Player Watch 2023 AFL Draft Pool Discussion Thread

[Strapping Young Lad]

Same rule applies to this thread as other years, keep it on topic about the kids.
Don’t get bogged down on what other teams might do or where they will finish.

Trade speculation belongs here.
That's also where you can discuss your mock drafts or pick trades.

Any McCabe, Dear or Maginness talk belongs here.

 

[flinchfree]

I'm sure people many suspect that we would take Duursma pick 3. But watching our club's behaviour in the past, even if we thought that other clubs would suspect that, I've never seen the club do anything but play a straight bat. If we were hoping he slipped to us because we were desperate to take him, the last thing I'd imagine us doing is announcing to the world that he is our clear preference. That doesn't seem at all consistent with the messaging as a club, or the tactics of any clubs. You'd try to convince North that Curtin was our preference, and make them double guess themselves.

You do realize we have pick #4 right?
And that even though Dursma may be the target, it's because that's a considered expectation based on understanding the players likely taken in the first 3.
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, if any of the first 3 aren't in fact taken according to that expectation, we'll take one of them with great joy and fist pumping.

You are acting like we have pick 11 and are hoping that some sort of dublicity will foggy-bottom-memory the teams above us into landing our preferred target through clever wordsmithing.

Pure silliness.

 

[cs61]

What? All I was saying is I dont think the club would want be that transparent with our targets, even if other clubs have an inkling who would would take. Its hardly rocket science.

 

[3G Hawk]

I'm sure people many suspect that we would take Duursma pick 3. But watching our club's behaviour in the past, even if we thought that other clubs would suspect that, I've never seen the club do anything but play a straight bat. If we were hoping he slipped to us because we were desperate to take him, the last thing I'd imagine us doing is announcing to the world that he is our clear preference. That doesn't seem at all consistent with the messaging as a club, or the tactics of any clubs. You'd try to convince North that Curtin was our preference, and make them double guess themselves.

I can’t figure why some here want to regulate what KL has to say particularly as he has the most insightful content to offer. If HFC was concerned I am sure they could address it. The world is a better place when there’s less regulation other than by the directly affected party. I certainly find nothing commercially sensitive about his remarks based on what’s in the media more broadly.

 

[cryptor]

That and the fact we've STATED PUBLICLY a while ago that Duursma was our preference

Source?

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Let’s keep the discussion about the actual draft please.

KL will either live or die by the sword, but enough about that in here.

 

[I got the outside word]

It's a 4 hour flight, we're not asking for his first born

Unless he plays 100 games for us of course.

 

[MrPremiership]

It wouldn't matter if it was a 10 minute walk down the street. It would be incredibly disrespectful to invite someone into interview with the main motivation being to make sure everyone else knew they were there in an attempt to influence events to get someone else to the club.

or its just DD on top prospects and an added bonus it might have a positive effect on seucuring pick 1.

mountain, molehill

 

[cs61]

Maybe we see a 197cm, 95kg, 18 year old who was extremely impressive when he played against men in the WAFL, more as a versatile KPP player with a far greater upside than a 170cm, 68kg 18 year old. I understand the excitement over the prospect of an electric small forward however the reality is it is a huge step up from under age football to the VFL let alone the AFL.

I'm incredibly excited by Watson, but Curtin and McCabe would be a huge facelift to our developing key position stocks in one draft, on paper anyway. I'm a bit torn, as DBG was supposed to be a lock CHB as hasn't come on. But we also overlooked Amiss as a key position forward who looks like would have been ideal next to Lewis. Key position players if they come on can be the most valuable in the draft. There is a degree of risk as well.

 

[cryptor]

or its just DD on top prospects and an added bonus it might have a positive effect on seucuring pick 1.

mountain, molehill

That's probably exactly what it is. But you didn't make any mention of that in your original post that I responded to.

 

[excitingnews]

Crows keen to move up as Dons, Cats ponder shuffles down order: when first-round bids could come: AFL Draft Watch

"While Curtin was flown over from WA to meet with the Hawks on Monday, rival clubs spoken to foxfooty.com.au expect 170cm Eastern Ranges product Watson to be picked by Hawthorn. And should Hawthorn opt for Watson, the Bulldogs would almost certainly overlook Curtin after taking several key-position prospects with early picks in recent drafts."

 

[KeeperLeaguer]

Crows keen to move up as Dons, Cats ponder shuffles down order: when first-round bids could come: AFL Draft Watch

"While Curtin was flown over from WA to meet with the Hawks on Monday, rival clubs spoken to foxfooty.com.au expect 170cm Eastern Ranges product Watson to be picked by Hawthorn. And should Hawthorn opt for Watson, the Bulldogs would almost certainly overlook Curtin after taking several key-position prospects with early picks in recent drafts."

For perspective you should have added the next sentence ..

"But there’s also a sense the Hawks need defensive depth — and while father-son gun Will McCabe is an athletic 197cm defender, he’s seen as a different type of backman to Curtin."

 

[excitingnews]

For perspective you should have added the next sentence ..

"But there’s also a sense the Hawks need defensive depth — and while father-son gun Will McCabe is an athletic 197cm defender, he’s seen as a different type of backman to Curtin."

Listen here KL, I'm trying to get us to draft Watson by sheer force of will alone and there's not a damn thing you can do about it! (outside of being actually involved in the process...)

 

[LunchboxLegend]

choosing between Watson, Duursma and Curtin is like picking a favourite child. like yeah you definitely have one (for example in my family it's me) but it's still a hard decision!

I always tell Henry and "Not Henry" I love them equally.

 

[smitchy]

Would love us to go Watson and trade our F1 for O'Sullivan

Either that or Curtin and trade our F1 for Caddy

 

[KeeperLeaguer]

Listen here KL, I'm trying to get us to draft Watson by sheer force of will alone and there's not a damn thing you can do about it! (outside of being actually involved in the process...)

I apologise
Between the adamant Watson lovers like yourself and the Curtin lovers here it's going to be so much fun logging in on draft night.

 

[Roger Rogerson]

I appreciate your concern but if you read carefully I'm not letting on about who we're going to pick

I've told you our preferred target is Duursma but if we don't get him then it'll be Curtin, Watson or Colby ....

you just did in the same post?!!!

 

[kirbatron]

I think we all know Duursma is our #1 of what is realistic. This has been mentioned multiple times in the media indirectly.

The next grouping is a bit of a mystery. Clarko thinks we are taking Curtin (or does he?). Most others think we are taking the Wiz.

Are we trying to spook North and/or WC so BGZ slips through?

 

[KeeperLeaguer]

you just did in the same post?!!!

I meant, given that Duursma will most likely be picked by North it's out of the other three and I'm not saying who.
As for Duursma, again, everyone knows (excuse me, every CLUB knows) we're taking him if he's there.
Any club in need of a tall would. He's widely considered the best mobile tall in the draft (Walter seen as a pure KPF)

 

[matey]

During the three peat I reckon one of the biggest advantages we had over other sides was the number of versatile players we had in Hodge/Burgs/Roughy and then 8-10 players that we could rotate through the middle. This not only gave our coaches flexibility but it bamboozled the opposition. Once remember a Dees player after a game complimenting our side saying from any given centre bounce to the next didn’t know who I was playing on!

I reckon Sam is doing this with our team with Day, Weddle and a sizeable midfield group we are assembling. Add Curtin can flip him from KP either end or have stints in the midfield. Could be a huge weapon! Either way would be rapted with Zane or Wiz but would not be disappointment one bit if we got Curtin given the versatility he could bring.

 

[Hawks2011]

you just did in the same post?!!!

He doesn’t know anything. It’s all made up and bs. Becoming pretty clear now.

 

[DrkNyt]

I apologise
Between the adamant Watson lovers like yourself and the Curtin lovers here it's going to be so much fun logging in on draft night.

KL who do you side with out of the 2 of them

 

[Sizzlesilk]

Scouts and employees of clubs are people at the end of the day, and they probably enjoy discussing football related matters just like the rest of us.

I don't believe for a second that an opposition scout that posts on BigFooty is taking anything that people say seriously, never mind letting it impact decisions they make back at the club they are employed by.

Absolutely many clubs have people that build “profiles” on people on BF that get plenty right.
There are people on here that would know more about selection or injury or gossip or draft night than the President or key staff members.

Media and oppo scouts know who’s the real deal.

 

[CD Xbow]

Not sure about opposition recruiters, but I've spoken to a pretty well known footy journalist who scours BigFooty and vets information here with club contacts in the recruitment space. This means asking opposition recruiters about other teams plans as reported here by posters, sharing info to get info back and the like.

Half the job of a journo can be done if you know how to properly vet information off this site.

Only half?

 

[DogDaySonny]

I apologise
Between the adamant Watson lovers like yourself and the Curtin lovers here it's going to be so much fun logging in on draft night.

I almost hope we pick neither, just for the extraordinary melts.

 

[KeeperLeaguer]

KL who do you side with out of the 2 of them

You mean the three of them don't you? There's also Colby.

I can't even tell you who I'd like personally because it would have ppl thinking it's the club's view.

All I'll say is that any of those three would be brilliant additions to our club.