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Hawthorn draftee Nick Watson has vowed to be a serial on-field pest, declaring he is ready to “get under the skin” of opponents when he makes his senior debut.
Watson, dubbed “The Wizard” for his crafty bag of tricks as a small forward, was the No.5 pick in last week’s national draft.
Hawthorn draftee Nick Watson has a clear picture of the role he can play for the club.Credit: Eddie Jim
The East Ringwood product had a superb 2023, kicking more than 70 goals in a campaign where he was a stand-out for Vic Metro, the Eastern Ranges and Caulfield Grammar.
He was one of four Hawks’ draftees to get busy at their first official training session on Monday, where wet and dull conditions – the staple of Waverley in winter – greeted the boys.
Watson said he was intent on reprising his junior football traits at a senior level, having recently described himself as a human “Energiser bunny”.
“Just keeping active, always on my feet, I don’t mind getting under opponents’ skin. I am sure I will bring that to the next level,” Watson said.
Hawthorn’s draftees Nick Watson, Calsher Dear, Will McCabe and Bodie Ryan report for training on Monday. Credit: Eddie Jim
Asked if that meant he could become a serial pest, Watson said: “Yeah, yeah, that has just sort of come into my game over the last couple of years. It’s the role I play.”
Watson said he was happy to mix it physically and verbally on the field.
“Bit of both. Sometimes a bit of confidence comes into it as well. After I kick a goal, I like to go back, if they are coming at me. It’s probably a bit of school footy because school footy is a bit like that,” he said.
It won’t only be Watson who could frustrate opponents; shock recruit Jack Ginnivan was a polarising figure in his short time with Collingwood. The premiership Magpie, also a goal-kicking small forward, and Watson will give the Hawks plenty of punch inside 50.
“I used to go for Collingwood, but, obviously, it’s good working alongside him. I will get a few tips off him as well,” Watson said.
Asked what he could learn from Ginnivan, Watson replied: “Just the way he gets under the skin [of opponents]. I have been watching the last couple of days – he is a good crumber as well. I will learn off him pretty well.”
Watson also looks forward to working with one of the league’s greatest small forwards, three-time premiership player Luke Breust.
“Obviously, watching Luke Breust over the last couple of years, he is a freak,” Watson said.
Standing just 170 centimetres tall, Watson is not the athletic, big-bodied midfielder so popular with AFL recruiters these days, but his combative on-field edge has helped him flourish.
He says having North Melbourne great Brent Harvey as a mentor has been important in his development, not the least because Harvey persuaded him to pursue a career in football rather than basketball.
The relationship with Harvey – who at 168 centimetres, played 432 games for the Kangaroos – came when Watson played alongside Harvey’s son Cooper in an under-15 carnival in Tasmania.
“I spoke to him just after the draft, and, obviously, thanked him for everything he has done because he was a big part of [my development] … I will keep in touch with him,” Watson said.
Fellow draftees Will McCabe, Bodie Ryan and Calsher Dear also took to the field at Waverley on Monday. McCabe, the son of current Hawks football director Luke, who played 137 games for the club, was taken at pick No.19. He is a 197-centimetre key defender from Central District.
McCabe said his dad’s advice had been “to soak it all up because you never know what is going to happen”.
Ryan, a versatile South Australian defender, was taken with pick 46. He said he looks forward to working with captain James Sicily, on whom he has modelled his game.
Dear (pick 56) is the son of the late Paul Dear, the 1991 Norm Smith medallist who passed away last year after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Calsher’s eldest brother, Harry, was drafted by Adelaide in 2014, but did not play a senior game in his four years at the club.
Calsher, an athletic key forward, said he would be more of a “development” player next season, his focus being to strengthen his body. He will work closely with forward Mitch Lewis, the biggest challenge, he said, would be learning to adjust to the training demands of life as a professional player.
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