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

[Chadwiko]

Or maybe wiphi has just needed all of this time to recover from his bouts of glandular fever.

Like multiple people said would be the case.

That shit is serious. Professional athletes condition their bodies to the absolute peak of their abilities. Having such a major setback in terms of your basic aerobic and cardiovascular stamina (as opposed to a broken bone or torn ligament) takes a long ass time to recover from and get back to 100%.

People forget that Phillips is young. He's younger than Comben and Powell.

 

[Liam Boy]

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 idea has been mocked so much that people have totally armoured themselves against it as a legitimate point; but it is. it clearly ****ed him up. fitness has always been his problem since it happened.

 

[the big lebowski]

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.

100% on him being proactive

That’s part of what has been holding him back I feel. Getting in his own head rather than trying to win the footy

 

[kool kangas]

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.

l have been saying this for a few seasons ..Now is the time he proves me right or not..

 

[Reagan Smash]

Like multiple people said would be the case.

That shit is serious. Professional athletes condition their bodies to the absolute peak of their abilities. Having such a major setback in terms of your basic aerobic and cardiovascular stamina (as opposed to a broken bone or torn ligament) takes a long ass time to recover from and get back to 100%.

People forget that Phillips is young. He's younger than Comben and Powell.

Powell was born in March 2002
Philips in May 2002

 

[Chadwiko]

Powell was born in March 2002
Philips in May 2002

So Phillips is younger. Which is what I said.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

 

[Dinkers]

Will reminds of Dustin Hoffman minus the Trump like complexion, in the way he goes about his business. Just what we need, not an insult but a compliment.

 

[Daniltchenko You Beauty]

I'm loving the positivity around Will as he just seems like a ripping kid who puts everything in.

Have we seen any signs of him working on becoming a half-forward as a secondary role this off-season? It just feels like it's going to be even tougher to get into the midfield with Parker on board.

 

[Fish Sticks]

I'm loving the positivity around Will as he just seems like a ripping kid who puts everything in.

Have we seen any signs of him working on becoming a half-forward as a secondary role this off-season? It just feels like it's going to be even tougher to get into the midfield with Parker on board.

From what I seen, he played exclusively as mid today, when most other mids had periods of resting forward.
Even LDU went to FF at one stage today & Lmac was giving him shit saying he’d have to take a pay cut if he plays forward

 

[DuckYeah]

From what I seen, he played exclusively as mid today, when most other mids had periods of resting forward.
Even LDU went to FF at one stage today & Lmac was giving him shit saying he’d have to take a pay cut if he plays forward

happy meal, stop talking, dont give the bloke a reason to walk. Goose.

 

[LETSGOKANGAS]

My 9 year old son copped glandular fever late last year. 10 days of fever, in and out of the dolphin ward at the childrens. Sleeping all day. No energy.

Scary shit.

Docs said he could end up with chronic fatigue. Had to ease back into the classroom.

And its way worse for teens and adults to overcome. So very promising to read Philips is getting around the ground.

 

[krakouers]

My 9 year old son copped glandular fever late last year. 10 days of fever, in and out of the dolphin ward at the childrens. Sleeping all day. No energy.

Scary shit.

Docs said he could end up with chronic fatigue. Had to ease back into the classroom.

And its way worse for teens and adults to overcome. So very promising to read Philips is getting around the ground.

Hope he is doing better

 

[LETSGOKANGAS]

Hope he is doing better

Thanks all good thankfully no chronic fatigue. Was good as gold after a month.

Opened my eyes to how seriously shit glandular fever can be.

 

[Zondor]

Daniel McConnell became a top 50 player of the AFL and he had Glandular Fever so enough of the excuses. :stern look

 

[Chip Scab1]

Daniel McConnell became a top 50 player of the AFL and he had Glandular Fever so enough of the excuses. :stern look

Must have been before we picked him up.

We wasted a decent pick on Big Shorts (from memory, I seem to recall he was a larger short wearer than required size) McConnell.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Must have been before we picked him up.

We wasted a decent pick on Big Shorts (from memory, I seem to recall he was a larger short wearer than required size) McConnell.

He was taken at Pick 26 and we traded..

checks notes

Pick 13 AND 29 two years later.

 

[The Brady Bunch]

I'm loving the positivity around Will as he just seems like a ripping kid who puts everything in.

Have we seen any signs of him working on becoming a half-forward as a secondary role this off-season? It just feels like it's going to be even tougher to get into the midfield with Parker on board.

Daniel McConnell became a top 50 player of the AFL and he had Glandular Fever so enough of the excuses. :stern look

Just in case people were getting too enthusiastic about Will's preseason, in comes Debbie Downer.

 

[Chip Scab1]

He was taken at Pick 26 and we traded..

checks notes

Pick 13 AND 29 two years later.

Compared to the Jono Hay trade, it was super value.

We have been put through a lot by these turnips, haven't we?

I'm flat to the board, it has to turn soon. Surely....

 

[Sillygit]

Daniel McConnell became a top 50 player of the AFL and he had Glandular Fever so enough of the excuses. :stern look

 

[The Brady Bunch]

Yeah true but more importantly, anything to change the topic from "Will Phillips appears to be having a strong pre-season" because that would be anathema to old Captain Bringdown.

 

[ferball]

Daniel McConnell became a top 50 player of the AFL and he had Glandular Fever so enough of the excuses. :stern look

I thought he became a pub.

 

[Chip Scab1]

Yeah true but more importantly, anything to change the topic from "Will Phillips appears to be having a strong pre-season" because that would be anathema to old Captain Bringdown.

Might be the case but we should wait at least until he beats up on opposition that isn't (worst team in AFL History) us before engaging in circle jerks and "I told you so's". I doubt anyone would want him to do badly, in fact I'm positive that any North fan would rather he be bloody good and for us to win a few games, than be right.

Surely.

 

[Sillygit]

Might be the case but we should wait at least until he beats up on opposition that isn't (worst team in AFL History) us before engaging in circle jerks and "I told you so's". I doubt anyone would want him to do badly, in fact I'm positive that any North fan would rather he be bloody good and for us to win a few games, than be right.

Surely.

well we should consult the highest contributer to this thread to see what- oh...

 

[The Brady Bunch]

Might be the case but we should wait at least until he beats up on opposition that isn't (worst team in AFL History) us before engaging in circle jerks and "I told you so's". I doubt anyone would want him to do badly, in fact I'm positive that any North fan would rather he be bloody good and for us to win a few games, than be right.

Surely.

Oh I have absolutely no doubt there are one or two people who post on here regularly who would much prefer to be right than to win a few games. It's sad and frankly neurotic but it's the way they choose to be.

I also don't think anyone is doing "I told you so" just yet. All that I'm reading here is a sense of encouragement with perhaps a little relief and hope based around the clear indications that Will has returned in ripping nick and has taken on board the directive to get in the gym and build size and strength. Everyone is aware that he is in a contract year and is fighting for his career. It's still an uphill battle for the bloke but anyone who doesn't wish the very best for him is an arse.