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

[groo]

His best attribute was getting from contest to contest. Then he missed a couple of preseason, and was unwell. We just had a soft preseason in favor of learning too. Life is hard when you take away's someone's best strength.

Beats me why they can't get fit and learn at the same time. I think that is a cop out.
More closely to the truth IMO is that we may have left setting the standard for our fitness levels to the playing leaders. That is a big mistake given their personal fitness levels for the past 10 years.

 

[Mav]

This pretentious love for Philips from people who "understand" football and about "how much better he makes our midfield with all the little, unnoticed things he does" etc has got to stop. He is a top 5 draft pick for * sake. Has performed no where near what is expected of a draft pick that early and the coaches know it, hence being dropped multiple times. Philips lack of size, strength, speed, skills, athletisem, and versatility is an issue! A massive issue. Yes he has battered with injury but the warning signs are there. I hope he can transform himself in the coming years but there is a lot of work to do.

Let compare him to a once in a generation player:

Jason Horne-Francis and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison

Jason Horne-Francis and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

And here he is against the number 3 from the year after Will. Who gets a shit load more time on ground.

Finn Callaghan and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison

Finn Callaghan and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

 

[TruRoos7]

Let compare him to a once in a generation player:

Jason Horne-Francis and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison

Jason Horne-Francis and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

And here he is against the number 3 from the year after Will. Who gets a s**t load more time on ground.

Finn Callaghan and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison

Finn Callaghan and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

Geebus don’t go getting all logical and statistical on people, remember it’s all about the “feels” with some people..

 

[King Corey]

Let compare him to a once in a generation player:

Jason Horne-Francis and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison

Jason Horne-Francis and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

Will is going ok there. JHFF blitzing him for aerial presence and metres gained which isn't a surprise.

 

[Epictetus]

I'm a bit gun shy now because I'll be labelled as negative and I HATE thinking any positive thoughts about JHF, but if you watch them both play and think it's a comparison, then we diverge so much then it's a waste of discussion.

 

[groo]

Let compare him to a once in a generation player:

Jason Horne-Francis and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison

Jason Horne-Francis and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

And here he is against the number 3 from the year after Will. Who gets a s**t load more time on ground.

Finn Callaghan and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison

Finn Callaghan and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

I'm not sure that time on ground should be considered a negative. It should be something players strive for and aim to take their fitness to the highest levels. A number of our midfielders in the past have struggled in this regard. Cunnington and Ziebel would have been so much better if they could match the running efforts of the other teams prime midfielders. This was partly the reason we had a run of season where our last quarters coughed up leads. Have a look at Lachie Neale's time on ground. I'm pretty sure it is 90+% rather than high 60s to low 70s.

 

[Mav]

I'm not sure that time on ground should be considered a negative. It should be something players strive for and aim to take their fitness to the highest levels. A number of our midfielders in the past have struggled in this regard. Cunnington and Ziebel would have been so much better if they could match the running efforts of the other teams prime midfielders. This was partly the reason we had a run of season where our last quarters coughed up leads. Have a look at Lachie Neale's time on ground. I'm pretty sure it is 90+% rather than high 60s to low 70s.

FFS, he's coming off of a year with glandular fever. It highlights that he hasn't been able to get his fitness base up yet. Once he can run out games then his numbers will be much better. Lets just let the kid get a preseason in and then some continuity in games.

 

[Mav]

Will is going ok there. JHFF blitzing him for aerial presence and metres gained which isn't a surprise.

yeah, different players. Look at the kick to hand ball ration and that explains the meteres gained.

I'm a bit gun shy now because I'll be labelled as negative and I HATE thinking any positive thoughts about JHF, but if you watch them both play and think it's a comparison, then we diverge so much then it's a waste of discussion.

No one is arguing they're not different players, but what it shows is that JHF isn't exactly having a stand out year. Would the coaches be happy with the output from a once in a generation player? That's the argument against Elite Master. You can't be writing of WhiPhi yet.

But if you cant see then the development of WhiPhi, and the benefits he brings to our side then yep, it's a waste of discussion.

 

[Disco Dew]

No concerns about Wilbur for me. He’ll be right.

 

[The Anvil]

I'm a bit gun shy now because I'll be labelled as negative and I HATE thinking any positive thoughts about JHF, but if you watch them both play and think it's a comparison, then we diverge so much then it's a waste of discussion.

Wouldn't worry about how you've been labelled, this is an opinions forum and you're entitled to an opinion even if others don't like it.

Just on JHF, if we forget all the history and that JHF is a bit a tool, I'd easily take JHF over WPhil for impact in a game.

Regardless of the comparison though, I think WPhil will be a long term player for us in the middle of the ground.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

Wouldn't worry about how you've been labelled, this is an opinions forum and you're entitled to an opinion even if others don't like it.

Just on JHF, if we forget all the history and that JHF is a bit a tool, I'd easily take JHF over WPhil for impact in a game.

Regardless of the comparison though, I think WPhil will be a long term player for us in the middle of the ground.

As a WilPhil fan, I would 100% take Jason over Will. JHF is a gun and will soon be in the top 5 players in the comp.

Will is better than the naysayers suggest, though. He will be a fixture of the 22 going forward. IMO.

 

[Horizons_00]

As a WilPhil fan, I would 100% take Jason over Will. JHF is a gun and will soon be in the top 5 players in the comp.

Will is better than the naysayers suggest, though. He will be a fixture of the 22 going forward. IMO.

JHF as a player, definitely

Attitude and as a person though, **** no

 

[Epictetus]

JHF as a player, definitely

Attitude and as a person though, * no

Of this we are all in furious agreement.

 

[Horizons_00]

Of this we are all in furious agreement.

If Will can bring higher standards at training and encourage more competitiveness on the field then I’ll take it

Has committed to get the absolute best out of himself. It’s really hard to see many on our list that do that.

Plus he isn’t at his full fitness yet. Not close. I’ll judge him then.

 

[Devil Fish]

I’m intrigued as to how long people here think it will take Will Phillips to reach peak fitness?
When does the glandular fever excuse expire? Does it ever expire?

For me, 2024 is make or break for him.

He has struggled to hold his spot in a side playing like a half eaten pastie. Alarm bells have to be ringing. Or is it too easy/comforting to say “I’m not worried. He’ll be right”???

 

[shinboner spiggs]

Fwiw his stats compare very similar to Jimmy Toumpas

Jimmy Toumpas

Age

30

Ht

183cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.4

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

6.7

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.7

4star

CL

0.8

3star

No current season stats available

D

7.0

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.4

4star

CL

0.2

2star

if you go off numbers alone.

 

[King Corey]

Fwiw his stats compare very similar to Jimmy Toumpas if you go off numbers alone.

Oh that's bloody wonderful.

 

[Epictetus]

Numbers are such a flawed way to judge a midfielder. Some get good TOG, some lack impact, some have enormous impact with less, some have specific roles that can hinder their production on a page. In the end, the best are similar in ave and you have to use your eye and your feel.

Tom Mitchell is a ripping stats player. Never, ever worried about a thing that bloke has done against North. Didn't know he was playing most of the time. Whereas Petracca and Dangerfield and Bont just rip your heart out.

 

[The Anvil]

I’m intrigued as to how long people here think it will take Will Phillips to reach peak fitness?
When does the glandular fever excuse expire? Does it ever expire?

For me, 2024 is make or break for him.

He has struggled to hold his spot in a side playing like a half eaten pastie. Alarm bells have to be ringing. Or is it too easy/comforting to say “I’m not worried. He’ll be right”???

Powell is probably a good comparison and another player from the same draft who isn't setting the world on fire.

Powell was in Adelaide though so not affected by ole mate Dan nor glandular fever (I know he has had injury challenges) so there's an argument that he's actually even further back in improvement.

Plenty from that draft are still growing into their AFL impact but none have had to deal with two years of the Noble era. Let's see what both Powell and Philips look like after a full preseason under a proper coaching team.

 

[DuckYeah]

Pretentious? That's crock. I have no idea who you are comparing him too but here is the comparison with Lachy Ash at the same age. AND yes Will had all of last year off. All the signs point to him being on the right trajectory.

Lachlan Ash and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison

Lachlan Ash and Will Phillips AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

Glandular fever too. Not an injury, not a 3rd strike drug positive. Glandular Fever kicks the absolute shit out of people. Chronic fatigue, constant fevers **** me dead. Will these people let this kid do a full pre season.

BuT hE wAs A tOp FiVe PiCk DerRrRrRp

**** off the gronks.

 

[Merlin007]

Fwiw his stats compare very similar to Jimmy Toumpas if you go off numbers alone.

not really; even with two bouts of glandular fever, at the same age Phillips is miles ahead

Will Phillips and Jimmy Toumpas AFL Stats Comparison

Will Phillips and Jimmy Toumpas AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

 

[The acurate one]

Glandular fever too. Not an injury, not a 3rd strike drug positive. Glandular Fever kicks the absolute s**t out of people. Chronic fatigue, constant fevers * me dead. Will these people let this kid do a full pre season.

BuT hE wAs A tOp FiVe PiCk DerRrRrRp

* off the gronks.

And hemorrhoid's and a hangnail. Been a rough trot.

 

[shintemaster]

Numbers are such a flawed way to judge a midfielder. Some get good TOG, some lack impact, some have enormous impact with less, some have specific roles that can hinder their production on a page. In the end, the best are similar in ave and you have to use your eye and your feel.

Tom Mitchell is a ripping stats player. Never, ever worried about a thing that bloke has done against North. Didn't know he was playing most of the time. Whereas Petracca and Dangerfield and Bont just rip your heart out.

The most accurate comment ever.

I remember watching us play the Hawks live, going home and having all the people who watched on TV point out how many possessions Mitchell had - I honestly didn't think he was in the team that day.

 

[Devington]

And hemorrhoid's and a hangnail. Been a rough trot.

Hey now, don't downplay a bad hemorrhoid

 

[Merlin007]

I’m intrigued as to how long people here think it will take Will Phillips to reach peak fitness?
When does the glandular fever excuse expire? Does it ever expire?

For me, 2024 is make or break for him.

He has struggled to hold his spot in a side playing like a half eaten pastie. Alarm bells have to be ringing. Or is it too easy/comforting to say “I’m not worried. He’ll be right”???

Clarkson's presser this week is a good listen. The professionals talk about 'training age' (clarkson was talking about Wardlaw's training age being 'zero' because he's effectively never done a pre-season). If you look at Phillip's 'training age', it's also effectively zero.

You might be right, and Phillips never lives up to the pick 3 billing, but now's not the time to make the call