He’s a villain after just seven games. But this young Hawk will be a star

Hawthorn need new heroes. Nick Watson, “The Wizard”, appears to have answered that call in just seven games, providing an exciting glimpse of what’s to come as the Hawks continue to rise.

The electrifying small forward has become much more than just a poster boy at Hawthorn. He’s also a polarising character – opposition fans already love to hate him.

Hawthorn’s Nick Watson motions to shush the Richmond crowd after kicking a goal in Dustin Martin’s 300th game, and (right) in celebration mode.Credit: Getty Images

So much is jammed into this small package. Watson has a confident demeanour, bold goal celebrations – such as shushing the Richmond fans after a goal at the MCG last Saturday – and he challenges umpires with the questionable tactic of milking high free kicks.

This has made Watson a villain.

It is a title Watson should embrace. It is precisely what will endear him to Hawthorn fans, who have been so eager for a player with such flair and character to emerge since Lance Franklin left for Sydney in 2013 and Cyril Rioli retired in 2018.

Watson copped the wrath of the Tiger Army after he posted a now-deleted Instagram story post-match on Saturday.

The picture showed him alongside teammates Connor MacDonald and Jack Ginnivan with the caption, “F--- that. CJ 50th. H8 me”.

Tigers fans thought it was a dig at Dustin Martin, who had just played his 300th game. It turns out it wasn’t; Watson was apparently being self-deprecating about his inaccuracy in front of goal.

Examples like this show he is going to be a lightning rod for criticism. There will be a target on his back throughout his career.

Standing at just 170 centimetres tall, Watson needed to be special to be called at No.5 in last year’s national draft.

Watching him live, it is striking how small he appears against his opponents. But his presence on the field is anything but small.

His competitiveness and attack on the ball is impressive.

Watson flies in a marking contest against Richmond.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

His fight against bigger opponents – to not be outmarked and to bring the ball to ground – is something you can’t teach.

But then there are the glimpses of his brilliance; his front-and-square crumbing and the electric speed he showed to burn off an opponent on the outer wing of the MCG in the first quarter against Richmond would have had Hawthorn fans believing their wish for a new hero had been granted.

After spending the two previous games in the VFL, this contest was a signal that Watson should never play VFL football again.

He recorded 13 disposals, one goal (four behinds), three marks, three tackles, eight score involvements, and three inside 50s against Richmond – the most powerful of the seven games he has played at senior level.

Those numbers would have been more impressive had he kicked accurately.

Watson’s conversion is an issue, with five goals and 15 behinds in his first seven matches. Critics are quick to point this out, but this statistic underscores a different story: his impressive ability to find opportunities.

If he had converted some of those behinds into goals to have his tally read 15 goals, five behinds, he would be one of the favourites to win this year’s Rising Star award.

Watson needs to address the technical flaw where he darts out to the right when kicking a set shot.

This will take discipline and the right coaching, but the fact that he can create so many chances in his debut season is evidence of his brilliance.

As Watson becomes more comfortable at AFL level, his accuracy will undoubtedly improve. His teammates and those who played with him at junior level say it is uncharacteristic of him to be this wayward. It will correct itself, so don’t be surprised if he jags a bag of four or five before the season ends.

At his height, Watson will face adversity as a small forward. But his potential should take him to other roles.

He should look to model his game on North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey, the AFL games record holder who, despite being slightly taller, became a dangerous goal-kicking midfielder.

Harvey’s speed, endurance, competitiveness and goal sense made him one of the most formidable players of his generation.

Watson possesses similar attributes and can evolve into a versatile player, using his speed, agility, ground-ball attributes and football smarts to influence the game from various points on the field.

At 170 centimetres tall, diminutive Hawthorn youngster Nick Watson (left) should model his game on AFL games record-holder Brent Harvey (right), a North Melbourne great who stands about five centimetres taller than him.Credit: AFL Photos/John Donegan

Hawthorn have been largely irrelevant for the past two seasons, as noted by the AFL shunning the club when fixturing prime-time games. In the past two seasons the Hawks have not played on a
Thursday or Friday night, and they are usually shunted to one of the Sunday fixtures.

This is about to change. The Hawks are relevant again.

Under impressive coach Sam Mitchell, Hawthorn are playing as attractive and dynamic football as any of the 18 teams.

The arrival of Watson and some of his young teammates has created a dramatic turnaround.

“The Wizard” is set to bring Hawthorn supporters back through the gates in droves. He is a drawcard, and replicas of his No.34 guernsey are already flying off the shelves.

There will be questions about how Watson copes as opponents become more wary of his game and umpires wake up to his ability to draw free kicks; a theme that already has opposition fans directing venomous boos his way.

As he matures, Watson is poised to become a major star. He should embrace his role as the opposition enemy because in time he is going to cause them major headaches.

Hawthorn are protecting Watson through his first year, conscious not to put a target on his back. As a result, he has rarely appeared in a scheduled media appearance. But in time he will become one of the most marketable sports stars in the country.

Hawthorn may have uncovered the next “Boomer” Harvey.

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