Player Watch #29: Will Phillips [Part II]

[Blightys Barrel]

Just watched him the 2nds and it was a very good game. When it tight at the end he was in the middle with Hughie and Lazz to ice it. Really great talker on and off the field and seems like a terrific team mate. A sign of our strength and depth that he is running around in the 2nds.

 

[Sillygit]

Last year was his third year and the second year he played. His stats are very similar to Cunners third year. He had a streak in the middle of last year where he averaged over 20, had over 10 contested every game and averaged over five clearances and three or four tackles a game. That was around 20-30 games into his career.

He's gone backwards a bit this year but so did Powell after an equivalent period of games. He looks like he lacks energy this year. Has moments where he shows what he had in his first year and highlights but struggles. i think he;'s still getting healthy after his illness issues. A few of us have seen mates with glandular fever really struggle for years afterward and I think is the case with him.

He's definitely not shithouse but he is struggling this season and the midfield is stacked. I'd give him two years anyway because even if he ends up behind everyone else he'll still be good enough to get a half decent trade.

plus, you know, we don't want it to happen but injuries do happen. even a knock at training. that doesn't mean he is ONLY depth, he still attempts to get better in the 2's and take opportunities as they come. Like say if one of our young stacked midfield also needs a run in the 2's for form or injury recovery.

 

[Chadwiko]

Absolutely missing his defensive work around the stoppage today.

Was a silly decision to drop him against the best midfield in the AFL.

 

[tazaa]

Crazy to let Warner run around on his own.
Absolutely stupid.
Freo and Saints ran the tag and got the win.
And we’re getting belted by 7 goals at half time.

 

[Spud11]

This one’s squarely on you, Clarko.

 

[amaz199]

poor decision to drop him knowing Warner melts whenever he's under pressure.

 

[Midas]

Insane having no defensive structure - Powell, Simpkin, Wardlaw, LDU, Sheezel at stoppages against a high octane oppo - too high risk.

Something in the balance when he’s be in there that’s kept us competitive -
Same last year when he had his good patch.

 

[tazaa]

“No one tags anymore bro”

Hayden Young

26

Hayden Young

Age

23

Ht

189cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

3.2

3star

T

1.4

3star

MG

160.0

3star

D

10.0

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.4

2star

M

3.2

3star

T

1.4

2star

MG

160.0

3star

D

10.0

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

3.2

4star

T

1.4

4star

MG

160.0

3star

and Windhager helped their sides beat this mob and we decide we’re good enough to go head to head.

Brain dead decision.

 

[Horizons_00]

We leaked like a sieve in the middle

Having Will out I reckon threw the balance out

 

[swaeney]

Missed him today. I don’t care what anyone says, we need a defensive mid and he is it.

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Offers a lot more than Shiels so he may as well play out the rest of the year.

 

[My Left Foote]

Offers a lot more than Shiels so he may as well play out the rest of the year.

Baffling decision to drop him, I guess Clarko has his favourites and Shiels is one of them.

 

[The acurate one]

Crazy to let Warner run around on his own.
Absolutely stupid.
Freo and Saints ran the tag and got the win.
And we’re getting belted by 7 goals at half time.

I can tell you they gave thought to Scott doing it or Simpkin, the clubs collective decision was that Wil couldn't have done it.

Hence why he didn't get the opportunity to do so. Those at club land are a lot closer to knowing a players capabilities than we mug punters are.

 

[Sillygit]

I can tell you they gave thought to Scott doing it or Simpkin, the clubs collective decision was that Wil couldn't have done it.

Hence why he didn't get the opportunity to do so. Those at club land are a lot closer to knowing a players capabilities than we mug punters are.

yes, today was a clear correct decision on all accounts...

 

[The acurate one]

yes, today was a clear correct decision on all accounts...

I'm sure the club knows where we are at, and what we need to do to continue to improve.

 

[Horizons_00]

I can tell you they gave thought to Scott doing it or Simpkin, the clubs collective decision was that Wil couldn't have done it.

Hence why he didn't get the opportunity to do so. Those at club land are a lot closer to knowing a players capabilities than we mug punters are.

Shiels had 5 disposals and subbed out
Playing him at that tagging role instead of Will was a awful decision

 

[Sillygit]

I'm sure the club knows where we are at, and what we need to do to continue to improve.

I'm sure they have a collective idea, individual ideas based on expertise and runs on the board. Today we were soundly beaten on all fronts. So today's ideas were largely if not totally incorrect. And that doesn't mean they'll be incorrect every week, we played the top team today and we're a bottom 4 team. May work against lesser teams. But given the past month compared to today, there's ample room for argument that Will could have improved the team.

 

[amaz199]

When we've got someone defensively accountable in Phillips, you know what that does? It releases LDU. It frees up our midfield.

We lost this in the midfield. On a ground that relies on defensive pressure in the middle, we chose the worst time to go 1v1.

Not everyone can be two way runners. This is why guys like Phillips are so crucial.

Play him or Shiels. Call it.

 

[Passmore]

I'm sure the club knows where we are at, and what we need to do to continue to improve.

Well I’m shocked…..

 

[Passmore]

I can tell you they gave thought to Scott doing it or Simpkin, the clubs collective decision was that Wil couldn't have done it.

Hence why he didn't get the opportunity to do so. Those at club land are a lot closer to knowing a players capabilities than we mug punters are.

Lazzaro would have had more chance than Phillips of keeping up with Warner. It’s hardly rocket science.

 

[koshari]

Lazzaro would have had more chance than Phillips of keeping up with Warner. It’s hardly rocket science.

Whats the realistic ceiling for laz? 2 seasons as a role player in his beat 26 to 27 age like ryan Clarke was at swans?

 

[The acurate one]

Lazzaro would have had more chance than Phillips of keeping up with Warner. It’s hardly rocket science.

Well around these parts it would seem to be akin to splitting Adam to make Eve or some such

 

[Passmore]

Whats the realistic ceiling for laz? 2 seasons as a role player in his beat 26 to 27 age like ryan Clarke was at swans?

Actually Ryan Clarke ain’t a bad comparison.

 

[Moti]

When we've got someone defensively accountable in Phillips, you know what that does? It releases LDU. It frees up our midfield.

We lost this in the midfield. On a ground that relies on defensive pressure in the middle, we chose the worst time to go 1v1.

Not everyone can be two way runners. This is why guys like Phillips are so crucial.

Play him or Shiels. Call it.

Are you saying Philips is a 2 way runner? We only have 1 defensive minded mid and that is Wardlaw. We need to add another quick defensive minded mid in the draft.


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[Chadwiko]

We only have 1 defensive minded mid and that is Wardlaw.

Look I love Wardlaw but I don't think he's a particularly defensive minded midfielder. And if he is, then he was pox today with only 4 tackles.

These arguments to try and keep Will Phillips out of the squad are getting ridiculous.

Indisputable fact is that the last month of footy prior today was the best our gameplan and structure has looked all season (hell, for the last 3~ seasons) and a big part of that was having Will Phillips in the team as a run-with player.

Changing that structure today was undeniably silly and we got pantsed because of it.