ChaserJ

Hey mate, yeah, O’Sullivan’s a good user of the ball and a reasonably good decision maker, would be comfortable if we went that way. Much surer with ball in hand than Petty (as an example) and could either play key post or third tall/intercept defender. Overall, Watson’s kicking depth is ok. What I’ve seen over the course of the year is that he can rush his kicks and can be inconsistent by foot. He can do the brilliant (and does so quite often), but I’m not sure if he puts a bit of extra pressure on himself to do too much to make things happen, but that’s when he can get the timing wrong with his kicks. That’s how it looked in the GF. Eastern’s overall depth and scoring power wasn’t great this year, so understand why Watson might have felt that. He plays a million miles an hour all the time, if he drops that just a little and picks his moments a bit better, I get the feeling that his field kicking and overall game will be the better for it.

Oh man, not the riddles…

Take your point, but this year's crop was projected to be lacking midfielders from a long way out. Was all about the flankers this year.

Smillie should go top 10 next year. Typically a Cripps type inside mid, but just was his first game back from injury. Midfield group has a fair bit more quality and depth next year.

Worth noting that the player taken with the pick we sent to GWS for Hogan (we held pick 3 & 4 due to Scully compo traded 3 & used 4 on Toumpas) ended up being Lachie Plowman. Plowman had an underwhelming career, largely at Carlton, and he has now just retired. Not a whole lot of quality out of that 2012 crop as it transpired. Thankfully Viney worked out! Another traded pick that started with Melbourne, moved to Adelaide in the Lever deal and finished with Carlton in the Gibbs trade was pick 10 from 2017. Carlton used the pick to select Lachie O’Brien, who they just delisted. Thing’s didn’t turn out too badly for us in the end.

Read like we’ve asked but he seems a longer way down the track with WC. They’ve probably given him an indication that he’ll get a good look at more regular game time. Especially if Williams will be deployed up forward more often than not.

It was quoting Sammy Edmund. I listened to the segment and thought he meant to say West Coast, but said Melbourne. He might have just had Melbourne on his mind, because he also suggested Dees could still have a go at Pick 1. That said, if Roos would still like to take Sanders, they could probably split pick 2 (or a band 1 compensation pick for McKay) with us and still be pretty certain of getting him with our pick from Freo (would be independent of whether they land pick 4).

Best chance for McKercher is if North go for Sanders early or we trade up. Sanders isn’t the distributer by foot that you’re describing in your post. He’s neat when in space, but not elite by foot. If had that hurt factor with his kick, he probably would have been sitting in the top 3 or 4 in the pool.

Not just the one game, reflective of his overall game. Averaged 10 kicks and 19 handpasses across the CTL season. Across his 4 games at the Champs went at 12 kicks & 23 handpasses. Does most of his work inside to release the outside runners.

Big Bang? Not that many I would have thought. Given a key forward is where we’d try to splash, even fewer. Cameron, Oscar Allan or one of the King twins probably the only one’s Big Bang worthy. Naughton wouldn’t quite get to that level for me.

Watson’s highlights from the CTL GF on Sunday:

The McKay deal has been estimated (by Marc McGowan in the Age) as 750k per year over 6. Not a slam dunk for band 1, don’t have faith that AFL won’t still make it happen though.

Marc McGowan in the Age suggesting that the offer is expected to be around 750k over 6 years: https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/north-melbourne-get-three-first-round-draft-picks-in-afl-assistance-package-20230925-p5e7fg.html Could be right on the edge of band 1.

Highlights of Curtin's GF performance:

Set up an early goal, apart from that well held. Rookie range would be about right. Curtin was important in defence & midfield without being completely dominant (23 touches).

24 touches and a goal. Was good, agree that he should go high next year.

WAFL Colts GF streaming on 7 app now. Curtin & Sam Van Rooyen playing.

Also, if you compare their body of work at same stage, Frawley is streets ahead of McKay. Was an AA defender and 130+ games under his belt. Roos played him out of position in his last season and he still was one of our better players up forward (a few games of 10+ marks in a pretty moribund fwd line). Went on to play 100 games for Hawks including premierships. Bizarre that people say Dees were given overgenerous compensation.

Adam Jones (WA talent manager) was on SEN WA this morning basically echoing much of @Pennant St Dee’s observations above. Some insights on Dan Curtain and also what impact (or little) the compulsory 3 year contracts will have on draftee retention. https://www.sen.com.au/news/2023/09/21/wa-talent-manager-certain-roos-will-take-tall-at-2-if-reid-goes-at-1/

I’m also going to take a stab and say the Anderson component of Nudge’s news at the time was prior to GC getting additional draft assistance to pair Rowell and Anderson. Might well have been right about that selection and who we were focused on. That domino led to Jackson, and the major piece in the Jackson compensation is likely to be impacted by North getting assistance due to their crapulence. This annoys the hell out of me. Also, do we need to fact check people on the rumours thread?

McKercher more damaging by foot and has a bit more run and carry to his game. More of a factor offensively, so he’d be my pick. Sanders does a lot really well, just that little bit below Colby on the rankings, but still been an excellent performer this year. Super consistent, I did question whether he had any flexibility to play in other positions. He has had a few stints up forward over the course of the season, but I still reckon it’s midfield or bust for Sanders. The rider here is that neither were competing against any/many midfields with top end talent, so maybe both their numbers were inflated, but their ability will translate at the next level.

Hunch or…

Loved the passion and effort Moose brought to Casey. Will be missed, big loss for Casey. Wish him well at Cora Lynn.

McKercher’s terrific, think he’ll have a similar impact to Gulden and Butters at AFL level. Don’t see him getting to our pick unless Roos reach for Sanders. Even then it seems unlikely.

Cal Twomey’s reckons Edwards is jumping into first round contention with performances like this: