Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn : Nick 'the Wizard' Watson! Rising star Nom!

[The Chad and I]

Top echelon small forwards win you finals as the last few years have shown. They are also as rare as hens teeth.

I don't have any issues at all at using a top 10 pick on one.

Nah they’re pretty easy to find tbh.

 

[Hodgey 15]

His intensity and hardness at the tackle reminds me of a certain player who used to run around for us with a No. 33 on his back.

 

[marklar]

He is a gun.

Just needs to find some bullets. Seems quite good as a cudgel, but that's not the best use case for a gun.

 

[Kuuz]

His intensity and hardness at the tackle reminds me of a certain player who used to run around for us with a No. 33 on his back.

Seriously, same vibes. The hard tackling, his quick darting movement and then the ability to just do some seriously quick-reaction work. Not saying he's the same, but boy does he give me the same excitement as Junior.

Like this last night just sent me back to 2014 and Cyrils steal on Tippett



He's going to be a really special player - can just feel it.

 

[hawkinoz]

Does Wiz moonlight, could well be

 

[earthworms]

Could we start making a smaller size guernsey for the wizard so he doesn’t have to tuck it in the whole game ? Would probably increase his accuracy around goals too

 

[daniel23]

Did he do any agility testing in his 18 year ? Haven't really seen him use any yet. He's obviously very powerful but it's all been pretty straight line stuff. If he has tried to step someone he has slipped.

 

[I got the outside word]

His intensity and hardness at the tackle reminds me of a certain player who used to run around for us with a No. 33 on his back.

This. The little man is ripping bigger blokes to the ground. Great to see.

 

[I got the outside word]

Seriously, same vibes. The hard tackling, his quick darting movement and then the ability to just do some seriously quick-reaction work. Not saying he's the same, but boy does he give me the same excitement as Junior.

Like this last night just sent me back to 2014 and Cyrils steal on Tippett



He's going to be a really special player - can just feel it.

His ability to intercept a handball is insane. He may kick 1.4 in games but this and his other moments are the kind of things that can lead to 2-3 more goals a game in assists.

 

[Brishawk]

His pressure was a shining light on a dire day for the team

Yes, have to love the fact he is doing all the hard team stuff even though the goals havent been easy to come by.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Wiz!!

 

[KermitJagger]

Let's get him every shot 45m out right on the boundary, he'll kick 4 a game!

 

[BobHawk]

Great clutch goal. And that big hug from Sam at the end of the game. Feeling the love.

 

[barbster]

His kicking looks better, I think he has turned the corner. Another big test next week against Collingwood in front of a packed MCG.

 

[matey]

Given his size …… the way he hits top speed attacking the man to lay a tackle is something else. The players he tackles sometimes have that where the f did that come from look on their face.

 

[The Chad and I]

Wiz!!

The snap across the body technique promotes an attitude of indifference to goalkicking.

Snap shots are intended for difficult angles only.

Using them for anything else removes the responsibility on the player to kick straight, bc snap shots imply that the shit is difficultt.

………..

Any more than 15-20m out and 1-2m from the boundary line and you’re kicking a drop punt son.

Very happy to see the club help Watson immediately and his immediate improvement.

He is an immense talent.

 

[satan1]

Reminds me of Hayden Ballantyne

Hayden Ballantyne

Age

37

Ht

173cm

Wt

79kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

9.2

4star

HB

3.6

3star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.1

5star

G

1.5

5star

No current season stats available

D

11.6

3star

K

8.2

4star

HB

3.4

3star

M

2.8

3star

T

1.2

3star

G

0.8

4star

. Has a great career ahead of him and takes good players minds off of the ball.

 

[cryptor]

Great game from him. 2 massive goals (I'm counting it) and just harassed and tackled all day.

 

[rei154]

Absolutely stoked he's ours!

He is going to drive oppo fans wild for a decade+ to come

 

[KermitJagger]

Thought he had a great tackle that went unrewarded too. He's really trying, which you love to see. Easy to cruise by on talent when you've got it.

 

[Dipper]

He is virtually untackleable, those high frees are coming regularly.

That on it's own is becoming a weapon. Big defenders especially have absolutely no chance of tackling him cleanly if he's on the move.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[Dipper]

The way he just gets picked up...even Sammy picked him up post game.

 

[Mississippi]

Consider this about the Wizard’s amazing work rate.

He’s standing next to Newc when he gets the ball - and Newc handballs to Amon who kicks forward.

Amon kicks to the boundary and the Wiz takes the diving mark on the line (to then slot his magic goal).
How in hell’s name did the Wiz cover that ground so quickly!!!
He is really going to be an extraordinary footballer.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Hopefully taking such a good mark and then icing the game like that, from that angle, sets him up for a big end of the season.