KFC SuperFooty TV: Michael Warner, Jay Clark, Jack Watts on the big footy issues of the week

Five of Victoria’s biggest clubs are in the bottom seven teams on the ladder. Who will be climbing into contention first? Watch KFC SuperFooty TV and vote.

The AFL ladder after nine rounds doesn’t make pretty reading for some of the biggest Victorian clubs.

Collingwood, Hawthorn and North Melbourne make up the bottom three and Essendon and Carlton are 12th and 13th.

WATCH A NEW EPISODE OF KFC SUPERFOOTY TV ABOVE

Those clubs are at different stages of their talent cycle, but which is most likely to jump into premiership calculations in the near future?

Former No.1 draft pick Jack Watts is on the Bombers bandwagon.

“I love those young blokes, so I think they’re looking to a pretty bright future,” he said on this week’s episode of KFC SuperFooty TV.

Co-host Jay Clark is also bullish on Essendon, and he has some serious concerns about one of the Bombers’ traditional rivals.

“They (Essendon) have got young superstars — (Archie) Perkins, (Zach) Reid, (Nik) Cox,” he said.

“If (Zach) Merrett leaves this year it’s not a disaster. They get a first-round pick, they’re going to finish bottom four, so they get picks 4 and 5, that’s another two high-end talents, so I think you see the clear direction for the football club.

Exciting Essendon draftee Archie Perkins.

Young Hawks midfielder James Worpel. Picture: Michael Klein

“This could be the most extraordinary stat in football at the moment. Hawthorn, with an engine room of Worpel, O’Meara, Wingard, Mitchell, McEvoy, Shiels ... they are last for centre clearances, last for clearances, and last for time in back half.

“You look at some of the other clubs — North Melbourne has (Luke) Davies-Uniacke, Tarryn Thomas, (Tom) Powell — they’re going to get a lot better. Where is the Hawthorn engine room getting a lot better?”

The panel also discussed Nathan Buckley’s future, top mid-season draft prospects, dealing with goalkicking yips, and Watts’ stunning painkilling jabs revelation.