“He is the most watchable player in football right now”: Cornes heaps praise on Watson

Kane Cornes has waxed lyrical about the plethora of options that Hawthorn has in the small forward department.

In particular, Nick ‘The Wizard’ Watson who played an important role for the Hawks in their 26-point win against the Bombers.

Speaking on SEN’s Crunch Time, Cornes emphasised the impact the 170cm forward had on the contest.

“We speak of this cult figure and there’s the wizard caps and we call him the Wizard,” Cornes lamented.

“I think we need to recognise that he is genuinely freakish at what he is doing.

“So, yep there’s the highlights factor but how many smothers last night.

“There was a chase down smother that I think it was on (Zach) Reid before he kicked his first goal just diving from nowhere.

“He’s just going to make everyone nervous around him when the opposition have got the ball.

“And then a minute later, he bobs up; takes the marks; kicks the goal, well there’s your reward for the smother.”

Watson managed to score three goals last night which was his second equal highest goal total in a game.

However, there has been criticism about Watson's hit and miss nature given his less than stellar performance against Sydney in Opening Round.

Although Cornes was keen to reiterate his point of how watchable and good the diminutive forward is for the Hawks.

“He’s chasing his effort and off the back of last week,” Cornes said.

“I hope we don’t just speak as a cult hero like Wizard this, Wizard that. Let’s actually identify everything else that he is doing.

“This guy is seriously tough. He’s good in the air, he’s team first now, he’s finishing a lot better than what he was last year so he’s a hard worker because I know he has worked on that area of his game.

“And I think he is the most watchable player in football right now, I can’t take my eyes of him.

“For a second-year player, who’s 170cm, it’s blowing me away and I just don’t know if he is getting the credit for that because he is marketable.”

Adam Simpson was quick to remind Cornes of Watson's game against Sydney last week.

“Let’s not forget that he didn’t touch it last week.” he added.

The Hawks will feature next week on Thursday night when they take on the Blues at the MCG.