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

[The Filth Wizard]

You traded a Future First for a kid at pick 27 ??
SMH

You guys are hot favourites to do the same later in the draft to get that ruck you're interested in.

 

[Passmore]

Looks good. Could do with one at each end…..

 

[Topparoo]

It's an interesting situation. We haven't given our F! away we have just brought it forward which hastens the development of a very likely KPF by giving him 2025 to develop.

 

[JGreezy]

I like the symbolic side of this trade that we're not relying on the draft anymore and we're not playing the "silver lining" game that it's not a big deal if we lose because we get a high draft pick.

We only care about winning, now. That's the only prize.

The pressure is on and I like that.

 

[giantroo]

Souv is happy

 

[Blightys Barrel]

Get the lad on the W. Dawson diet post haste.

 

[Orange Peanut]

‘Explosive’ star’s strong testing justifies Suns’ trade call as AFL draft combine results revealed

‘Explosive’ star’s testing blitz justifies bold trade call: AFL draft combine results revealed

www.foxsports.com.au

Standing Vertical Jump

1. Gabriel Stumpf (Northern Knights/Warrandyte) – 76cm

2. Jack Whitlock (Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton Bears) – 75cm

3. Floyd Burmeister (GWV Rebels/Redan) – 74cm

4. Bo Allan (Peel Thunder/Halls Head) – 72cm

5. David Colbert (County Dublin/Kilmacud Crokes) – 71cm

6. Jonty Faull (GWV Rebels/Redan) – 71cm

7. Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges/Park Orchards) – 71cm

8. Matt Whitlock (Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton Bears) – 71cm

9. Charlie West (Woodville-West Torrens/Henley) – 70cm

10. Lucas Camporeale (Glenelg/Brighton) – 69cm

Running Vertical Jump

1. Alix Tauru (Gippsland Power/Warragul Industrials) – 94cm

2. Finn O’Sullivan (Oakleigh Chargers/Koroit) – 93cm

3. Bo Allan (Peel Thunder/Halls Head) – 92cm

4. Lucas Camporeale (Glenelg/Brighton) – 91cm

5. Jack Whitlock (Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton Bears) – 91cm

6. Floyd Burmeister (GWV Rebels/Redan) – 90cm

7. Thomas Sims (Northern Knights/Montmorency) – 90cm

8. Matt Whitlock (Murray Bushrangers/Shepparton Bears) – 90cm

9. Noah Mraz (Dandenong Stingrays/Narre North Foxes) – 88cm


10. Joel Cochran (Sydney Swans Academy/UNSW Bulldogs) – 87cm

Wait so he's not even the... highest vertical jumper in his family?
Sack Shielss

 

[DuckYeah]

Why do people think he’s playing back?

 

[GS WARRIORS]

Why do people think he’s playing back?

Interestingly, North listed him as a forward.

 

[SpiderBurton22]

Matt Whitlock = The Wizard.
Jack Whitlock = The Shit.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Wait so he's not even the... highest vertical jumper in his family?
Sack Shielss

Lucky we are targeting his brother too.

 

[DuckYeah]

Why do people think he’s playing back?

Interestingly, North listed him as a forward.

View attachment 2171655

He’s not playing as a defender, give you the hot tip

 

[roos_fanatic08]

1 x Whitlock, Shanahan, Faull or Gerreyn should be more of a priority than Tauru in my opinion.

I think people are still sleeping on Matt Whitlock, has he ability to play both ends of the grounds, excellent below his knees and has a bit of a competitive edge to his game. I really liked him forward later on in the year too.

It’s not easy to see on TV, but I’ve seen the boys up close and I think Matt has the sort of frame that will put on bulk a bit quicker than Jack (he is longer and leaner).

Matt is also the better ground level player. Also think he is a better kick (not that Jack is bad).

Jack is more natural in front of goal, has the extra few cm of height and is probably more of a contested marking threat at this stage.

Few of my comments on Matt across the year.

Trade aside I’m really stoked he is in north colours, he has fantastic instinct as a backman, is excellent below his knees and has that natural competitiveness in his game.

Hope we pair him up with his brother.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Why do people think he’s playing back?

He’s not playing as a defender, give you the hot tip

because he has played more as a defender

and if they are picking him as a forward then well i reckon we have picked the wrong twin

 

[LB2Snake]

Exactly 30 secs in The Viking looking on and what could have been......poor kid.....looks shattered

 

[LB2Snake]

Now THEY are highlights

 

[shinboner magic]

Shanahan 195cm and performed at vfl level against men, has the size needed already
View attachment 2171320

Let this sink in man

Lmac performed at VFL level

 

[The Nostradamus]

Let this sink in man

Lmac performed at VFL level

Lol that’s your argument…

Ok let’s discredit all vfl form then

 

[JGreezy]

Few of my comments on Matt across the year.

Trade aside I’m really stoked he is in north colours, he has fantastic instinct as a backman, is excellent below his knees and has that natural competitiveness in his game.

Hope we pair him up with his brother.

Is he pure KPP or does he bring enough skill/athleticism to provide value before he fills out (say like how a Trainor can be a 3rd/4th defender type and evolve into a true KPD)?

 

[chubbspeterson]

When I saw his name and face in the 2014 GF RECORD, I hoped he'd make it to the AFL on the basis of being a kid called Fred.

Potentially an 11 year manifestation.

Whitlock's the side dish in this manifestation FWIW.

Even just the surname. The commentator's will love calling out Rodriguez. Awesome hearing it in those WA games.

 

[LB2Snake]

Even just the surname. The commentator's will love calling out Rodriguez. Awesome hearing it in those WA games.

I watched a video a couple of weeks back of Rodriguez, I'll try and find it to post here.....you literally think he's a left footer because the action is so poetry-in-motion, but he's a righty.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Is he pure KPP or does he bring enough skill/athleticism to provide value before he fills out (say like how a Trainor can be a 3rd/4th defender type and evolve into a true KPD)?

With his ground level movement and sound decision making there is absolutely no reason why he couldn’t play as a third tall type interceptor very early on. His positioning is really good and he is a far more natural reader of the play compared to someone like Tauru.

His marking is really good when he drifts in from the side rather. That combined with his athleticism would suggest it would be a good role while he develops his body.

He isn’t a real attacking playmaker by foot, but he is really reliable and makes good decisions with ball in hand.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Welcome Mattlock. Excited to have him.

 

[LB2Snake]

I watched a video a couple of weeks back of Rodriguez, I'll try and find it to post here.....you literally think he's a left footer because the action is so poetry-in-motion, but he's a righty.

here ya go....courtesy of noobermensch

 

[DuckYeah]

because he has played more as a defender

and if they are picking him as a forward then well i reckon we have picked the wrong twin

Yeh well.. I think we have picked the wrong blokes for best part of 20 years.. so why not continue the ****ing tradition!!! … in hindsight, I think we should have picked Lindsay! The campaigner can actually kick a footy. Not sure why the **** we went with anyone else.

After stewing on all of this. FOS cant kick, he’s a horrendous kick of the footy.. why didn’t we grab Lindsay? Immediately fixes huge issues from half back? Anyway..

Good luck son. WELCOME TO HELL