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

[arupist]

The below perspective on that not being a head high free is such a terrible take.

Imagine getting up at 7.30am on a Saturday, after a great final, and that’s what you post about. What a grub

Yeah, I guess it is about time to make it legal to rip a guys head off if he is short, particularly if he is an annoying little focker.

 

[Kuuz]

The below perspective on that not being a head high free is such a terrible take.

Imagine getting up at 7.30am on a Saturday, after a great final, and that’s what you post about. What a grub

Ralph struggling with the complex concept that AFLs shortest player, cops higher than average high tackles.

 

[Hawkthorn33]

Love love love the Wizard, he will bring us back to the promise land again.

What an exciting player and he is only just getting started

 

[Hawks1994]

Whatever work he did with Sam on his set shot action/routine has clearly worked wonders

Welcome to the Era of Wizard everyone

 

[Atch]

Great work wizard what an absolute jet, so proud, Jon Ralph I hope you get the sick stuff you get up to in your spare time out of your game.

 

[brad sue well]

If it hasn't been said, an almost bomb from 50, snap, amazing crumb and a lead out that I am not sure he has done at AFL level before. There is pretty amazing variety.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Whatever work he did with Sam on his set shot action/routine has clearly worked wonders

Welcome to the Era of Wizard everyone

He gets sucked into running around sometimes, but most of the time he's simply walking in a straight line (basic goal kicking)

 

[Titch3Votes0MooreAA]

Recorded this goal perfectly. Unfortunately, I can't upload it here. Seeing that goal up close on the boundary line and Nick Watson at ground level made the drive over worthwhile. His closing speed and athleticism for someone of his height were very evident. He doesn't give up either and tries his hardest to get the ball back from the opponent (can't say the same for Ginnivan...). This man will be bringing people through the gates for the next 15 years regardless of our club’s form. Let's hope he keeps learning crumbing patterns off Breust. Because once he does, the sky is the limit for him.

 

[Brishawk]

View attachment 2111363
Recorded this goal perfectly. Unfortunately, I can't upload it here. Seeing that goal up close on the boundary line and Nick Watson at ground level made the drive over worthwhile. His closing speed and athleticism for someone of his height were very evident. He doesn't give up either and tries his hardest to get the ball back from the opponent (can't say the same for Ginnivan...). This man will be bringing people through the gates for the next 15 years regardless of our club’s form. Let's hope he keeps learning crumbing patterns off Breust. Because once he does, the sky is the limit for him.

Post it on youtube and share the link?

 

[hfc70]

Improve his tank - spend time as a midfielder- this kid can do it all

 

[rei154]

Get the feeling he's going to breathe fire next year, knowing that he can perform in finals as well as he has, I wouldn't be surprised if he was our leading goal scorer next year.

In my opinion we're better served with him being an inside 50 specialist as we saw against Bergman.

 

[Mr Lizard]

What an awesome debut season for Watto.

What a star he is already!

 

[TylerDurden]

Ended up kicking 25 for the year. A phenomenal return for a first year small fwd.

 

[tl92]

Ended up kicking 25 for the year. A phenomenal return for a first year small fwd.

Set shot routine looks nice now. 13 goals in his last 4. Kid is special.

 

[RCAB]

Ended up kicking 25 for the year. A phenomenal return for a first year small fwd.

He did more than that, he broke records. I can't remember the list time a 19 year old kicked 7 goals in the finals, let alone in two games.

Here's another

Small forwards shots in their first season and (age):
Watson 61 (19)
Papley 52 (20)
Higgins 32 (19)
Rankine 31 (20)
Pickett 25 (19)
Cameron 23 (20)

(Actually it's a lot for any forward)

Key forwards shots in their first season and (age):
Hogan 70 (20)
Jeremy Cameron 50 (19)
M.King 48 (20)
B.King 32 (19)
Stringer 22 (19)

Hogan the last one to beat Wiz with more than 60.

 

[cryptor]

He did more than that, he broke records. I can't remember the list time a 19 year old kicked 7 goals in the finals, let alone in two games.

Here's another

Small forwards shots in their first season and (age):
Watson 61 (19)
Papley 52 (20)
Higgins 32 (19)
Rankine 31 (20)
Pickett 25 (19)
Cameron 23 (20)

(Actually it's a lot for any forward)

Key forwards shots in their first season and (age):
Hogan 70 (20)
Jeremy Cameron 50 (19)
M.King 48 (20)
B.King 32 (19)
Stringer 22 (19)

Hogan the last one to beat Wiz with more than 60.

He didn't even play every game, and also started sub in one.

 

[RCAB]

He didn't even play every game, and also started sub in one.

Here's the thing though, a lot of first year forwards don't play a lot of games in their first season. It's the hardest position on the ground, particularly for a first year player.

Hogan was the exception as he was already a developed body at 17 and had two pre-seasons before he even debuted. He played 20 games, as did Franklin.

I don't have Buddy's shots but he had 34 scores in his first season, compared to Watson 46.

Either way, even if you average it out in his 17 games this season, 3.4 shots per game for the Wiz is the highest ever for a small forward.

 

[danielG]

Here's the thing though, a lot of first year forwards don't play a lot of games in their first season. It's the hardest position on the ground, particularly for a first year player.

Hogan was the exception as he was already a developed body at 17 and had two pre-seasons before he even debuted. He played 20 games, as did Franklin.

I don't have Buddy's shots but he had 34 scores in his first season, compared to Watson 46.

Either way, even if you average it out in his 17 games this season, 3.4 shots per game for the Wiz is the highest ever for a small forward.

The one behind he kicked was from
A fair way out.. Early days this year he seemed to be struggling generating distance without running the arc.. His routine is simplified now and still generates good distance so those shots on 50 are in his repertoire… He’s going to kick some ridiculous goals for our club.. I feel ashamed preferring Duurrsma to the wizard prior to the draft… Is the feeling that the club would’ve taken Duursma had he been available??


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[RCAB]

The one behind he kicked was from
A fair way out.. Early days this year he seemed to be struggling generating distance without running the arc.. His routine is simplified now and still generates good distance so those shots on 50 are in his repertoire… He’s going to kick some ridiculous goals for our club.. I feel ashamed preferring Duurrsma to the wizard prior to the draft… Is the feeling that the club would’ve taken Duursma had he been available??


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

No

I watched most of the games of last year's draft.

My order was:

Walter
Reid
Watson
Sanders
McKercher
Duursma

That said I thought they were all very talented, I thought top 3 were very close for different reasons, and the next three not far behind.

Watson didn't pressure as a junior like he does now. I'm wondering if they told him not to!

As a junior there was no quicker, more agile, or better two sided player. His knocks were his pressure, missing set shots, ( I reckon he never practiced them) and a lack of distance on his kicks. This could all improve though as he gets stronger and fitter.

 

[hfc70]

Walter seems a long way off it ?!

 

[hfc70]

Ended up kicking 25 for the year. A phenomenal return for a first year small fwd.

Absolutely insane
Also taking into account the number of behinds he kicked

 

[MrPremiership]

60 shots on goal from 18 games, and was a sub in a few (not to mention a couple of finals)

That's just huge

 

[hfc70]

60 shots on goal from 18 games, and was a sub in a few (not to mention a couple of finals)

That's just huge

Plus the ones he gave off

 

[Dipper]

His knocks were his pressure, missing set shots, ( I reckon he never practiced them)

When Sam took charge of his goal kicking he said in an interview that the Wiz didn't have a set shot routine.

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

Is that right? More shots at goal than any other first year player in history?