2023 Draft Watch

[bulldogtragic]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Although I can't find the article now I am sure I read that Watson will miss the draft combine taking place over the next few days.

Yep. He, Reid and another couple of top liners all out.

[Mofra]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Leake not testing either. Shame

[lemmon]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

A few things that might be of interest from Cal Twomey on Twitter. Darcy Wilson finished second in the 2km time trial with 5:52 and Lance Collard second in the 20-metre sprint with 2.92.

[mjp]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

A few things that might be of interest from Cal Twomey on Twitter. Darcy Wilson finished second in the 2km time trial with 5:52 and Lance Collard second in the 20-metre sprint with 2.92.

5:52? Bloody hell that is moving for a footballer who is OUT OF SEASON.

That said, the two numbers above are just a couple of players posting good numbers in the tests that they are good at....

[Bornadog]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

5:52? Bloody hell that is moving for a footballer who is OUT OF SEASON.

That said, the two numbers above are just a couple of players posting good numbers in the tests that they are good at....

Can they play footy??

[Testekill]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Can they play footy??

Wilson is seen as a top 15 pick and is probably the second best outside player after Watson. If we want a wing and don't want to pay big draft capital then we want him or Windsor

[Mofra]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Wilson is seen as a top 15 pick and is probably the second best outside player after Watson. If we want a wing and don't want to pay big draft capital then we want him or Windsor

I think I'm more comfortable taking one of those blokes than I am trading 3 first round picks for pick 4.
If Wilson and Windsor are gone before our first pick, come on down Leake. or Ollie Murphy and we won't have to worry about our KPD stocks when Jones retires.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

From Code Sports



Western Bulldogs are zeroing in on goalkicking wizard Nick Watson in a move that would complete their forward line of the future alongside Aaron Naughton, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Cody Weightman and Sam Darcy.

Rivals believe 170cm forward Watson, from East Ringwood, is the man the Dogs are most likely to target should they get their hands on Gold Coast’s No.4 draft pick.

The Suns are auctioning off the precious selection and trade talks are advanced with the Bulldogs.

The most likely deal would see the Dogs handover No.10, 17 and their future first-round selection for No.4 and multiple third-round picks in this year’s draft.

Those third-round picks would not be used by the Suns and would help the Dogs match a bid for athletic father-son prospect Jordan Croft.

The Dogs will draft between two and four players next month. Securing Watson and Croft would be a bonanza for the Dogs, who have locked away Naughton until 2032 as well as Buku Khamis for next year.

Much-loved Bulldog Toby McLean, a 2016 premiership player, is also keen to stay at Whitten Oval.

But with list spots limited there is a chance McLean could be enticed to join a rival as he waits for a contract offer.

The 27-year-old is highly-respected for his work-rate and is a known finals star, having been brought in for last year’s elimination final despite not playing any minutes during the home-and-away season.

The Suns will trade Chris Burgess to Adelaide amongst a swap of several picks that will net them valuable draft points.

Should the Dogs draft Watson and Croft it would mark five consecutive years that they have not drafted a midfielder in the first round.

They took Weightman at No.15 in 2019, Ugle-Hagan at No.1 in 2020, Darcy at No.2 in 2021 and key defender Jedd Busslinger at No.13 last year.

Matching bids for Ugle-Hagan and Darcy meant the Dogs spent the 2020-2021 drafts picking early and late and without selections in the middle parts of the draft.

They believe this year’s crop lacks inside midfielders and are targeting an intercepting defender as well as leg speed in the midfield.

They have been linked to Nick Coffield (St Kilda) and premiership player James Harmes (Melbourne). The Dogs will also trade understudy ruckman Jordon Sweet to Port Adelaide.

Watson grew up a Collingwood fan who idolised Magpie Jamie Elliott and Sydney star Tom Papley. The 18-year-old bagged 14 goals in four games for Vic Metro this year.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

The Doc was all over Watson last year so if it panned out this way it's a great call.

The only concern would be that it's another year of not taking high end midfielders and losing the future 1st means we probably can't get one in 2024 as well.

[azabob]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

The Doc was all over Watson last year so if it panned out this way it's a great call.

The only concern would be that it's another year of not taking high end midfielders and losing the future 1st means we probably can't get one in 2024 as well.

I wonder if the drafting of Weightman, JUH, Darcy and now Watson has been by design or a case of best available? I'm leaning towards by design as we knew JUH and Darcy were coming.

It seems we are reaching for Watson but clearly the club see him as the missing link in our front half.

My views are well known on our lack of draft activity but the one positive is talented midfielders can be found outside of the top 15 players.

This makes keeping Bailey Smith so vital.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

I wonder if the drafting of Weightman, JUH, Darcy and now Watson has been by design or a case of best available? I'm leaning towards by design as we knew JUH and Darcy were coming.

It seems we are reaching for Watson but clearly the club see him as the missing link in our front half.

My views are well known on our lack of draft activity but the one positive is talented midfielders can be found outside of the top 15 players.

This makes keeping Bailey Smith so vital.

Losing Dunkley, the decline or perhaps the way we used Macrae, the inconsistent way we used Smith and with no high end midfielders being drafted for a few years now have really started to test our midfield.
Given that was was seen as a real point of difference for us a couple of seasons ago that's quite a switch in direction.
In the end it's been lucky that we could bring Treloar in.

[GVGjr]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Some Nick Watson highlights.

[chef]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

So 10, 17 and future first for Watson and Croft. We are so loading up on forwards. Maybe Cody can push into the midfield.

[lemmon]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

So 10, 17 and future first for Watson and Croft. We are so loading up on forwards. Maybe Cody can push into the midfield.

Feel like the success of that will not only be determined by how good Watson and Croft are, but where we finish next year. If it goes through that way, Power is taking a big gamble.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

Re: 2023 Draft Watch

Do. Not. Like.

I really hope this isn't the trade.

Our midfield will be absolutely shot to pieces in 1-2 seasons.

We're also really banking on climbing the ladder next season. I don't see it.