Nick Watson might be the most watchable player in the AFL right now, and according to Kane Cornes, he could be the most watchable player since the turn of the century.

The 21-year-old Hawk absolutely blitzed the Cats in an Easter Monday classic, booting three magnificent goals to help his side over the line by just a singular point.

Averaging 16 disposals and 2.5 goals per game across 2026 so far, the 47-gamer has already established himself as one of the game's premier small forwards.

And Cornes simply cannot get enough.

“I was watching the Wizard (on Monday), and I just cannot take my eyes off him,” Cornes told SEN Locked In.

“I don’t think I’ve loved a player more since Tony Modra.

“It is a big call. I don’t think I’ve loved a footballer more. Genuine, 12-year-old love for Tony Modra. He was everything.

“The Wizard… geez he is right up there for me.”

Tom Morris added: “He is the most watchable player in the competition for me as well,”

“You cannot stop watching him, and because he is so different because of his size, it’s unreal. I’m completely with you.

“He is at the opposition, he is at the crowd, his social media presence… I love everything about him.”

Cornes: “I thought he was amazing (against the Cats), dealing with a tag and kicked three match-winning goals in the end.”

Morris: “He is going to have games where he kicks 9.7 like Buddy when he’s a bit older.

“He is going to have games where he just completely turns it on, and it’s the Wizard show.”

Watson was taken in a stacked 2023 draft, headlined by generational talent Harley Reid. In a draft stocked with talent all the way down to Geelong's Lawson Humphries at Pick 63, Watson could be the best yet.

However, he very nearly landed at the Western Bulldogs.

“Pick 5 in the draft, Ryley Sanders Pick 6,” Morris continued.

“The Western Bulldogs traded to get up – they wanted Nick Watson, the Dogs. They were desperate to get him, and they thought they were going to be able to get him at Pick 6, and Hawthorn swooped and picked him up at Pick 5.

“I remember listening to Cal Twomey and others going, ‘That’s a bit of a risk. Not many small forwards are taken at Pick 5, he’s tiny!’.

“(That draft held) Harley Reid, Colby McKercher, Jed Walter – out of contract, Zane Duursma – athletic profile, but hasn’t quite nailed it at North. Nick Watson is next.

“He could be in the best couple of players in that draft.”

Cornes: “Where does he end up? Can he be what Kozzy (Pickett) has done?

“They started pretty similarly, and now he goes into centre bounce in crunch time. He was in for a centre bounce when they had to win that game.

“The turnaround kick that he passed off to Gunston on the lead… I thought, ‘geez, you’re pretty happy to have him up the ground as well’.

“Hawks fans, you are in for a real treat, watching this guy for the next 12 years.”

Wizard Watson and the Hawks take on the Bulldogs this Saturday night in a blockbuster Gather Round clash.