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

[flinchfree]

No-one over 50 (those in charge) HATE the Cats like they do Hawthorn. They're childhood was spent having their dreams destroyed by the Brown and Gold.

We've always been held to a higher standard than other clubs - and in an ironic way I think it's a big reason why we have been so successful for so long.

You don't seem like you're joking.......but you've got to be, right?
You BELIEVE, that those in charge of managing our game at the highest level, are spending time or giving air to opportunity to affect our Club more than any other Club, because we've been so successful.....
By telling UMPIRES, to adjudicate our games and players differently to other teams???????????????????????????

That's the dumbest shit I've read on here. Ever.

 

[triangulation_squared]

Lionel Messie, a third Copa today. Interesting to see why Watto has no issues in competing for the high ball. That vertical is measured without launching off a defender.

1.68 Alexander Volkanovski
1.7m John Platten
1.69m Lionel Messie + 1.04m vertical jump
1.7m Nick Watson + 94cm vertical jump
1.73m Paul Puopolo

28

Paul Puopolo

Age

36

Ht

173cm

Wt

78kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.9

4star

K

6.9

3star

HB

6.9

4star

M

2.2

2star

T

4.3

5star

G

0.9

4star

D

8.5

2star

K

4.3

2star

HB

4.3

3star

M

1.0

1star

T

2.5

3star

G

0.3

3star

D

17.0

5star

K

8.8

4star

HB

8.2

5star

M

4.4

4star

T

4.8

5star

G

0.0

1star

1.73m Peter Crimmins
1.74m Shane Crawford
1.74m Andy Collins

 

[peetoo]

Platten was a ‘wiz’ at basketball they say

 

[kirbatron]

it's time nick to 'tear a game to shreds'

 

[SA HAWK]

it's time nick to 'tear a game to shreds'

He will kick 10 in a game one day.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

I’ve never understood why AFL clubs are so reluctant to draft short players.

I get in basketball there are obvious drawbacks in being short but Aussie Rules is played on a massive oval and being mobile and quick is just as important as being big and tall.

Of course size is always good but I look at someone like Moore and shake my head that he almost got lost to the system due to clubs having concerns about his height.

Even tennis we were told was going to be dominated by 2m tall giants yet Nadal, Federer and Jokovic basically won every major between them for 15 years and they are all around the 1.85 - 1.88m tall mark (certainly not short but nowhere near 2m).

Essentially what I am saying is always look at the ability first and stature second.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

projectdingey was right.

Hilarious thing is if you just came on here and didn't drop that name it wouldn't be glaringly obvious you have just started a new account. A victory lap and patting yourself on the back all in one - elite work!

 

[threesixpio]

"He's SPECIAL isn't he, aye",

Such a rare talent. Unique.

As others have said a player like him does not come around very often. We needed him so badly. X factor we haven't had for years. His defensive intent was his only ? But he is better at it than anyone realised pre daft. Complete package now.

Oh I think he was more hard at the defensive stuff than the majority of the team this week. Bloody ferocious. Must be so sore afterwards

 

[eldorado]

Peek above the paywall here: https://archive.is/3s7fx

Interesting byline...

I just read it, and didn't see a 'warning' anywhere...

 

[cs61]

Peek above the paywall here: https://archive.is/3s7fx

Was an interesting read, but the headline didn’t really match what Betts said. Didnt sound like a warning.

Edit: didnt see the reply above said the same

 

[badgrill]

Interesting byline...

I just read it, and didn't see a 'warning' anywhere...

You saw who wrote it, yeah?

 

[HedgeFund]

On impact alone so far, he’s the best player from last year’s draft, other than Harley Reid. Better than Walter, McKercher, Sanders and Duursma

Clearly Reid and McKercher have been key additions to their respective sides. Will both finish in the top 5 of their clubs’ B&Fs. The low profile Caleb Windsor’s entry to senior level has been seamless for Melbourne.

After those three, Nick certainly has claims as the next best for impact.

 

[JZedd]

It's so difficult to find a top small fwd. And the draft/trade just delivered us Wiz and Gin.

 

[KermitJagger]

Clearly Reid and McKercher have been key additions to their respective sides. Will both finish in the top 5 of their clubs’ B&Fs. The low profile Caleb Windsor’s entry to senior level has been seamless for Melbourne.

After those three, Nick certainly has claims as the next best for impact.

McKercher has been such a key addition to North that he's driven them to the dizzying heights of having won the same amount of games while kicking 40 less points than the same time last season.

 

[Spanish Sahara]

Clearly Reid and McKercher have been key additions to their respective sides. Will both finish in the top 5 of their clubs’ B&Fs. The low profile Caleb Windsor’s entry to senior level has been seamless for Melbourne.

After those three, Nick certainly has claims as the next best for impact.

Mckercher missed a fair bit of footy, surely hes not finishing in the top 5 of the Bnf?

Sheezel, Xerri, LDU, Wardlaw all locks to finish higher.

 

[marklar]

Mckercher missed a fair bit of footy, surely hes not finishing in the top 5 of the Bnf?

Gotta give him a reason not to jump ship to another team at his first opportunity.

 

[Randy Campbell]

 

[Brishawk]

I’ve never understood why AFL clubs are so reluctant to draft short players.

I get in basketball there are obvious drawbacks in being short but Aussie Rules is played on a massive oval and being mobile and quick is just as important as being big and tall.

Of course size is always good but I look at someone like Moore and shake my head that he almost got lost to the system due to clubs having concerns about his height.

Even tennis we were told was going to be dominated by 2m tall giants yet Nadal, Federer and Jokovic basically won every major between them for 15 years and they are all around the 1.85 - 1.88m tall mark (certainly not short but nowhere near 2m).

Essentially what I am saying is always look at the ability first and stature second.

Just more risk associated with smaller players. Less positional flexibility and less chance the performance at under age form translates to senior afl. You need some attribute that will offset the size difference. Very very few sub-175cm players make it in the modern game (even sub 180cm are a small proportion of players in the league) and the shift away from shorter player began a long way back. The ones we see at afl often have something very special about them.

 

[Manila_Hawk]

The Wizard's attack on the ball last week was insane.

Looking forward to a repeat of that today.

 

[KermitJagger]

Just more risk associated with smaller players. Less positional flexibility and less chance the performance at under age form translates to senior afl. You need some attribute that will offset the size difference. Very very few sub-175cm players make it in the modern game (even sub 180cm are a small proportion of players in the league) and the shift away from shorter player began a long way back. The ones we see at afl often have something very special about them.

Indeed, footy is very much a sport where the ability to physically match an opponent is important. Watson being as quick, as explosive and as strong as he is for his size helps a lot. You throw those qualities and his talent on a 190cm player and you've got a guy who could be the most dominant player in the league, as it sits he's only 170cm and the league is spared that reign of terror.

 

[cryptor]

Hoping a breakout game with a big bag of goals is in the script today.

Also hoping that the wet weather plays to his advantage as the smallest man on the field. Though he does seem to slip over a lot.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Just more risk associated with smaller players. Less positional flexibility and less chance the performance at under age form translates to senior afl. You need some attribute that will offset the size difference. Very very few sub-175cm players make it in the modern game (even sub 180cm are a small proportion of players in the league) and the shift away from shorter player began a long way back. The ones we see at afl often have something very special about them.

There is much less scope for physical improvements too, which can lead to improvements in every other facet of their games.

In the Wizard's case talent wins out. I daresay if he wasn't as quick as he is he would have struggled to be drafted.

 

[Judd2Sewell]

The Wizard's attack on the ball last week was insane.

Looking forward to a repeat of that today.

Nothing would turn the entire crowd more rabid than the Wiz and Ginnivan turning it on today.

 

[TylerDurden]

Got mate at work, Pies fan, pots us for taking him at 5.

Hope he shows him why today.

 

[daniel23]

Got mate at work, Pies fan, pots us for taking him at 5.

Hope he shows him why today.

Last time they drafted someone decent was jordan degoey In 2014 so I wouldn't listen to him.