Will Essendon have the chance to draft Northern Knights forward Nate Caddy?
That was the question posed to AFL draft expert Cal Twomey as the Bombers assess their options with pick number nine in this month’s National Draft.
As things sit, Caddy is rated at number eight in Twomey’s Phantom Form Guide on AFL.com.au with the 18-year-old impressing at the draft combine.
Caddy stands at 193cm and has the ability to play as a power forward and potentially through the midfield.
Twomey thinks a few things will have to go Essendon’s way for Caddy to still be on the draft board at number nine with Melbourne, GWS and Geelong also in play for the forward at picks six, seven and eight respectively.
“A few 50-50s have to go their way for him (Caddy) to be available there (pick 9),” Twomey said on AFL.com.au’s Gettable.
“I think he has to get past the Demons and obviously the Giants could be considering him or Caleb Windsor.
“Then of course the Cats I think would be considering him, Connor O’Sullivan and also Darcy Wilson.
“A few things have to go their way for the Bombers to be able to choose from Nate Caddy but he’s in the mix I think for them with a number of other guys.”
Twomey named a few other prospects that he expects Essendon to consider with their pick with Connor O’Sullivan (10), Caleb Windsor (11), Darcy Wilson (15) and Riley Hardeman (18) all highly rated in his form guide.
“Caleb Windsor is a wingman, Connor O’Sullivan is a key back, Darcy Wilson is a bit of a wingman/half forward and then Riley Hardeman is probably around that mark,” Twomey said.
“He (Hardeman) is maybe just a little bit towards the back end of that pack, but we know Hardeman’s skills off the half-back flank (are impressive), he’s an overhead marker and a really good player on that front.
“He’s one that might be a little bit of a surprise that he’s in that mix, but he wouldn’t be far away for the Bombers if it did go that way.
“Nate Caddy though for me is a really good fit if he does get there.”
Essendon heads to the 2023 Draft with picks 9, 31, 35, 61 and 88.
The first-round of the National Draft is set for Monday, November 20.