Nick Watson

[Nascent 9,283]

This kid deserves his own thread now that the championship is done and we look to have a top 5-6 pick.

170cm small forward for Eastern Rangers, he kicked the most goals of the championships with 14 in 4 games. He is explosive, dual sided with excellent skills and has a good aerial presence as well. 

Jason Taylor said when drafting Kozzie that its hard to find genuine small forwards. This could be a golden opportunity to give us the most exciting and dangerous forward line in the league. Wouldn't surprise to see him a Roo after Reid and Walter have their names called out however.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[adonski 12,437]

Can you play four of Pickett, Watson, Chandler (?), ANB (?), Spargo (?) in the same side?

Certainly would improve the forward line though

[Diamond_Jim 12,628]

No more small forwards

For that matter.... no more small players please

[Nascent 9,283]

Pickett and Watson starting small forwards. If one or some of Chandler, Spargo or ANB miss out so be it.

[dee-tox 4,835]

I see it, but I don't see it with our list demographic. We need quality mids. Either ball carriers with skill like Curtin and Duursma or inside replacements for Viney and Tracc (Reid and McKercher).

If we progress how I think we want to progress over the next few years, we may not get another chance to draft top end talent in the midfield. Spending it on small, albeit incredibly skillful small forwards may not be the best plan of attack.

[Nascent 9,283]

3 hours ago, dee-tox said:

I see it, but I don't see it with our list demographic. We need quality mids. Either ball carriers with skill like Curtin and Duursma or inside replacements for Viney and Tracc (Reid and McKercher).

If we progress how I think we want to progress over the next few years, we may not get another chance to draft top end talent in the midfield. Spending it on small, albeit incredibly skillful small forwards may not be the best plan of attack.

I get it, but still think he needs to be in the conversation.

If we end up with GCs pick a Watson, Duursma combo could be on the cards.

Edited July 24, 2023 by Nascent

[Adam The God 30,421]

You can see how two small forwards have transformed Adelaide's forward half game. If we end up managing two top 10 picks and not trading/being able to trade for pick 1, Watson in our forward half would be handy. And as @Nascent suggests above, Watson and Duursma would certainly improve our danger in the forward half. With Kozzy, Fritta, JVR, Chandler and Jefferson that's a promising forward half.

[Colm 2,187]

If we don’t trade up for Reid and Watson is on the board at our then he’s probably best available at our pick and we would have to really consider him. I wasn’t in favour of getting another small forward on but he has won me over. 
Kossie and him would be a nightmare for other teams defences. Even with his small frame I’d expect him to have a big impact at AFL level next year. 
If Kossie continues to spend more time in the middle then it would make even more sense. 
I do agree with others that we would want to have another top 10 pick to draft for needs with our second one. 

[DeeSpencer 26,083]

37 minutes ago, A F said:

You can see how two small forwards have transformed Adelaide's forward half game. If we end up managing two top 10 picks and not trading/being able to trade for pick 1, Watson in our forward half would be handy. And as @Nascent suggests above, Watson and Duursma would certainly improve our danger in the forward half. With Kozzy, Fritta, JVR, Chandler and Jefferson that's a promising forward half.

I reckon the Crows up tempo play comes far more from their excellent half backs and how hard their mids run, not to mention Dawson being the best mark/kick on baller in the league.

But Rankine certainly helps. And Rachele is classy too.

The thing about those guys is they both had games that were going to translate to AFL level and will eventually lead to midfield minutes.

With Watson I’m just worried he’s not tall, strong or quick enough to really become that level of player. 

[Adam The God 30,421]

11 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

I reckon the Crows up tempo play comes far more from their excellent half backs and how hard their mids run, not to mention Dawson being the best mark/kick on baller in the league.

But Rankine certainly helps. And Rachele is classy too.

The thing about those guys is they both had games that were going to translate to AFL level and will eventually lead to midfield minutes.

Agree.

[DEE fence 5,039]

It's a shame GWS has come good, I want Taylor more than anything and would swap our pick 4 and a players for him. Petty goes forward and we have a replacement for May in a year or two. I actually think we are OK for mids and smalls. But if May gets injured structurally we are stuffed and neither Petty or Tomlinson are #1 Gorilla minders. Sorry bit of a broken record on this one.. 

[Gawndy the Great 9,011]

Melbournes had and will only have one wizard. 

[Fat Tony 5,272]

2 hours ago, adonski said:

Can you play four of Pickett, Watson, Chandler (?), ANB (?), Spargo (?) in the same side?

Certainly would improve the forward line though

Small forwards really need to have aerial ability to mark overhead. (You could play 6 Charlie Cameron's in the same forward line but only 2 Zac Bailey's).

Chandler is the only one who there who is not a liability in the air. Pickett should improve because he has a leap but hasn't learnt to get his timing right. ANB is limited but taller so he doesn't get exposed that badly but it's not a strength. Spargo is poor overhead.

What is Watson's overhead marking like?

[DeeSpencer 26,083]

6 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

Small forwards really need to have aerial ability to mark overhead. (You could play 6 Charlie Cameron's in the same forward line but only 2 Zac Bailey's).

Chandler is the only one who there who is not a liability in the air. Pickett should improve because he has a leap but hasn't learnt to get his timing right. ANB is limited but taller so he doesn't get exposed that badly but it's not a strength. Spargo is poor overhead.

What is Watson's overhead marking like?

Watson is excellent using his body and reading the drop of the ball but tiny. If he was 180cm he’d be a lock at pick 2/3/4. If he was 176cm like Bowey he’d probably be the same. Even Eddie Betts at 174 got it done. 170, shorter than Pickett, it’s a tough ask 

[The end is nigh 405]

Watson does all the things right but in recent drafts both north and hawks have collected high pick mids. I can’t see Watson getting passed the hawks who still rely heavily on Breust. Watson a sneaky chance for rising star. Has all the flashy talents to get a nomination early and then kick 30+ for the year. 

[Deespicable 2,886]

We already have the smallest starting 22 in the comp and it was patently obvious against the Crows, who without Laird, Rachele and McHenry and only had Murray under 6 foot.

That's why the efforts of Lever and May and Tomlinson to get the ball to ground was impressive because we were undersized everywhere except in the ruck.

Watson may very well be a livewire and have a great career, but it better not be at Melbourne or Lamb is hellbent on destroying our list.

[Little Goffy 14,645]

My level of interest would depend mostly on how much Watson can roll through the midfield providing an agile, speedy point of difference, and partly on whether Chandler's return to form against the Crows is something that is going to hold. Remembering that in the first 8 rounds he kicked 14 goals and earned 10 goal assists, if that is going to be Chandler's future then between him and Pickett we are in no need of any additional dangerous smalls!

I think our list is in more need of the bigger-bodied forward-mids offered by the likes of Duursma and Caddy, as a point of difference and as another way to ensure at least a contest happens when we dump it forward. Plus, I still like the thought of the super-succession plan if Daniel Curtin can come in to to learn from the masters before they retire. I feel that players like him are genuinely rare.

[hardtack 10,627]

46 minutes ago, Deespicable said:

That's why the efforts of Lever and May and Tomlinson to get the ball to ground was impressive because we were undersized everywhere except in the ruck.

Are you saying that May, Lever and Tomlinson are undersized????

[The heart beats true 18,145]

Having just watched Koz and Rankine put on an absolute clinic at the G I’m all in on the value of quick, skilled, energetic small forwards. 

If JT thinks he’s the best player for us then he’s right.

A 2025 forward line of JVR, Jefferson, Watson, Kozzie, Fritsch and Chandler is very, very handy.

[Surfer Dee 210]

Forget his height. Kid is an impact forward. Wins contests in the front half. Kicks goals. 
We crush our opponents under the weight of a brutal contested game in the midfield. We need players to take advantage of the i50 opportunities we create. Love this kid. Forward line of JVR, Jefferson, Fritsch, Kozi and Watson sounds like a handful in 2-4 years to me.

 If he displaces Chandler and co.??? No worries, he's depth or a trade piece. Hardly an issue to me.

[Dockett 32 1,239]

3 hours ago, The end is nigh said:

Watson does all the things right but in recent drafts both north and hawks have collected high pick mids. I can’t see Watson getting passed the hawks who still rely heavily on Breust. Watson a sneaky chance for rising star. Has all the flashy talents to get a nomination early and then kick 30+ for the year. 

Probably right . We already have Pickett who is very high quality and can terrorise the opposition. Watson good player no doubt but do we have more pressing needs elsewhere. I kind of like the idea of Dursma on one flank and Petracca and Picket up there as well. 

 

 

[Garbo 1,542]

Probably a late 1st at best or 2nd round pick, you never see a player or his height go early due to the perceived lack of upside, if we keep it more then likely we could get him with freos 2nd round pick 

[bluey 1,117]

No from me, we have ten players 182 or under.

[The end is nigh 405]

3 hours ago, Garbo said:

Probably a late 1st at best or 2nd round pick, you never see a player or his height go early due to the perceived lack of upside, if we keep it more then likely we could get him with freos 2nd round pick 

Usually yes. But not this kid. Which says just how special he is. He creates goals from the smallest of opportunity. Worthy of a top 3 pick, top 5 would be sliding. Watson would push spargo to Casey and do his role with aplomb and our on field profile wouldnt vary much. 

I’ve resigned myself to it being out of our hands anyway. Hoping for freos pick to be 4 and offering an impressive point bundle to gc (saving just enough for kynan as a third pick. Our first at 15-18 plus two second rounders 22 and ~33 surely is worthy and unmatchable by other clubs.) 

[demosaw 1,072]

Wizard Watson needs to self-cast a growth spell or it’s a no for me. Otherwise our fairytale forward line might be Kalani white and the seven dwarfs….

Edited July 24, 2023 by demosaw