Player Watch #40 Tyler Sonsie

[crackertiger]

The reality for Sonsie in 2025 is to step up to become a regular AFL standard player. Otherwise it will be an easy delisting at the end of the year. He needs to play 18 games at a decent standard and hopefully Serpell can put some size on him. At the moment he is a bit timid due to his small frame.

 

[Boxo004]

Just needs to earn some AFL midfield time. Comes into the ones and plays that hybrid High HFF role. Games in the VfL where he has been pure mid are actually pretty good

 

[Grechy]

Just needs to earn some AFL midfield time. Comes into the ones and plays that hybrid High HFF role. Games in the VfL where he has been pure mid are actually pretty good

I just don't see how he plays midfield now, especially with the kids we are going to have coming through + Taranto and Hopper. He needs to find another position.

 

[Infamy]

I just don't see how he plays midfield now, especially with the kids we are going to have coming through + Taranto and Hopper. He needs to find another position.

It's going to take some time for our new kids to build up an AFL tank to play as a starting midfielder. You need about 8-10 that rotate through there these days anyway.

 

[Boxo004]

I just don't see how he plays midfield now, especially with the kids we are going to have coming through + Taranto and Hopper. He needs to find another position.

He has a 2 year head start on those kids. Don’t expect them to impact straight away. He needs to force the hand of the coaching staff

 

[sanaya]

sonsie is already a k-mart murphy reid

hopefully this year is the year but i don't have much faith in our development nor him at this point, please prove me wrong sonz

it's not like his vfl form is bad since he gets to run around in the midfield, he just needs to add another string to his bow or get played in the midfield at afl level, i'd say needs to work on getting his tackling numbers up




although to be fair to him his pressure acts numbers are considered above average for whatever CD believes his position is, while tackling is below average

i guess our hopes rely on taranto's getaway with him, hopefully it inspired something

 

[tunksy]

Should be playing midfield well ahead of players like Dow

 

[Punt Road Feral]

Everyone knows how hard HFF is. Daniel Rioli

17

Daniel Rioli

Age

27

Ht

179cm

Wt

78kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.2

3star

K

5.8

2star

HB

5.4

4star

M

2.7

3star

T

3.2

5star

MG

179.2

3star

D

8.1

2star

K

4.9

2star

HB

3.3

2star

M

2.0

2star

T

2.6

4star

MG

144.9

3star

D

9.0

3star

K

3.8

2star

HB

5.2

4star

M

0.8

1star

T

3.8

5star

MG

160.2

3star

obviously had his moments but ended up getting put at HBF as he struggled to influence games in the forward half.

Is there a chance Sonsie could make it as a HBF where you can get ball a bit easier?
There’s certainty an opening for him no Rioli is gone.

 

[THE_GUN]

Everyone knows how hard HFF is. Daniel Rioli obviously had his moments but ended up getting put at HBF as he struggled to influence games in the forward half.

Is there a chance Sonsie could make it as a HBF where you can get ball a bit easier?
There’s certainty an opening for him no Rioli is gone.

Rioli & Sonsie are very different players but a better comparison is Flanders
Was in the exact same position 2 years ago and people were calling him a flop and now he is a weapon

Tyler Sonsie and Sam Flanders AFL Stats Comparison

Tyler Sonsie and Sam Flanders AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

 

[energyquant]

Rioli & Sonsie are very different players but a better comparison is Flanders
Was in the exact same position 2 years ago and people were calling him a flop and now he is a weapon

Tyler Sonsie and Sam Flanders AFL Stats Comparison

Tyler Sonsie and Sam Flanders AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

Great perspective.

Kids are kids. The ones we draft will take YEARS to reach their potential.

We just need to get games into them and see how they go. Very few of them believe they belong until they have hit 50 games.

 

[Grrr]

He lacks a yard of pace for a mid who is not strongly built. When he arrived I thought he had a great running game, or would have one in a year or two. Reminded me of Bradley in some respects. That has not happened because unlike Bradley or a lot less talented players, his running game has not developed much at all. So he works around the coal face which he is not really built for.

Half forward makes it even harder, but even in the VFL midfield he should be getting 30+ each week and running the legs of younger less experienced players, but he doesn't.

 

[TigerTime88]

Everyone knows how hard HFF is. Daniel Rioli obviously had his moments but ended up getting put at HBF as he struggled to influence games in the forward half.

Is there a chance Sonsie could make it as a HBF where you can get ball a bit easier?
There’s certainty an opening for him no Rioli is gone.

Agree the club has done him no favours. Can't be about tank either because he doesn't even get thrown into the mix at times throughout the game.

 

[wormy]

We simply need to play him midfield, see what he's got.

We know he has got talent, reading draft stuff from 2021, he was rated arguably top 5 in the draft on talent alone.

Every AFL club’s 2021 draft haul assessed — and how their new recruits will fit in

Swans’ curveball; danger signs as AFL giant nails huge win: Every club’s draft graded

www.foxsports.com.au

The problem is, ever since Yze has come to the club, he's played Sonsie out of position.

I'm more or less convinced that Dow has reached his potential, but I see Sonsie as still being untapped potential. I'd much rather give him midfield minutes.

I've seen some good signs with his footy smarts and quick hands in contest, but at the moment he just looks demoralised to be playing as a small forward

 

[Punt Road Feral]

Rioli & Sonsie are very different players but a better comparison is Flanders
Was in the exact same position 2 years ago and people were calling him a flop and now he is a weapon

Tyler Sonsie and Sam Flanders AFL Stats Comparison

Tyler Sonsie and Sam Flanders AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

Fair call.

Sorry I’m not suggesting Sonsie is anyway like Rioli in terms of playing style but moreso he could set up play in the back half of the ground and accumulate more footy at HBF than at half forward which is really difficult especially in a struggling side.

 

[All Aust]

Rioli & Sonsie are very different players but a better comparison is Flanders
Was in the exact same position 2 years ago and people were calling him a flop and now he is a weapon

Tyler Sonsie and Sam Flanders AFL Stats Comparison

Tyler Sonsie and Sam Flanders AFL Stats Comparison.

www.footywire.com

Flanders always had God on his side but. Sonsie in need of some divinity.

 

[of unsound mind]

He lacks a yard of pace for a mid who is not strongly built. When he arrived I thought he had a great running game, or would have one in a year or two. Reminded me of Bradley in some respects. That has not happened because unlike Bradley or a lot less talented players, his running game has not developed much at all. So he works around the coal face which he is not really built for.

Half forward makes it even harder, but even in the VFL midfield he should be getting 30+ each week and running the legs of younger less experienced players, but he doesn't.

Agree he looks like he lacks some pace, but I’m not sure that is the case. I think that comes from a lack of urgency and gut running combined with a lack of confidence to use agility and speed to break away from a contest.
He does perform well at vfl level, but you still don’t see those running attributes. If you look at his draft year VFL performance with Box Hill, he looked more assured and athletic in his play back then.
New coaches, different team makeup, more professionalism there’s definitely still hope. Wouldn’t put money on it though.

 

[Grrr]

Agree he looks like he lacks some pace, but I’m not sure that is the case. I think that comes from a lack of urgency and gut running combined with a lack of confidence to use agility and speed to break away from a contest.
He does perform well at vfl level, but you still don’t see those running attributes. If you look at his draft year VFL performance with Box Hill, he looked more assured and athletic in his play back then.
New coaches, different team makeup, more professionalism there’s definitely still hope. Wouldn’t put money on it though.

Yes with all of that. Maybe like Dow, he hasn't put on the muscle to help break away from opponents. Look at Taranto, he works around the contest, is not fast, but he can shrug players aside and get some separation through his core strength. Perhaps the new fitness guy identifies this and adds some grunt to his game.

 

[kozi]

This guy is the most fascinating player on our list …. I look forward to seeing what he does next season

Most fascinating thing about him is how he’s still on the list

 

[lizard man]

Most fascinating thing about him is how he’s still on the list

Give him one more chance

 

[Dr Tigris]

Sonsie is Corey Ellis mkII. I really want him to succeed but i don’t think he is made of the right stuff. He has been played out of position in the seniors, but if they are the opportunities given to him, he just has to find a way.

If Sonz can get played in his best position and he can add some attitude and belief we've got a good one i think. I'm just not sure he can do it. Hope I am wrong. He'd be an amazing to our midfield if he can take that spot.

 

[Bojangles17]

99% of his senior opportunities were off a HFf , hard work in a poor side . He needs some midfield time to see what he can really do , time is running out , and he needs to make most of his chances , even off hf when he had a moment he rarely cashed in

 

[Mr Unbelievable]

Flanders always had God on his side but. Sonsie in need of some divinity.

 

[Simche]

Would prefer we gave him Dow's time in the midfield because at least he can kick or tried him across half back given Short's disposal has somewhat deserted him over the last few years.

I think the major issue in the midfield is his pace and two way running. He's not a first use player and we go in super slow if he's in there with blokes like Hopper and Taranto. Means we get cut up if the stoppage doesn't go our way.

 

[Dr Tigris]

Would prefer we gave him Dow's time in the midfield because at least he can kick or tried him across half back given Short's disposal has somewhat deserted him over the last few years.

I think the major issue in the midfield is his pace and two way running. He's not a first use player and we go in super slow if he's in there with blokes like Hopper and Taranto. Means we get cut up if the stoppage doesn't go our way.

Dow does not equal Sonsie. Dow is inside (3rd rotation) and Sonsie is first touch outside. You need both, but they are not the same thing.

 

[tora tora tora]

We simply need to play him midfield, see what he's got.

We know he has got talent, reading draft stuff from 2021, he was rated arguably top 5 in the draft on talent alone.

Every AFL club’s 2021 draft haul assessed — and how their new recruits will fit in

Swans’ curveball; danger signs as AFL giant nails huge win: Every club’s draft graded

www.foxsports.com.au

The problem is, ever since Yze has come to the club, he's played Sonsie out of position.

I'm more or less convinced that Dow has reached his potential, but I see Sonsie as still being untapped potential. I'd much rather give him midfield minutes.

I've seen some good signs with his footy smarts and quick hands in contest, but at the moment he just looks demoralised to be playing as a small forward

Late 2022 7 games under Dimma. Sonz worked his way from bench to mid. Often injury to other players kept him there ~ notably Dusty, but Graham before the final. Prestia getting injured in the final probably helped Sonz.

2023 Sonz got injured in the off season & came back to fit Prestia, Dusty, Cotch, Graham & new guys Hops & TT.

He was really crap in 2023. 3 games under Dimma never as a mid.

no games under Mini.

I think he was suspended late 2023, so Yze couldn't play him if he wanted to. 14 games, "mostly out of position" , and dropped late.

I don't think Dow stays in the best 22. TT, Hops, Prestia start but we need a player or 3 to roll through the middle and half fwd line for Baker, Bolton and Graham think it'll be Pick 1 & pick 7 playing a lot.