At 170cm, he'd struggle to reach the ceiling.  It's his only flaw.

4 hours ago, Demonstone said:

At 170cm, he'd struggle to reach the ceiling.  It's his only flaw.

Nice.

 

But seriously, small players are dominating the comp right now. If you can step, take the game forward and have X factor around the goals then height counts for very little.

Contested marking is the most overrated stat in the game. Teams must average what? Maybe 10 per game??? Pfft, give me ground level hunters with goal sense. Every. Day.

Edited September 11, 20231 yr by Surfer Dee

5 hours ago, Demonstone said:

At 170cm, he'd struggle to reach the ceiling.  It's his only flaw.

That's a load of Blancmange.

Edited September 11, 20231 yr by TRIGON

Not sure we need another one like this. We already have too many undersize players.

Need some tall marking power, Nate Caddy for me.

 

13 minutes ago, Deestinga2 said:

Not sure we need another one like this. We already have too many undersize players.

Need some tall marking power, Nate Caddy for me.

 

I get where you're coming from, but Watson would be better than all our undersized forwards bar kozzie. 

Caddy is undersized and probably won't impact for a number of years. We've already spent our last 2 first round picks on JvR and Jefferson as tall marking prospects.

For mine, if Duursma is off the table we should look at one of Watson/McKercher and if we can move up our 2nd pick, look at O'Sullivan/Murphy

 

Don’t muck around. Go for the premium midfielder (McKercher or Duursma) with the first early pick. We’re a long-term injury or concussion retirement (Gus) away from being too thin in the engine room. Both of those two boys look classy, good decision makers too. We desperately need that. 

O’Sullivan next if those two are off the board. Premiership sides are built on the bookends. They’re so hard to find and May’s got two years left in his prime.

Only after those three kids are off the board would I look at Watson. 

34 minutes ago, Deestinga2 said:

Not sure we need another one like this. We already have too many undersize players.

Need some tall marking power, Nate Caddy for me.

 

Nate Caddy is a bit overrated in my opinion.

 

19 minutes ago, Nascent said:

I get where you're coming from, but Watson would be better than all our undersized forwards bar kozzie. 

Caddy is undersized and probably won't impact for a number of years. We've already spent our last 2 first round picks on JvR and Jefferson as tall marking prospects.

For mine, if Duursma is off the table we should look at one of Watson/McKercher and if we can move up our 2nd pick, look at O'Sullivan/Murphy

 

Yer all fair points Nascent, Mckercher being a lefty might be the preferred option but unfortunately i think most of those players are gone by our first pick.

#5 Nick Watson
Small Forward | 24/02/2005 | 170cm | 67kg

Stats: 13 disposals, 6 marks, 1 goal

Watson spent plenty of time camped one-out inside 50 and getting under the skin of just about every Tasmanian defender. The mercurial small showcased great power when leading and leaping at the ball, playing above his size in that sense but also getting creative at ground level. There, he drew free kicks and burnt opponents with his turn of speed before delivering punchy passes by foot. After putting a couple of set shots wide, his lone goal came in the second quarter.

On 9/18/2023 at 2:37 PM, dazzledavey36 said:

Nate Caddy is a bit overrated in my opinion.

 

Jack Riewoldt vibes for mine (pre-enlightenment) but I still think we could easily end up with Caddy & Watson if the cards fall a certain way.

Pick 6 or 7 for 170cm small forward is a no for me. We need an elite midfielder who can deliver inside 50. The way we are entering inside 50 means this bloke would be completely useless. We either kick to the opposition or to a position where it is easily belted away, effectively clearing danger of a roving small forward. 

55 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

Pick 6 or 7 for 170cm small forward is a no for me. We need an elite midfielder who can deliver inside 50. The way we are entering inside 50 means this bloke would be completely useless. We either kick to the opposition or to a position where it is easily belted away, effectively clearing danger of a roving small forward. 

This ain’t the draft for midfielders they’re few and far between 

56 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

Pick 6 or 7 for 170cm small forward is a no for me. 

Koz was pick 12 and is one cm taller. Judging by your name that worked out ok didn’t it?

Natural, crafty goal kickers can do things others can’t. Izak Rankine was a pick 3. I’d pay pick 3 for him everyday.

5 minutes ago, Lewis said:

This ain’t the draft for midfielders they’re few and far between 

But next year is a super draft! (Again)

On 9/19/2023 at 10:17 PM, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

Pick 6 or 7 for 170cm small forward is a no for me. We need an elite midfielder who can deliver inside 50. The way we are entering inside 50 means this bloke would be completely useless. We either kick to the opposition or to a position where it is easily belted away, effectively clearing danger of a roving small forward. 

Fritsch and Hunt grew something like a foot around this age. Charlie Curnow was 190cm in his draft year and now 193 or 194cm. Come on Little fella eat your greens. There's a good 10cms crying out for you.  

Have become very keen on this acquisition. There are a couple elite kicking mids in the pool but only one of him. If we were to get him + McKerscher/Duursma we could release Kozzy for 80% midfield time. Spargo/Chandler just do not offer enough fire power and Watson has it in spades, as well as great decision making and disposal. Moving Kozzy to the midfield for 80% game time would fill a massive need for us too. 

Watson’s highlights from the CTL GF on Sunday:

 

On 9/21/2023 at 4:27 PM, MrFreeze said:

Have become very keen on this acquisition. There are a couple elite kicking mids in the pool but only one of him. If we were to get him + McKerscher/Duursma we could release Kozzy for 80% midfield time. Spargo/Chandler just do not offer enough fire power and Watson has it in spades, as well as great decision making and disposal. Moving Kozzy to the midfield for 80% game time would fill a massive need for us too. 

Kozzy doesn’t have the tank for 25% midfield game time at the moment let alone 80%. Pie in the sky stuff.

On 9/21/2023 at 4:27 PM, MrFreeze said:

Have become very keen on this acquisition. There are a couple elite kicking mids in the pool but only one of him. If we were to get him + McKerscher/Duursma we could release Kozzy for 80% midfield time. Spargo/Chandler just do not offer enough fire power and Watson has it in spades, as well as great decision making and disposal. Moving Kozzy to the midfield for 80% game time would fill a massive need for us too. 

Never mind moving Kozzy there; from that GF clip, put Nick there!

I had a look at these highlights and the previous highlights on this thread posted from another Rangers game. Almost every shot on goal missed in both those games. Can't see the elite kick everyone's talking about that overcomes his lack of height. I wouldn't be giving up a top 10 pick for this kid. His skills on those highlights are much worse than Kossies. 

Looking at the highlights, I reckon Watson would do better in the midfield than Kossie, who could stay closer to home. But if we’re doing that, I’d much rather McKercher.

Melbourne, who have picks six and 13, are expected to make a play in the coming days to try to move ahead of the Bulldogs, with both clubs keen on gifted small forward Nick Watson.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-trades-2023-pick-swaps-on-the-agenda-as-clubs-target-harley-reid-20231012-p5ebw1.html

If we give up 6 and 11 and don’t get Reid, it better not be for Watson. Would happily do it for curtin if the tea leaves read that he won’t make it to us but that would be dealing with north for 3 (and change, 18 or so) and having them agree to not cut our lunch. Still lots to play out in the pre draft posturing 

The interest in him keeps bubbling along. Personally I don't feel like he's that much of a special or game-changing player but it is always possible I have no idea what I'm talking about.

If he is just another elite small forward, I'm not interested. But if he has the tank and traffic sense to run through the midfield and be really creative there, he could make a difference to our game from a very early point in his career.

Basically I'm asking; is Nick Watson the new Brent Harvey?

1 hour ago, adonski said:

Melbourne, who have picks six and 13, are expected to make a play in the coming days to try to move ahead of the Bulldogs, with both clubs keen on gifted small forward Nick Watson.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-trades-2023-pick-swaps-on-the-agenda-as-clubs-target-harley-reid-20231012-p5ebw1.html

Have been hoping we would draft Watson all along, believing we were never really going to get Reid. He would be great to watch, and would have instant impact round goals.