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

[Themanbun]

Wardlaw has deadset flown past him because he's a better prospect and always was - the comparison is unfair and lacking in any form of nuance. Imagine Wardlaw and Cunnington were coming through the system at the same time - Wardlaw would have deadset flown past Cunners and you'd presumably be hinting at Cunners being a bust? Not every player that comes into the comp comes in at the same point, let alone what has happened to Will since we drafted him.

Phillips didn't have an 18th year due to Covid, needed his own version of what Wardlaw had of a body recomp when he came into the AFL, and then battled glandular fever which ruled out last year. He's shown his value in that 3-week block which should buoy North fans hopes about what he will become when he builds a fitness base and gets a pre-season in. Instead, the negativity is at an all-time high.

Out of interest - which player would you suggest we should have taken over him? Logan McDonald has been useless, DGB hasn't been able to get a game. Elijah Hollands can't get a game. We wouldn't have had the chance at grabbing Braeden Campbell but even he struggled to show much until this year. Most of the players from that draft have been underwhelming or not shown much until this year.

For those that went before Phillips you have similar stories - you have Thilthorpe who again, has only shown flashes similar to Phillips, and JUH who has only this year has started to step up and copped a lot of unfair criticism in his first couple of seasons.

Yep. Gulden is the only one from that draft who has made a consistent impact.

 

[Del191229]

You see it differently, cool. His cleanliness is greatly overstated. He fumbles as much as Curtis Taylor. Gets knocked off the footy easily.

I think he’s been thoroughly unimpressive on what he’s shown so far as a supposed can’t miss prospect.

Compare him with Wardlaw who’s deadset flown past him so fast it’s given him windburn and it’s no contest.

Phillips does a lot of team oriented things which is great, but with the ball he’s completely inert.

This was two years ago ... watch the first two goals, both of which are down to pure ball in hand class from Philips.



This posting is going to haunt you

 

[brooksnk]

This was two years ago ... watch the first two goals, both of which are down to pure ball in hand class from Philips.



This posting is going to haunt you

To be fair, those kicks are just regulation for most AFL players imo.

 

[Del191229]

To be fair, those kicks are just regulation for most AFL players imo.

The second one to Larkey is absolutely top shelf, come on.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

This was two years ago ... watch the first two goals, both of which are down to pure ball in hand class from Philips.



This posting is going to haunt you

So be it. Those kicks are what you should be expecting to make at the elite level.

I don’t rate him as one of the top five midfielders at the club, which is 17th and has been complete dross for half a decade.

If we draft another midfielder this year who’s at Wardlaw’s level, he’ll struggle to hold his place with LDU, Jy, Wardlaw, Sheezel, TT ahead of him.

He’s definitely not one who’s going to take charge of a game himself.

 

[Kangaroos techno]

To be fair, those kicks are just regulation for most AFL players imo.

North Melbourne has hit that kick 5 times in 15 years

Players like Ziebell still don't realise we no longer play with Tarrant, petrie and hansen in the F50.

(Outside of brent harvey).

 

[Psicosis]

Definitely an underwhelming few weeks. Biggest issue at the moment for me is consistency game to game - which was apparently a strength of his at junior level. In the games he’s played well, he has been clean at ground level and with the ball and great at getting from contest to contest. It’s typical of a young player to have up and down weeks right? I still think he’s a pretty sure bet overall.

Consistency game to game the biggest issue with a 20 year old inside mid who has had a number of setbacks?

Inspiring take.

The best we have looked this year, Sydney Essendon games, Will was in our best few. Who the f*** was expecting more then what he has produced this year.

Would I like some more consistency? Sure. Is it normal for him to be inconsistent? Sure.

 

[Psicosis]

He’s definitely not one who’s going to take charge of a game himself.

Go rewatch the Essendon game - he and Wardlaw threw the side on their shoulders. Not sure how else you could define taking charge of a game himself for an 18 and 20 year old.

 

[Twangler]

Consistency game to game the biggest issue with a 20 year old inside mid who has had a number of setbacks?

Inspiring take.

The best we have looked this year, Sydney Essendon games, Will was in our best few. Who the f*** was expecting more then what he has produced this year.

Would I like some more consistency? Sure. Is it normal for him to be inconsistent? Sure.

Which is why I said it was typical… and nothing to be concerned about

 

[Passmore]

I love em both and will back them in. But they're not infallible. JPK is an example of that.

Who's JPK?

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[ferball]

Definitely an underwhelming few weeks. Biggest issue at the moment for me is consistency game to game - which was apparently a strength of his at junior level. In the games he’s played well, he has been clean at ground level and with the ball and great at getting from contest to contest. It’s typical of a young player to have up and down weeks right? I still think he’s a pretty sure bet overall.

Will Phillips has played less games than Paul Curtis. FWIW.

 

[Del191229]

He’s definitely not one who’s going to take charge of a game himself.

I reckon he's the type where when we are a good side and teams come for us, and we're down four goals at quarter time, and Clarko gives them a bake, Will's the one who gets to work (along with Wardlaw) and turns it around in the second quarter at the coal face, and arrests the decline.

Then in the second half the flashier types like LDU and Tarryn make hay and we run away to a handy win, but make no mistake, it was Will's work in the first ten minutes of the second quarter that turned it around.

 

[Colby Cheer Squad]

To be fair, those kicks are just regulation for most AFL players imo.

So be it. Those kicks are what you should be expecting to make at the elite level.

"That is a brilliant kick though." So said Jonathan Brown in commentary. I think he'd know. Or at least, I'll regard his opinion as an A grade leading forward who enjoyed delivery from some of the best midfielders to have played the game. He didn't say this was just regulation, or even to be expected. His words once again - "That is a brilliant kick though."

 

[Del191229]

Go rewatch the Essendon game - he and Wardlaw threw the side on their shoulders. Not sure how else you could define taking charge of a game himself for an 18 and 20 year old.

That's what I mean. Shiels sat on Merrett and then those two took on and beat a so called finals midfield hands down.

 

[Del191229]

"That is a brilliant kick though." So said Jonathan Brown in commentary. I think he'd know. Or at least, I'll regard his opinion as an A grade leading forward who enjoyed delivery from some of the best midfielders to have played the game. He didn't say this was just regulation, or even to be expected. His words once again - "That is a brilliant kick though."

The thing that makes it so brilliant is that he waits, and waits, for the right option. Doesn't get flustered, doesn't panic, doesn't think oh shit I have to kick and bombs it, doesn't try to hit a spectacular 11/10 laser.

Just waits for the space and then backs his forward to honour the kick.

 

[Passmore]

He's very dedicated and a quick learner, so if they send him to the 2s to work on something, he does it and is back.

Its not like we're playing finals this year, we can bounce him in between the 1s and 2s as he improves his game.

Its all about 2025 onwards. Expect next year to be similar to this year, albeit hopefully with more wins.

I tend to think that this is closer to the mark than bullshit like "selection integrity". The kid is a long term prospect with shit to work on.



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[hilly]

Who's JPK?

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Josh Kennedy I think.

 

[Del191229]

I tend to think that this is closer to the mark than bullshit like "selection integrity". The kid is a long term prospect with s**t to work on.



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Some player struggle going up and down between the ones and twos a lot, Will doesn't. Doesn't drop his bundle.

Use that to our advantage.

 

[My Left Foote]

To be fair, those kicks are just regulation for most AFL players imo.

And to be fair how many players on our list make those kicks, particularly the one to Larkey which is sublime, Will put it exactly where he wanted Souv to be. At that point in time I'd say Thomas, LDU, Cunners & Jy maybe could make that kick. Now you can add Harry and George we're not exactly flush with players who can hit a target.

 

[Themanbun]

Who's JPK?

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Soz, Josh Kennedy Jr

 

[Passmore]

Soz, Josh Kennedy Jr

That’d probably fall into a mistake rather than selection integrity. He also could have been a victim of circumstance In a powerful Hawthorn team.

I don’t know whether dropping Phillips to find form is on that level yet.

 

[Devil Fish]

The second one to Larkey is absolutely top shelf, come on.

For a NM player. Yes. For a top team - run of the mill.

Our constant mediocrity has resulted in the club, & its supporters lowering the bar as to what is acceptable & what is elite.

 

[Devil Fish]

And to be fair how many players on our list make those kicks particularly the one to Larkey which is sublime Will put it exactly where he wanted Souv to be. At that point in time I'd say Thomas, LDU, Cunners & Jy maybe could make that kick. Now you can add Harry and George we're not exactly flush with players who can hit a target.

Jy???? Come on man.

 

[shinboner magic]

Start of the season I was happy for will ti get a full season into him - bonus has been a few outstanding performances he has put out.

After the bye next year will b a better time to critique his performances

 

[ferball]

I'm not even surprised that after years of going early on inside mids posters are still doing it. At some point I'm probably gonna do it too.

So let me know if or when it happens.

Thanks in advance.

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