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Running It Straight: 6pm TuesdaysThe six young stars Garry and Tim are "claiming" in 2026
SEN • March 3rd, 2026 11:42 am
Garry Lyon and Tim Watson have each named the three players they’re ‘claiming’ ahead of the 2026 season.
The SEN Breakfast hosts called their segment the G3 & T3, and Lyon prefaced the selection criteria for each of their three picks.
“Let’s do the G3 and the T3,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.
“We've watched the Community Series, who are the three players that you've fallen in love with? You can claim them as yours for the next year, which is 2026.
“You can't have an All-Australian, because they've already been found, but you can have someone that has maybe bounced into the competition in the last year or two that you think is going to go to another level.
“These are ones we fell in love with.”
With that in mind, check out the duo’s picks below.
Garry’s G3
Nick Watson – Hawthorn
“I fell in love with Nick Watson,” Lyon said.
“Cal Twomey first told us about Nick Watson when he was playing in the under 18s and he's come in and he's been great.
“Against the Western Bulldogs, I know it was a Community Series game, but the things he did… along with Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and a couple of others, he would be the hardest match-up in footy.
“He hits everything at full pace, he can stand on your head and take a mark, he can go into the middle and be a real dangerous threat through there and we know his goal kicking capability.
“So, he's one of the G3 this year. 40+ goals and playing good midfield minutes, I think that’s what he’s capable of.”
Logan Morris – Brisbane
“Second is Logan Morris. He's only 20 years of age,” Lyon said.
“He's been the centre half-forward in the last two premiership teams.
“I talk about Will Ashcroft all the time, what he's achieved, and Logan Morris is doing some crazy stuff as well. He kicked another four on the weekend.
“He just presents and he just keeps getting the job done, he could be in the All-Australian team by the end of the year.”
Alix Tauru – St Kilda
“I can fall in love really quickly with players, but Alix Tauru, every time I watch St Kilda play (I love him).
“I don't know whether it's his blonde hair or it's the way he plays (but he is eye-catching). He’s just got some fearless courage, he just goes for everything, he's never going to die wondering.
“I'm putting him in. It'll be a massive stretch for him at the end of the year (to be All-Australian), so I'm not suggesting that, but he's a speculative buy for me.
“I think he's going to be an absolute star, Alix Tauru. I love watching him play footy.”
Tim’s T3
Murphy Reid (Fremantle)
“It was impossible to miss this bloke on the weekend. He was the best first year player last year, so it's not like he's somebody that's not already alerted everybody,” Watson said.
“I wasn’t amazed, but I was astounded by how good he was going further up the field.
“Every time Murphy Reid went near the ball, it looked like something was going to happen.
“The great players of this game stand out because they see things quicker than everybody else, they sum it up quicker than everybody else, they understand if it's a slow play, they understand if it's a quick play, they see people out of the corner of their eye, they make the right decision under pressure.
“He is a star player.”
Mitch Georgiades (Port Adelaide)
“I've gone for a forward too because I haven't rated this guy as highly as maybe some others did over the journey, and he's been a good player without being a great player.
“But I watched him in the State of Origin game playing for WA and I thought, ‘This bloke has been their best player in the forward line’. It’s Mitch Georgiades.
“Sometimes the penny drops with a player, they've always had ability coming through the ranks, but maybe they haven't had the confidence to believe totally.
“I reckon he's got that got to that point in his career now, where there's sort of like an aggression about him that wasn't apparent earlier in his career, and a desire to want to compete and be in the game more as a forward.
“I reckon he's reached that stage.”
Josh Weddle (Hawthorn)
“My third one is, Josh Weddle.
“He's an extraordinary player, and we saw that during the final series last year and through part of last year as well.
“His ability to go and play in so many different positions just means that he can be in the game always, whether that’s as a forward, as a back or even in the midfield as well.
“He moves the ball really quickly across ground, he can run, he can take ground, he can also jump, he can compete forward and back… and I think it hasn't necessarily all come together completely for him yet.
“But I think this year will be the year it does.
“I can see him as an All-Australian by the end of the year.”
