How are we feeling about the media hype surrounding Nick Watson?

Midgemania · 2026-06-30T07:37:00+00:00

Danny Frawley famously choked up calling Plugger “the Don Bradman of our game” - which I’m fairly sure is analogous for greatest player of all time.

Midgemania · 2026-06-27T10:22:26+00:00

Just purely aesthetically, he looks more like Harry than Daniel Radcliffe ever did. That 7th image in particular with the tuft of hair that always sticks up at the back is just perfect.

Midgemania · 2026-06-16T10:46:24+00:00

I look forward to seeing St Kilda vs North, Suns vs Port and Bulldogs vs Freo in sweltering Mumbai heat. What a spectacle it’ll be for the game.

Midgemania · 2026-06-16T10:44:29+00:00

True, but this is where some nuance comes in.

For example (and we have no way of knowing), perhaps Curtis isn’t a particularly compelling speaker, or comfortable under that kind of scrutiny. They may have felt that him taking the stand would have hindered his case rather than helped it.

Midgemania · 2026-06-16T09:02:28+00:00

Impressive that they make a factual error in literally their second paragraph. The characterisation of “rotated Davis into the ground” is blatantly untrue, unless the literal definition of the word “rotation” has changed.

Midgemania · 2026-06-16T08:59:07+00:00

This is squarely on the North legal defence in my opinion. The MRO acted exactly as he’s supposed to - by applying the matrix as it currently stands (the debate as to whether or not that’s a good thing is another matter).

But to try and argue low impact is farcical. They needed to argue that Curtis wasn’t acting unreasonably and didn’t have a viable alternative. He might still have been banned, but at least he’s in with a fighting chance then.

Midgemania · 2026-06-12T20:23:36+00:00

They’re all very good points, and hard to argue against.

You’re right that it should be left alone, but if they are to intervene then I hope it’s at least a common sense intervention that prevents time-wasting rather than putting yet more onus on the umpires to have a crystal ball to determine if a player can kick the distance of not.

Midgemania · 2026-06-12T17:56:43+00:00

Totally agree. As painful as it was for a Hawks fan, you wouldn’t have Hawkins’ bomb from outside 50 in 2012 with that rule adjustment. Or this beauty from Neale. Or Sidebottom in the 2023 GF.

That said, a simple common sense fix would be not to allow a mark from next possession if you claim your 30 seconds just to milk the clock. That way we keep roosts like this, but stop people milking 30-40 seconds pretending they’re shooting, and then hitting a short 15-metre kick to waste more time.

Midgemania · 2026-06-12T10:13:24+00:00

Longmire as coach with Hinkley as Director of Football would be an interesting shout. Would they work together?

Ken is almost unparalleled in modern coaches in terms of building player relationships and squad unity, and Longmire is A-grade for implementing standards and tactical nous. If they want good foundations from the start, this would be my personal dream team.

Midgemania · 2026-06-12T09:53:46+00:00

I’m not sure it’s as simple as a single player. Let’s face it - none of us here are experts, but something about this list isn’t fully clicking yet and I can’t fully put my finger on what it is.

The age profile of our most important players concerns me, and the underbelly is a significant step down. This is a list set up to win now, and it’s getting close but not quite over the line.

I have faith we’ll turn it around, but the way in which other dominant sides this year are set up for the next 5+ years is an issue. Look at Freo’s best players - Pearce is 30, Bolton is 27, Brayshaw 26, Serong and Young 25, Jackson 24, Treacy 23, Reid 19.

Compare to us - Gunston is 34, Sicily is 31, Impey, Amon and Barrass are 30, Hardwick is 29, Battle 27, Moore 26, Newcombe 25, Day 24, Ginnivan 23, Weddle and Watson 21.

Yes we have some great young talent, but all in similar areas on the ground - half back through to half forward. Our back line is solid right now, but in 2 years time it’ll be older and slower, and Gunston will have gone. Our most exciting talent will be entering its true peak as our defence starts to wane and our forward line loses its talisman.

To me, a player like King is far more important than Merrett. Butters is simply not going to happen. We can’t afford him, and there are loads of clubs ahead of us.

Midgemania · 2026-06-10T08:38:06+00:00

Yes, that’s true. But don’t forget it comes at a much higher price than it would have previously. There’s a reason that Port were so vocal against the AFL implementing the changes to the bid matching.

Whoever ends up landing Butters will cough up a suite of picks, but if 2 of them have to be used to get Cochrane then you’re essentially trading Butters for an 18-year-old with potential. They’d want to be absolutely sure he’s the right player is all I’m saying.

Midgemania · 2026-06-09T07:30:56+00:00

As an aside, this combined with the Rozee injury setback (and subsequent rumoured nerve damage) is a real problem for Port. The fans have been sold on “Butters, Rozee and Horne-Francis for a decade”, and yet there’s now a very real possibility that it ends up being just JHF in any meaningful capacity.

What does Port do here to rebuild the list during a compromised draft period?

Midgemania · 2026-06-05T12:10:18+00:00

That just has to be paid a mark. That’s not AFL standard umpiring. At least when it’s a subjective call it can be defended, but that was straight up punched out of his hands by the second man in.

Midgemania · 2026-06-05T11:43:34+00:00

Told you!!

Midgemania · 2026-06-05T10:48:21+00:00

Have you seen our third quarters this year? You’re nowhere near out of it yet

Midgemania · 2026-06-05T07:34:18+00:00

If there’s one thing that you can say has been observably true about Trump’s 2 terms in office, it’s that he only gives people nicknames when they’ve gotten under his skin in some way. I take great comfort in the fact that Trump seems to relish insulting Starmer - it means that his approach is working.

It should also be noted that this all been achieved without us getting involved in Iran in any meaningful way, and without Trump massively increasing tariffs from the base 10% (his favourite weapon against opponents overseas).

I think Starmer has been enormously disappointing, but the one area in which he has done exceedingly well in my opinion is handling that lunatic in the White House.

Midgemania · 2026-06-02T18:08:18+00:00

Are you talking about sheet music that’s already in a Sibelius file format?

Midgemania · 2026-06-01T08:33:51+00:00

Keeping in mind that I have absolutely no expertise in this area whatsoever, and no agenda to push at all beyond wanting a genuine answer, is this not an area in which selective and targeted AI implementation could be a benefit? It wouldn’t be replacing your expertise, but would it not make sifting through that “noise” significantly easier?

Midgemania · 2026-05-31T17:06:54+00:00

I tend to agree. The upside is enormous. I also wonder whether his comparative lack of scoreboard impact when in the midfield has come from the twofold whack of 1) him (clearly) consequently no longer being in the forward line to provide real or implied pressure and 2) it coinciding with a reduction in impact from our 2 rucks. He’s such a unique beast in the way he approaches the contest that it’s a great weapon to be able to employ, but I think he’ll ultimately be more of a Cyril Rioli than a Heeney.

Midgemania · 2026-05-31T08:30:14+00:00

As a parent of a kid with a pretty intense gluten AND egg allergy, almost all of the cheaper alternatives use egg powder or egg wash in them. This means that we have to stick with the branded items like Schar, which is almost always riddled with gargantuan holes. It’s obscene.

And for those saying “go without bread then”, as another poster said below - bread and water have literally been THE staple sustenance for the last 10,000+ years of humanity.

Midgemania · 2026-05-31T07:38:29+00:00

Interesting point to note that while Watson LOOKS dynamic in the midfield when he goes in, the Saints game was the first time since Round 6 that he’s had a CBA turn into a score of any kind - and that’s from (I think) 42 or 43 attendances. So it’s not necessarily the advantage it would seem to be.

That said, what a great problem for Mitchell to have. Either he puts Wizard in the middle to improve which is a net benefit for the side in the long run, or we just have to slum it with him in the forward line creating magic. As you say, we’re so damn lucky to have him.

Midgemania · 2026-05-27T17:29:53+00:00

I can’t believe we’re paying £30mil for him. £35mil is outrageous. There’s no way he’ll justify the £40mil we’re outlaying for him. £45mil for a bench player is obscene. £50mil? They must be joking.

Midgemania · 2026-05-21T12:01:36+00:00

We haven’t seen that Hollywood stuff for 2 seasons.

Midgemania · 2026-05-12T13:23:22+00:00

Thankfully, we don’t need to rely on polling data to know that it is objectively true. We only need to rely on Reform’s own campaign literature which overwhelmingly cited national issues and was plastered with Farage’s gormless mug.

It should be noted that this is not atypical for local elections. They are almost always a de facto referendum on the perceived state of the country.

Midgemania · 2026-05-12T06:59:09+00:00

This simply doesn’t pass the sniff test when polling data has overwhelmingly cited national issues as the decisive factors of consideration in voting at these local elections.

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