Player Watch #29: Will Phillips - tags N.Daicos vs Collingwood - subbed off at 3/4 time??

[Moti]

A lot of the better clubs seem to go with a 4-player midfield rotation of 60%+ TOG each, and another who has 30-40%TOG.

I'd have LDU, Wardlaw, Simpkin, Phillips as the best 4 right now, with Powell the 4th.

Play a high half-forward as an additional midfielder at around the ground stoppages, similar to what Gold Coast have been doing with Humphrey or Sydney with Gulden - this player can be Sheezel, Curtis, Zurhaar or Thomas.

I think we can fit them all in, but we wouldn't want to add too many more pure midfielders to the list - all the more reason to grab Nick Watson and some outside run at the end of the year.

If there is one player who gets the raw end of the pineapple I reckon it is Powell. He has had the better career to date but for some reason Philips is always put ahead of him on this board. I gather the draft year investment may have something to do with it.

 

[tenderwarrior]

Understand that point but you simply cant fit them all in to a 22. Especially when Clarko has already shown he likes to play Zurhaar through their too, and even Curtis started a game through the middle.

I think Richmond changed that approach too when they won their flags. They had 6 at most that would actually go through the middle.

Geelong last year had the most players of any club rotate through the middle, and by a long way. The two questions with Phillips is 1) can he be useful outside the centre square and 2) does he need to be?

 

[Twangler]

If there is one player who gets the raw end of the pineapple I reckon it is Powell. He has had the better career to date but for some reason Philips is always put ahead of him on this board. I gather the draft year investment may have something to do with it.

First year certainly yes. Looking at both players this year, I’d have Will slightly ahead due to better ball use/cleanliness around stoppages. Phillips is also the better pressure player this year which we sorely need.

 

[HBFlanker]

Geelong last year had the most players of any club rotate through the middle, and by a long way. The two questions with Phillips is 1) can he be useful outside the centre square and 2) does he need to be?

Very different scenario given the age of their players at Geelong, but i agree with your two other points here.

 

[HBFlanker]

You might need to start coming to terms with the fact that Ben Cunnington is much closer to the end of his career than he is to the start. Like, much, much closer.

Understand that, but he is contracted for next year, and unless he retires, will be playing and part of the midfield group.

 

[Moti]

First year certainly yes. Looking at both players this year, I’d have Will slightly ahead due to better ball use/cleanliness around stoppages. Phillips is also the better pressure player this year which we sorely need.

I don’t agree with Will being cleaner but has been better around stoppages. Having said that Powell has spent the last 12 months not being played there much which is another confusing development


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[ferball]

26 touches playing entirely in the middle in our best win of the season says otherwise

Yeah but that's the second time he's done it. He didn't have to run a tag into the ground or even deal with the opposition considering him a midfield opponent. He could be a great impact mid with 5-8 CBAs a game tho, same with Curtis.

And Sheezel to be honest. He's got that goal kicking nous that great forwards have. We could play him in the middle a bit but I'd prefer him kicking goals as well.

But what H2H, DR and a few others are saying is right - the game is changing now. You've got to be able to run and to work shit out on the run depending on where you are. Phillips can do both.

 

[ferball]

You might need to start coming to terms with the fact that Ben Cunnington is much closer to the end of his career than he is to the start. Like, much, much closer.

Our oldest long term mid is Jy.

We might not see Cunners next year. But honestly its the first time I haven't felt we'd need him next year. So I'd be sad but not devastated. he's earned his retirement and left the side in very good hands. Plus nearly every one of our young players can put on a fend. I'll bet he's taught them all that one.

 

[DuckYeah]

Our oldest long term mid is Jy.

We might not see Cunners next year. But honestly its the first time I haven't felt we'd need him next year. So I'd be sad but not devastated. he's earned his retirement and left the side in very good hands. Plus nearly every one of our young players can put on a fend. I'll bet he's taught them all that one.

Dominated V Casey. He deserves to get another call up. I wouldn’t write him off for a return with serious form. However, I do not disagree with the point. Future isn’t with him BUT is there/could there be some epic finish to his career?

 

[Hearts to hearts]

Nice that in the MMM interview today George and Harry said that in the review of the Sydney game they all looked at a centre clearance where Will took charge as the point where the team lifted after their slow start.

 

[ferball]

Understand that, but he is contracted for next year, and unless he retires, will be playing and part of the midfield group.

The year after Will Phillips will be 23. Mids from drafts earlier than him will be Jy, LDU, TT and that's about it.

 

[Themanbun]

If there is one player who gets the raw end of the pineapple I reckon it is Powell. He has had the better career to date but for some reason Philips is always put ahead of him on this board. I gather the draft year investment may have something to do with it.

Powell was by far the frontrunner on this board IMO. I remember being an outlier (along with maybe ferball ?) for my Phillips preference, and most were commenting that we got the better bloke at 13 than 3. It's only really been since the coaches more recently have played Phillips over him in the middle that others have come around.

For me Will does all the little things that allow our best 2-3 to do what they do best. Powelly seems to be another whose weapons are more obvious, which puts him behind guys like LDU, Jy, TT, Wardlaw, Sheez, with whom he is competing for that part of the midfield balance.

 

[Themanbun]

I’m the opposite, most of the really good premiership teams have about ten players capable of running through the midfield.
You get that many capable and you’ll find that can share the workload, so players will be fresher towards the end of games and aiming for the end of season. You also have flexibility during games if one piece goes down, you can have plan A, plan B or plan C fluid movement, as all players know the gameplan and role they have to play.
Something we’ve seriously missed for years.
It’s also impossible to defend against, I mean what happens if they start tagging Sheez in the back half and he moves to the midfield, TT takes his place, do they tag TT or Sheez?

I think midfielders 5-10 being capable that you mention need to be probably earning their spot based on their non midfield position. Being a flanker, for example, capable of doing ok in the midfield, rather than the other way round.

We also shouldn't presume that just because a bloke isn't playing the rest of his TOG that he'll be fresh. Flankers work just as hard as mids these days.

 

[Engimal v3]

I've been a critic, but I started to see the vision on Saturday

 

[Lomas]

Powell was by far the frontrunner on this board IMO. I remember being an outlier (along with maybe ferball ?) for my Phillips preference, and most were commenting that we got the better bloke at 13 than 3. It's only really been since the coaches more recently have played Phillips over him in the middle that others have come around.

For me Will does all the little things that allow our best 2-3 to do what they do best. Powelly seems to be another whose weapons are more obvious, which puts him behind guys like LDU, Jy, TT, Wardlaw, Sheez, with whom he is competing for that part of the midfield balance.

A lot of the initial enthusiasm was around the relief people felt at getting a decent player after the Melbourne pick drifted out.
He’s copped a fair bit since.

 

[DesertRoo]

I think midfielders 5-10 being capable that you mention need to be probably earning their spot based on their non midfield position. Being a flanker, for example, capable of doing ok in the midfield, rather than the other way round.

We also shouldn't presume that just because a bloke isn't playing the rest of his TOG that he'll be fresh. Flankers work just as hard as mids these days.

I’m also of the opinion that the best kids in the jnrs play midfield naturally. There ain’t many specialist at that age, there’s a lot of kids who play midfield at their school/local league throughout their career then off to the flank during the comps.

 

[Moti]

Powell was by far the frontrunner on this board IMO. I remember being an outlier (along with maybe ferball ?) for my Phillips preference, and most were commenting that we got the better bloke at 13 than 3. It's only really been since the coaches more recently have played Phillips over him in the middle that others have come around.

For me Will does all the little things that allow our best 2-3 to do what they do best. Powelly seems to be another whose weapons are more obvious, which puts him behind guys like LDU, Jy, TT, Wardlaw, Sheez, with whom he is competing for that part of the midfield balance.

Powell hasn't had a run in the middle like Will for at least 12 months. Will be interesting how how much time they both get because if by years end Powell is still on the outer I wouldn't be surprised if there was movement on the horizon.

 

[King Corey]

Nice that in the MMM interview today George and Harry said that in the review of the Sydney game they all looked at a centre clearance where Will took charge as the point where the team lifted after their slow start.

Phillips "ok boys, lets regroup quickly. Last few years, what do you think the team would do in this situation?"

CCJ "concede the clearance?"

George "not watch an opponent?"

Harry "win the ball but then get smothered trying a really slow kick?"

Phillips "Excellent. Ok for this one, lets all do the opposite, yeh?"

<all place hands together in show of unity>

 

[zoomba23]

Powell hasn't had a run in the middle like Will for at least 12 months. Will be interesting how how much time they both get because if by years end Powell is still on the outer I wouldn't be surprised if there was movement on the horizon.

Powell is a good player. Who gets plenty of free rein between the arcs. I personally don't see much dissatisfaction from him. He's a lock in the best 22 and is reportedly one of Clarko's favourites. What's brought you to this conclusion

 

[Moti]

Powell is a good player. Who gets plenty of free rein between the arcs. I personally don't see much dissatisfaction from him. He's a lock in the best 22 and is reportedly one of Clarko's favourites. What's brought you to this conclusion

Thought his turn on the wing was telling last year, just doesn't suit him. If a player sees the writing on the wall they can move pretty quick.

 

[DuckYeah]

Thought his turn on the wing was telling last year, just doesn't suit him. If a player sees the writing on the wall they can move pretty quick.

Last year? ..

 

[zoomba23]

Thought his turn on the wing was telling last year, just doesn't suit him. If a player sees the writing on the wall they can move pretty quick.

What also didn't suit him was Nobles' dislike of him and refusal to play him in the 22 despite the fact that he had more talent than roughly 16 of his teammates who got a game ahead of him. He looked like a husk last year. Looks back to his first year self this year imo

 

[Psicosis]

His job in the short term will be to make the other mids around him better. We saw this on the weekend. His toughness, cleanness & touch helped George and Harry look so damaging. If you go back and rewatch those stoppages, he’s involved in everything, whether it’s clean hands or a tap (that doesn’t get a stat).

As I said in another thread, they wanted the three of them in the middle when the game was in the balance. Will stood up with the added trust and responsibility. I hope we continue to see this and expect him to grow.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Phillips "ok boys, lets regroup quickly. Last few years, what do you think the team would do in this situation?"

CCJ "concede the clearance?"

George "not watch an opponent?"

Harry "win the ball but then get smothered trying a really slow kick?"

Phillips "Excellent. Ok for this one, lets all do the opposite, yeh?"

<all place hands together in show of unity>

 

[shinboner magic]

Just finished watching the replay - wilphi and warlord really stood in the clinches and never took a backward step
We’re in good hands