The AFL great Hawks youngster should model his game on

Hawthorn young gun Nick Watson should model his game on that of North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey.

That is the opinion of Kane Cornes who is an unabashed fan of the diminutive Hawks small forward after he dazzled in his debut season in 2024.

Watson, ‘The Wizard’, provided plenty of highlights during his 18 games plus two finals which resulted in 25 goals, but there could yet be much more substance to his game in time.

Cornes wants to see Watson add some midfield craft to his toolbelt which would further enhance his goal-kicking nous, his party tricks and his ability to take a hanger like he did at training this week.

“When he first came in I thought, ‘Geez, he’s small for a high draft pick’,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.

“So what’s his ceiling? What can he be?

“The best comparison is ‘Boomer’ Harvey. That’s the player he should be modelling himself on.

“This could sound extreme, but he’s probably got a couple more tricks in the trick-bag than Boomer Harvey did, albeit I think Boomer had more midfield craft than Watson does right now.

“I reckon his engine is fine. Watch him live, his work rate, his engine, his speed and repeat speed, his second efforts, there’s no issue physically. It’s more about can he go into a centre bounce at that size and compete with the high midfielders we’ve got now?

“That will be the challenge for him.”

175cm Harvey, the AFL games record holder with 432, played just one game in his debut season back in 1996 before taking giant strides in 1997.

Given Watson surpassed Boomer’s early numbers in his rookie year, Cornes believes the 19-year-old has a very good base to work from with potential midfield minutes on his agenda in the future.

“In his first proper year he (Harvey) played 17 games, he kicked 10.8, he had 159 touches, in a different era of course,” he added.

“‘The Wizard’ kicked 25.27, he had 195 disposals, 45 tackles. He’s set up to be more than a small forward is what I’m trying to tell you.

“He’s set up to be a damaging centre-forward player who spends time in the modified who loses his direct match-up when he comes up the ground. He’s so smart front and centre, we saw the goal he kicked in the final against Port Adelaide late.

“He wants the moment, he owns the moment, he’s not afraid of any of that. If he starts sitting on heads and he’s good overhead…

“I don’t know if I’ve ever been more excited about a young player.”

The 25 goals Watson kicked last season ranked equal sixth at the Hawks alongside fellow first-year forward Calsher Dear. He also produced 21 tackles inside 50 which ranked fifth and had 5.6 score involvements per game, also ranking fifth.

Watson and the Hawks will be in action against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium in an unofficial practice match on February 17 before taking on the Western Bulldogs at UTAS Stadium in the AAMI Community Series on February 27.

They commence their 2025 season against Sydney at the SCG in Opening Round on March 7.