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

[Karanicolas]

That high half forward who becomes an extra mid but also an attacking option is probably the hardest position on the ground.

But the most damaging if done right. If Will frees Sheez up to play that role, then hooley Dooley.

This is the role Cam Rayner now plays so well. But would prefer Duursma to play this role as you want Sheezel in the action as much as possible.

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

This is the role Cam Rayner now plays so well. But would prefer Duursma to play this role as you want Sheezel in the action as much as possible.

Simply due to positional desperation on field, we have not yet seen Sheezel’s main strength from his u18 footy - goals scoreboard impact.

 

[The Dark]

Simply due to positional desperation on field, we have not yet seen Sheezel’s main strength from his u18 footy - goals scoreboard impact.

Yeah this. Also goal assists

 

[chubbspeterson]

Hope so; he blanketed Daicos and then well the rest is you know…

He's finally had a clear run at it (knock on wood), been able to get himself in great shape.
Sounds like the poor guy hasn't had that much luck with his health, even the end of season 2024.

 

[Arthur Cloke]

I think Will Phill needs to concentrate on the small forward role. His midfield days are gone.

Only problem is he is competing with Konstanty, Hansen Jr, Paine and Harvey.

 

[Ashley B]

Would be good to see Will cement his spot in the team . We have more depth so it will be harder for him. Big Al sees him as a midfielder but he is down the order. Small forward or small defender perhaps .

 

[Moti]

Would be good to see Will cement his spot in the team . We have more depth so it will be harder for him. Big Al sees him as a midfielder but he is down the order. Small forward or small defender perhaps

It is a tough discussion considering he has barely been out of the centre square. While Tom Powell has played all over the place, Will has been a prime mid and that's about it. It wouldn't be a bad thing to have him play a different role in the VFL for a month but I am sure he would hate that after 5 years and on a one year contract.

 

[Ashley B]

I really think he can be part of the seniors going forward . Our list is finally looking better so having players of Will’s ilk in the reserves is somewhat of a positive. But he is unlikely to stay if he is just a back up .

 

[Disco Dew]

Only problem is he is competing with Konstanty, Hansen Jr, Paine and Harvey.

This is a pisstake yeah?

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

This is a pisstake yeah?

Arthur has run with this joke at least twice in the 24 hours. I laughed out loud on both occasions.

 

[Dinkers]

Should be our next Captain, I rate him highly. It's a real issue at our club that the young champions aren't given much of a go. We'd prefer to play hacks like Zurhaar and Simpkin.

I hear some say but Phillips can't get the ball at VFL level, he's tagging someone is my answer, selfless in his approach to ensuring we are successful.

 

[chubbspeterson]

Should be our next Captain, I rate him highly. It's a real issue at our club that the young champions aren't given much of a go. We'd prefer to play hacks like Zurhaar and Simpkin.

I hear some say but Phillips can't get the ball at VFL level, he's tagging someone is my answer, selfless in his approach to ensuring we are successful.

Is that you TAO?

 

[hotchilli]

Should be our next Captain, I rate him highly. It's a real issue at our club that the young champions aren't given much of a go. We'd prefer to play hacks like Zurhaar and Simpkin.

I hear some say but Phillips can't get the ball at VFL level, he's tagging someone is my answer, selfless in his approach to ensuring we are successful.

He’s not even guaranteed to be in the AFL next year but yes next captain…

 

[Amicalola]

I think Will can cement himself in the 22.

It's all about rotations.

I think our 'core' midfield rotation will be: LDU, Wardlaw, Powell, and Phillips.

I think our 'midfield/forward' rotation will be: Sheezel, Parker, Simpkin, and Zurhaar

(I have McKercher solidly as a wing/HBF type this year, and Duursma solidly as a forward/HFF, which is why neither are listed above)

We played Curtis a little bit in the midfield as well, which I don't hate as a 'break glass' option. Not sure if I prefer him or Zurhaar there.

 

[lockheed]

We played Curtis a little bit in the midfield as well, which I don't hate as a 'break glass' option. Not sure if I prefer him or Zurhaar there.

Why not use both, depending on the game situation or as a way to bring them into the game if they're struggling

 

[Moti]

Why not use both, depending on the game situation or as a way to bring them into the game if they're struggling

In 2023 Zurhaar had the highest percentage if clearances per attendances for us. Not sure why we didn't;t pul the trigger more last year when things went pear shaped.

 

[DuckYeah]

In 2023 Zurhaar had the highest percentage if clearances per attendances for us. Not sure why we didn't;t pul the trigger more last year when things went pear shaped.

Because he doesn’t chase. One way runner, flat track bully. Im almost done with Cam. He has 2025 to prove the footy world wrong and show the club some reason for the $$$

 

[shintemaster]

We played Curtis a little bit in the midfield as well, which I don't hate as a 'break glass' option. Not sure if I prefer him or Zurhaar there.

If I had to choose I'd be Curtis upfield, just think he's more dynamic with the ball to a leading player.

 

[The Brady Bunch]

In 2023 Zurhaar had the highest percentage if clearances per attendances for us. Not sure why we didn't;t pul the trigger more last year when things went pear shaped.

You have to appreciate that there are specific roles that the 3 midfielders assume at centre clearances - one player is the clearance target, one is a blocker for that player and the third is a sweeper out the back playing a defensive role to prevent the other mob from running away with it, then consider that it's necessary to mix up those roles a little bit to keep the opposition guessing. Whenever Zurhaar goes into centre clearance, it's clear to everyone in the stadium that he only has one role that he can play, which is the clearance target. He never plays the sweeper or the blocker. The other team is well aware of that and they can focus their defence entirely on him as well as know that our ruck will be palming towards him. On top of that, his clearances are one man efforts, he never handpasses to an outside player in a better position and more often than not bombs it inside 50. So it's all very predictable with him. You can give it a go sporadically and hope it works out but the more you do it, the less effective it will be.

 

[Sillygit]

Me after hearing the match sim reports:

 

[shintemaster]

You have to appreciate that there are specific roles that the 3 midfielders assume at centre clearances - one player is the clearance target, one is a blocker for that player and the third is a sweeper out the back playing a defensive role to prevent the other mob from running away with it, then consider that it's necessary to mix up those roles a little bit to keep the opposition guessing. Whenever Zurhaar goes into centre clearance, it's clear to everyone in the stadium that he only has one role that he can play, which is the clearance target. He never plays the sweeper or the blocker. The other team is well aware of that and they can focus their defence entirely on him as well as know that our ruck will be palming towards him. On top of that, his clearances are one man efforts, he never handpasses to an outside player in a better position and more often than not bombs it inside 50. So it's all very predictable with him. You can give it a go sporadically and hope it works out but the more you do it, the less effective it will be.

Agree.

I reckon Zurhaar is a break glass in a final type of move. Game is slipping away, nothing else working.

 

[Fish Sticks]

I have recently become a WP doubter, but was glad he got another year after the price we paid for him & his obvious talent which seen him taken so high in the draft.

I thought he looked really good in match sims I seen last pre-season & thought he’d have a good year to cement his place in the team.
It didn’t turn out that way obviously.

This pre-season he does look much fitter. He covered the ground well today & won plenty of centre clearances.
The part I loved most today was him being proactive at stoppages - he was looking to read the tap & running through the stoppage to gather the ball on the move.
I’ve been critical of him doing just the opposite in the past, whether this was a coaching directive or not.
It will be interesting to see how our midfield mix looks when we have some real opposition to play, but I hope he gets a chance to cement a place early on.

 

[ansonholt]

I feel like, for some reason, he has in the past thought of himself as not as good as the other mids picked just before or just after him. Now he's playing like he remembered he's a top 5 pick, just like LDU and Harry and George. He seems to be playing that way. At least on what I saw today. Let's see how things pan out from here over the next few weeks. If he keeps going the way he's going, he will be a lock for round 1. Not sure where that leaves everyone else, but geez, getting a ton of clearances and hitting targets is a nice way to go about it.

 

[lockheed]

Or maybe wiphi has just needed all of this time to recover from his bouts of glandular fever. That alone would be a huge boost to his confidence.

 

[SunnyBoner]

Or maybe wiphi has just needed all of this time to recover from his bouts of glandular fever. That alone would be a huge boost to his confidence.

This x100.