Player Watch #29: Will Phillips [Part II] - Extends to End of 2025

[The Dingrel]

This is a tough one. The last thing I want to do is pour more petrol on this raging dumpster fire of a thread but hey, what the hell.

To the surprise of very few, the knock on Will at the club continues to be pretty much exclusively around fitness. Simply put, he is still yet to acquire the level of fitness required for an AFL Mid. That is the problem, that is the issue. In Will's defence, I have heard nothing re him not pushing himself hard enough to get his fitness up to a satisfactory level. Some may say that the proof is in the pudding gut on that front, but as boring as it sounds - and f*ck knows I have no interest in getting into an argument over injury/illness recovery timelines - the glandular has no doubt hampered him (long term) more than people may realise.

If the club is indeed shopping him around as TAO says (and it wouldn't exactly surprise me if that were true), then I would assume that the club has either decided that bringing his fitness up to the required level is either Mission Impossible, or at least A Bridge Too Far. The latter is a better film so we'll go with that.

But again, in Will's defence, for better or worse, the club has zero problem with his ability or skill level as a footballer. Although I guess for his critics that might just be further evidence of the poor standards inherent at the club. Nor do they have any problem with Will's attitude or loyalty to North or any of that good stuff. Once again, it's just his fitness.

Personally I'd chuck him another year to give it one last old college try. Dude can football and we have far more pressing deadwood to burn. That said, not really fussed however it plays out.

Give him 3 years and an EPO prescription!

 

[The Nostradamus]

Give him 2 years

Many will be gone next year before him

 

[The Dingrel]

Having had pneumonia twice and glandular fever, I can tell you for a fact your cardio is set back by years after copping that.

To this day I struggle with attaining high zone 2 and above aerobic fitness/cardio. He can only hope to turn the corner this off-season in terms of fitness.

Sorry to hear that,,,,,I had a similar experience with Covid,,,,,the week prior to catching it, cycled 600km, with quite a bit of hill training,,,,,,2 weeks after recovery, would almost black out after riding 5km on the flat or walking up a set of stairs. 3 months later went to the doctors had all sorts of blood and lung tests. All came up normal, and docs simply said, we really just don't know the long term impacts. I've only had it once back in 2020 seem to be fully fine now, but that first bout took me well over a year to get my cardio fitness back up. Combined with a couple of doses of glandular fever, could well see it taking longer.

 

[perplexed]

Blardy heck I'm getting confused, which isn't difficult. North I 'believe' haven't offered triggers, just 12 months on very reduced coin.

A take it or leave it scenario, or a no shits given scenario which ever is easier to digest.

Is it wrong, is it right, dunno but it is what it is.

Personally I can't see him taking it, which if one was to read between the lines I would suggest we hope he doesn't take it.

Probably a good way for the club to handle it, rather than simply delisting him. If he finds a home, we could get a pick upgrade out of it. The only danger is that he may sign.

 

[The acurate one]

If he takes the 12 months on base level wages I'd suggest no one else has offered anything

 

[Moti]

It’s funny/sad as we are crying out for a defensively minded, tackling machine to compliment the other mids.

Unfortunately he hasn’t been able to take that position due to his lack of aerobic capacity, even at VFL level he goes unnoticed for large periods of the game.

This question is can he become our version of Berry, Rowebottom, Drew etc.

Dunno, I hope he sticks around and has one last crack with us but I’m not fussed if he leaves.

Will's style isn't to just charge in, manic style player. He likes to attack the contest with composure and try to anticipate where the ball is and get a clean exit. Not too dissimilar to Sheez. Rowbottom etc are a lot more desperate and a style we definitely need.

 

[Psicosis]

Doesn't send a great message to members that Phillips gets 1Y on reduced coin, whilst Stephens/Fisher get 4-5Y on increased coin. Can't imagine what message that sends to the playing group.

 

[Only Forwards]

If he takes the 12 months on base level wages I'd suggest no one else has offered anything

Or he's bought in and values loyalty.

 

[Clarke is King]

Doesn't send a great message to members that Phillips gets 1Y on reduced coin, whilst Stephens/Fisher get 4-5Y on increased coin. Can't imagine what message that sends to the playing group.

Those trades are just so perplexing. Did the club really think we were going to be going so well that we'd have the PPs stripped off us? Hindsight is 20/20 but geez the length of these deals is just horrendous. It's easy to blame the old guard for some of the legacy contracts (Stevo/Tucker/Lmac) but we're still bringing in spuds on long term contracts. Scary stuff.

 

[XU1-ROO]

Just don’t know you fit Phillip & Powell into the same team

 

[Horizons_00]

My gosh he was awful on the weekend. Disappointing

 

[R00StaR]

He's a great kid id like to give every chance to, obviously it has to suit him too. But 1 year with a trigger works and beyond that even if theres no trigger perhaps we rookie list him for a few years. Keep him in the system and allow him to keep working. Beyond that he/ we and every other club would know if he's AFL standard or not. If not he'd make a good skipper for our VFL side.

 

[tazaa]

Why would Will refuse the triggers? Seems a no brainer to negotiate further employment, he can always negotiate an exit.

I assume it would be for less coin if he did.
1 year deal means he can review it again in 12 months.

Reality is if he plays well he'll get an extension on better coin and if he stinks it up he wouldn't have hit the triggers anyway.

 

[perplexed]

FFS if Will played for another side and was in the exact same position, we'd likely be looking to recruit him.

Sadly, this is true. We keep falling for the same trick with discarded first rounders.

Ahern, Bonar, Gysberts, Stevo, Polec, Hrovat, Tyson, Stephens, ...... has a single one worked?

 

[Junk yard]

He's a great kid id like to give every chance to, obviously it has to suit him too. But 1 year with a trigger works and beyond that even if theres no trigger perhaps we rookie list him for a few years. Keep him in the system and allow him to keep working. Beyond that he/ we and every other club would know if he's AFL standard or not. If not he'd make a good skipper for our VFL side.

We've got a good skipper and he's better than Will at the same role.

 

[R00StaR]

We've got a good skipper and he's better than Will at the same role.

It would be a few years off given 1 year then a couple as a rookie at least.

 

[Junk yard]

It would be a few years off given 1 year then a couple as a rookie at least.

My point being Jack is a better player than Will, there's plenty around better than Will and we'd be foolish to not upgrade him immediately.

 

[Moti]

Doesn't send a great message to members that Phillips gets 1Y on reduced coin, whilst Stephens/Fisher get 4-5Y on increased coin. Can't imagine what message that sends to the playing group.

As a member, no issue. We have such a dearth of speed, we needed to add some and amazingly, we are not a destination club. Philips is one of a number of players in a similar position.

 

[Ether]

Only place Will runs to in the off season is McDonalds.

This site really needs a facepalm emoji. It could be reserved for posters equating a player's fitness level with laziness without any inside knowledge. Wasn't Will organising extras (around handballing?) in his first or second pre-season? From all accounts, he's a dedicated trainer. Yes, of course he needs to lift his fitness. I don't see it happening in one off season, but hopefully he makes inroads.

 

[Junk yard]

This site really needs a facepalm emoji. It could be reserved for posters equating a player's fitness level with laziness without any inside knowledge. Wasn't Will organising extras (around handballing?) in his first or second pre-season? From all accounts, he's a dedicated trainer. Yes, of course he needs to lift his fitness. I don't see it happening in one off season, but hopefully he makes inroads.

Mate, his fitness is not anywhere near it. It somehow got worse, cooked from glandular or not training appropriately either way he doesn't deserve a spot on the list and that's not even addressing the lack of intensity.

 

[The acurate one]

I will add Will doesn’t use his past illnesses as an excuse. He’s too good of a fella to do that.

 

[kool kangas]

I will add Will doesn’t use his past illnesses as an excuse. He’s too good of a fella to do that.

I spoke to Will recently and while he said to me that the illnesses did hinder his fitness terribly he is only now feeling like his fitness levels are returning and with 1 more preseason will help him get to higher levels. He needs to be given another 2 year contract

 

[Swallow_Wood]

Only place Will runs to in the off season is McDonalds.

Back to making it personal, I see.

 

[justroyal]

Obviously if there is a trigger clause, there would have to be a no ‘saliva exchange’ clause

 

[El Capuano]

1 year + 1 year trigger makes the most sense to me, am definitely a fan and we need more players with his attitude