trade as it seems a reasonable points value trade and we get our target...

With pick 11(14), Richmond selected Jonty Faull. He didn't feature in Cal Twomey's top 30 phantom draft, whereas Whitlock was 23. There was no public outcry for Richmond reaching for Faull. In fact, most mock drafts had Faull and Whitlock ranked side-by-side.

Yes, I get that we may have traded away a top 3 or 4 pick in the 2025 ND, but I'd like to think we're going to finally pull our finger out and make a move up the ladder. It may be pick 6 or 7 that we give up, which isn't too bad. People have been talking about how we don't need FOS at pick 2 because of our glut of high end picks, but now complaining we traded away a future pick. If we traded away what turns out to be pick 1, then there's more issues going forward that 1 top draft pick could fix...

Bring on Whitlock's development, Richmond death ride, and a rise up the ladder North!

 

[DuckYeah]

I'm ok with this trade...

If we traded F1 for Richmond pick 11 (ended up 14) we may have picked Whitlock if he was our target, and we wouldn't have anything else. There would be minimal outcry about the trade as it seems a reasonable points value trade and we get our target...

With pick 11(14), Richmond selected Jonty Faull. He didn't feature in Cal Twomey's top 30 phantom draft, whereas Whitlock was 23. There was no public outcry for Richmond reaching for Faull. In fact, most mock drafts had Faull and Whitlock ranked side-by-side.

Yes, I get that we may have traded away a top 3 or 4 pick in the 2025 ND, but I'd like to think we're going to finally pull our finger out and make a move up the ladder. It may be pick 6 or 7 that we give up, which isn't too bad. People have been talking about how we don't need FOS at pick 2 because of our glut of high end picks, but now complaining we traded away a future pick. If we traded away what turns out to be pick 1, then there's more issues going forward that 1 top draft pick could fix...

Bring on Whitlock's development, Richmond death ride, and a rise up the ladder North!

player trade capital, not so much draft. Anyway, its not on the kid.

Just to reaffirm, its not on the kid, im not bagging out the draftees. Didn’t in Gav thread, nor am i in this thread.

Managerial qualms.

 

[DuckYeah]

Archie Ludowyke

Interesting.

I think Willem should be in the top 5. He’s a special talent, the best of the Duursma family?

 

[The Talent Scout]

Disappointed to hear he was playing on Larkey. Hopefully just a personnel issue and or some education. I was personally hoping we drafted him as a key forward.

Its all part of the learning process, matching up on a All Australian key forward is a very good way to do it, learn from one of the best, learning & tactics, some education, you better believe it, I love it, don't be disappointed BlueandWhiteinmyBlood, be very excited!

 

[bigosacr]

Interesting.

I think Willem should be in the top 5. He’s a special talent, the best of the Duursma family?

Even if Duursma is top 5 next yr I can't stand the thought of waiting another year for a decent KPP.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Interesting.

I think Willem should be in the top 5. He’s a special talent, the best of the Duursma family?

Yep Ludowyke is 195cm actually, he showed a bit taking 5 marks and a goal as an underage player for VM, but he does look a bit more of a lead and mark type at this stage, but he can clunk them, even if a bit skinny right now.

Yeah Willem showed a bit, not sure if he's a fwd or def. Youngest can often be the best, but apparently he can work on his competitiveness and he's that tweener height (191-193cm), but he might be still growing.
You never know what will happen with 12 months development, they might rise or slide.

We might not take many players in the draft anyway next year, so it probably won't matter all that much.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Even if Duursma is top 5 next yr I can't stand the thought of waiting another year for a decent KPP.

He's more a 3rd tall like Zane height 191-193cm. So not really a big kpp. Mattlock is 198cm.
Archie Ludowyke 195cm key forward is the only one so far, but he's pretty skinny and would take a similar time.
Cody Curtin as a defender (197cm), Dan's brother could be an option for us next year.
But we might go after a Leek Aleer or Ollie Lord and have no interest in the draft, so we'll see what happens.

 

[giantroo]

 

[Passmore]

View attachment 2187887

That’s a decent neck. Ayden Kennedy areas….

 

[DuckYeah]

That’s a decent neck. Ayden Kennedy areas….

Franklin

He has a neck that makes him 5cm taller than he actually is. His shoulders are for a bloke 190cm

 

[bhoysdontcry67]

Told him to get in his brothers ear to come to North and he said he’s already started and will try when the first contract is up

 

[speedy]

Told him to get in his brothers ear to come to North and he said he’s already started and will try when the first contract is up

Would love to give port the homesick player wants to leave treatment.

Hope jack tells them their ice baths are not cold enough. Temp set at mamma’s boy’ level.

 

[Arthur Cloke]

Gotta hand it to Rawlings

 

[Arthur Cloke]

Told him to get in his brothers ear to come to North and he said he’s already started and will try when the first contract is up

Is this legit?

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Club is loving the competitiveness that Whitlock is bringing to the table! Physically he is raw, but his understanding of the game and willingness to learn will hold him in good stead.

Tracking similar to W.Dawson last pre season!

 

[bhoysdontcry67]

Is this legit?

Yeah, he seemed really nervous when we started talking. I’m assuming it was one of his first fan interactions. Was really genuine and said his brother is loving Adelaide and is settled and then I joked about him coming to North. He said don’t worry I’m in his ear already and will try make sure it happens for next contract. He said he is loving Melbourne but the weather is different from the country.

 

[Jasemon]

Club is loving the competitiveness that Whitlock is bringing to the table! Physically he is raw, but his understanding of the game and willingness to learn will hold him in good stead.

Tracking similar to W.Dawson last pre season!

As I noted in the training thread I’ve loved what he’s brought to the training track in just his first two months of an AFL career. Clearly a confident kid, doesn’t mind poking the bear and with his agility and size could be anything once he gets a few preseasons into him. Very good vibes about Matty.

 

[Gasometer]

Oh, you're investing in disappointment now to gain the bonus interest later?

The Official best line I have read on here since I joined in 2002

Twinkletoes give this man a prize

 

[Gasometer]

Argh the positivity in here

The whispers on Wyndham Street i have heard is that we will have a Weitering type backman coming within the shape of Whitlock by 2028

 

[Gasometer]

Yeah, he seemed really nervous when we started talking. I’m assuming it was one of his first fan interactions. Was really genuine and said his brother is loving Adelaide and is settled and then I joked about him coming to North. He said don’t worry I’m in his ear already and will try make sure it happens for next contract. He said he is loving Melbourne but the weather is different from the country.

Yep we prefer 32 at midnight

Melbourne is soft, 15 and you all start

 

[Gasometer]

Wow that was 3 pages of thread derailing

I often wonder what would have been in the Darren Crocker first 20 pages of BF when he was an 18 year old…or Ian Fairley

Nothing better than proving the doubters wrong MW

 

[innercircle]

Matty would have loved the 28 degree minimum temp here in Shepp on Sunday night.
He would have been down doing run throughs at Deakin Reserve first thing, into the gym at Aquamoves, then off to work at Nippers Intersport in the Mall after that.
Great local boys the Whitlocks..

That’s all for the Shepp locals….


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