Player Watch #40 Tyler Sonsie

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He kills it in the middle in the VFL yet plays HFF in the AFL.

Until he plays a run of games in the guts at AFL level, we will never know what he can/could have been.

I am sick of players playing well in a position at VFL level only to be flipped into another at AFL level and struggle.
McAulliffe was even better than Sonz in the middle, in the game vs The Suns. No brainer he played middle ahead of Sonsie. That game Hugo killed it off half back got promoted to wing and saved his career.

Bauer was forward, back, forward in the VFL.

Sonsie's a fringe player, 3 years since his better football but 14 games this year was a huge number. Suggests they like him. Came in Round 3 after the suspension.

We lost Baker, JG, Dusty Bolton ~ half fwd/ mids. Dow wont play & Sonsie needs to add scoreboard pressure to his game.

McAuliffe will improve his running, he'll get first crack IMO.

poor richmond players eh? ridiculous demands on em.


too much to expecting pro AFL footballers to be able to kick a goal?
 
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I dunno if Sonsie can be compared to Parish as the latter was certainly a bit more prolific at under 18 level, but I can see things maaayybbbee going similarly.

My friend is a mad Bombers fan, said their forums always cried out for Parish to just bloody be played in the middle, not half-forward like where he was being played.

As soon as they threw him into the middle full-time, off he went racking up possessions. He has gone backwards a bit but his 2021 was really, really good, can't dispute that.

So what I'm saying is, sometimes the fans are actually right...

Hoping we throw Sonsie into the middle, but I personally still don't reckon he'll make it.
 

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Dow played from Ground zero, with TT, JH, Prestia. Killer T_Sonz was suspended. Although he and Kmac2 were mids in the VFL Round 1. Then Dow held his spot.

Both Sonz & KMac2played well in the VFL.

Kmac2 and the new toys, maybe Ross, MRJ, are battling for mid time.


Ross peaked in 2019, now wing. Sonz peaked late 2022, its a shame Killer aint better up fwd. We desperately need goals kicked. Bolton & Martin need replacing.
Id say the thinking is Hotton replaces Bolton and Lalor replaces Martin.

I always wait before i call them busts and i dislike saying what im about to say id rather wait until time is actually up.
This year is Sonsies last year to establish himself for me any way.

Smalls generally take less time than other types. Sonsie is now 22 well in a couple of weeks time. He is entering year 4 and he really needs significant improvement in most areas.

To be brutal id go as far to say he is a poor runner and he plays scared. These two things has me really concerned about him taking the neccessary steps to becoming a decent AFL player.
I dunno if Sonsie can be compared to Parish as the latter was certainly a bit more prolific at under 18 level, but I can see things maaayybbbee going similarly.

My friend is a mad Bombers fan, said their forums always cried out for Parish to just bloody be played in the middle, not half-forward like where he was being played.

As soon as they threw him into the middle full-time, off he went racking up possessions. He has gone backwards a bit but his 2021 was really, really good, can't dispute that.

So what I'm saying is, sometimes the fans are actually right...

Hoping we throw Sonsie into the middle, but I personally still don't reckon he'll make it.

Hmm i think Parish copped it from supporters simply because of where he was drafted. Pick 5 and the expectations were over the top.
If he was taken at pick 40 then Essendon fans would have been singing his praises and talking about what a steal they got at pick 40.

In all honesty there is no comparison between Parish and Sonsie year one or their first three seasons.
Parish track reminds me of Dusty. He started his career at a high level and hovered around that level for about 4 seasons mainly while he built a tank to get thru full games. then the fully developed Dusty started coming to the fore its the same with Parish he played a lot across hb his first 3 or 4 seasons and he played to a pretty decent standard. When he reached rfull development away he went.

If Sonsie reached Parish levels from his year one everyone here would be calling him the next big thing.
2016 Skinny little Darcy played 20 games imagine that 20 games in his first season. He stayed in their team by playing well.
He averaged 20.75 disposals a game. Skinny Parish actually averaged 3.3 tackles a game managed to average 3.2 clearances and won 8.9 contested disposals a game all apparently from hb and all from a small first year player.

Yes Parish spent a lot of time across hb and he did well there he also had his share of stints thru the midfield.
Maybe they went a year too long with him there but to say he was poor his early years is a misnomer.

The difference between Parish and Sonsie is Parish grabbed his opportunities and Out of position or not Sonsie never has.

Keep on saying it and parish to a small degree is another who proves it. Clubs tend to start the kiddies in the kiddie role across hb.
Does Sonsie have the right attributes for that role well not to date he hasn't.
 
People saying "no free rides", "he has to earn it" etc I'd typically agree in any other year, but what do we lose by giving him a proper run of games on ball this year?
We aren't making finals, we are a lock for bottom two.

We don't actually lose anything by giving him a go. That way, people like myself won't have any excuses anymore.
Imagine if he kills it and gives us an added dimension to our midfield?

We are on the floor of our rebuild, we may as well test the foundations.
Agree. Play him every week in the guts. Let's see if he wants it badly enough.
 
He kills it in the middle in the VFL yet plays HFF in the AFL.

Until he plays a run of games in the guts at AFL level, we will never know what he can/could have been.

I am sick of players playing well in a position at VFL level only to be flipped into another at AFL level and struggle.
This is 100% correct

I believe Sonsie will make the grade at AFL level and developed into a good mid but the club just has to give him the opportunity to play his position and gain confidence at the level
 
It’s all confidence. Coming into first year he had no expectations and could perform to his natural ability without carrying the burden of outside noise. As he becomes adherent to a strict system, running patterns and defensive accountability etc, coupled with the increasing pressure on his performances to improve he loses his confidence in his skills and natural ability. Happens often to youngsters. To name a few at Richmond, castagna, cumbo, townsend. All came in firing and then diminished
 
Agree. Play him every week in the guts. Let's see if he wants it badly enough.
But there is Prestia, Hopper, Taranto, Ross and McAuliffe in his way, not to mention Smillie and Lalor. He can't just bump in front of them. He will get a go in there, but only if he really shines on the track and the preseason games.
 
This is 100% correct

I believe Sonsie will make the grade at AFL level and developed into a good mid but the club just has to give him the opportunity to play his position and gain confidence at the level
The amazing Tylers final... We lose a close game with Prestia playing half a game, in which time Prestia had the most clearances, centre clearances. Sonz 4 & 1 CC for the game.

Neale leather poisoning, destroying us again.

12 year, 3 flag coach brings in 2 mids. And doesn't drop flag heroes so Tough on Sonsie & Cumbo. Sonz injured pre season 2023 and Taranto kills it. As does Dusty, Cotch gets games to cover Hopper.

Sonsies career arc is what it is, 2024, 14 games as half fwd, while Sherman Tank Kmac2 gets mid time. And Dow cos Sonz is suspended.
we just spooned with horrendous injury list. upside for Tyler, he plays 14 games.
I cannot see Sonsie "being given the opportunity" to rediscover anything. Lynch fit, Hopper fit we win games of football. The Tank Kmac2 should be given the opportunity, the kids a gun.

Smilie, Lalor should be given the opportunity.

TBH career over probably. BUT, 5 1st round draft picks for sonz the gun, whoever takes him
 
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But there is Prestia, Hopper, Taranto, Ross and McAuliffe in his way, not to mention Smillie and Lalor. He can't just bump in front of them. He will get a go in there, but only if he really shines on the track and the preseason games.
Reckon he put in some good performances in VFL in the middle. Got a fair bit of it - but would then bought in to the firsts and played half forward, where he clearly struggled. 2024 would have been the perfect year to give him a really good go in the middle and rotate him and Dow as we were shit anyway and results didn’t matter - but seems that Dow had the preferred skill-set and got many more opportunities. It’s midfield or bust for sonsie I reckon and he’s suddenly got a hell of a lot of new competition
 
But there is Prestia, Hopper, Taranto, Ross and McAuliffe in his way, not to mention Smillie and Lalor. He can't just bump in front of them. He will get a go in there, but only if he really shines on the track and the preseason games.
The first four are not playing in our next premiership. Sonsie might if he reaches his potential. The first three are there to help him achieve that.
 

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Id say the thinking is Hotton replaces Bolton and Lalor replaces Martin.

I always wait before i call them busts and i dislike saying what im about to say id rather wait until time is actually up.
This year is Sonsies last year to establish himself for me any way.

Smalls generally take less time than other types. Sonsie is now 22 well in a couple of weeks time. He is entering year 4 and he really needs significant improvement in most areas.

To be brutal id go as far to say he is a poor runner and he plays scared. These two things has me really concerned about him taking the neccessary steps to becoming a decent AFL player.


Hmm i think Parish copped it from supporters simply because of where he was drafted. Pick 5 and the expectations were over the top.
If he was taken at pick 40 then Essendon fans would have been singing his praises and talking about what a steal they got at pick 40.

In all honesty there is no comparison between Parish and Sonsie year one or their first three seasons.
Parish track reminds me of Dusty. He started his career at a high level and hovered around that level for about 4 seasons mainly while he built a tank to get thru full games. then the fully developed Dusty started coming to the fore its the same with Parish he played a lot across hb his first 3 or 4 seasons and he played to a pretty decent standard. When he reached rfull development away he went.

If Sonsie reached Parish levels from his year one everyone here would be calling him the next big thing.
2016 Skinny little Darcy played 20 games imagine that 20 games in his first season. He stayed in their team by playing well.
He averaged 20.75 disposals a game. Skinny Parish actually averaged 3.3 tackles a game managed to average 3.2 clearances and won 8.9 contested disposals a game all apparently from hb and all from a small first year player.

Yes Parish spent a lot of time across hb and he did well there he also had his share of stints thru the midfield.
Maybe they went a year too long with him there but to say he was poor his early years is a misnomer.

The difference between Parish and Sonsie is Parish grabbed his opportunities and Out of position or not Sonsie never has.

Keep on saying it and parish to a small degree is another who proves it. Clubs tend to start the kiddies in the kiddie role across hb.
Does Sonsie have the right attributes for that role well not to date he hasn't.
At the same no of games - Sonsie is ahead only in Clangers!
 
Is there a futures market for airline flights now?
Another 37 year drought just as likely.
Gale planning for 0 debt, 75k members, 3 flags was scorned by all cos you can't predict the current season, let alone the future.
2016 we fall out of the 8, kudos to Peggy & Gale bringing Balme back, and new assistant coaches.
I didn't expect finals., let alone 3 more flags. 2020, COVID hub at the goldie, never seen so much footy since I left Melbourne. Including night 2020 night GF, in Brizzy, no Lions so easy to get a ticket.
We win but cop $100k fine & lose Leppitch & McRae
.
We shouldve been better in 2024, but the Meehan appointment should've ended in 2023 when Lynch, Gibcus, Soldo etc etc etc were mis managed. Is the new fitness regime better?


So still don't know if Yze can coach well. Won 2 games.


Sonsie, or any player, part of the next flag is, TRIPPING BALLS.
 
The first four are not playing in our next premiership. Sonsie might if he reaches his potential. The first three are there to help him achieve that.
Besides Prestia, the others are there for the next 3 years or so unless injury or form down the track effects that. But they will be there this season. Projecting any further with a player like Sonsie is very wishful thinking. He has this season to show he is good enough, which will not be easy.

Then next season Lalor, Smillie and Hotton and whomever we pick at 1-5.
 
Reckon he put in some good performances in VFL in the middle. Got a fair bit of it - but would then bought in to the firsts and played half forward, where he clearly struggled. 2024 would have been the perfect year to give him a really good go in the middle and rotate him and Dow as we were shit anyway and results didn’t matter - but seems that Dow had the preferred skill-set and got many more opportunities. It’s midfield or bust for sonsie I reckon and he’s suddenly got a hell of a lot of new competition
Last year we needed Dow in because he gets first hands on the ball, and without Hopper, Taranto, Prestia and Ross we had nobody else. Tough gig but given plenty of opportunity he wasn't up to it. Not sure many young mids would have under those circumstances. Sonsie could have been given more opportunity but he wasn't, maybe they saw him as too outside and they weren't much use last year where we couldn't get the ball.
 

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Player Watch #40 Tyler Sonsie

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