Player Watch #6: George Wardlaw - two-time RS nominee ('23 &'24) - The Warlord/ The Boss - Fashion Icon

[The acurate one]

I don’t think anyones doubts are about his footballing ability.

More his fitness and injury management.

He seems miles off it based on

1: his pre injury level of fitness - poor yoyo testing
2: three hammies In quick succession
3: the amount of footy he’s missed
4: most importantly, the level Of training he is doing ATM. He’s jogging laps.

Also with WAP and cunners back, the middle should be the least of our worries

Yes I understand and our first game is March 18, plenty of water to follow under the bridge before then.

 

[Mjs94]

Correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t we just trade and or delist two mids that combined for 31 games for us last season?

Simpkin played a dozen games in his first year, not sure why Wardlaw couldn’t do similar.

Now if he doesn’t it’s no big deal, but find it a tad strange that some around are writing him off at AFL level in 23 before we finish with 22.

We’re the worst team on the league one needs to remember that

Not writing him off but there is no point and really no need to throw him to the wolves early on.

None of us want another Powell situation where he performs early on but then picks up a serious injury.

Of course if he plays games, does well and is managed we will all be happy.

Obviously he is going to a midfielder once he gets going so why not spend time in his preferred position in the VFL for a fair chunk of next year? Jy played 12 games in his first year but did not see the middle of the ground.

 

[DunderHead]

Hamstrings can be tough to manage. Making sure they get it right for longterm is the primary focus.

If he had no hamstring issues he’d probably play most games next year.

 

[Flawed Genius]

Just get the feeling he's a slow burn. Like there will be a few years where he battles away in the twos and we sort of forget about him while Powell etc have good years ... And then all of a sudden he blows the doors off against Southport or something and has 37 with 14 clearances and kicks 3. And we all go oh yeah. George. And once he's in he never leaves the team again

 

[Val Keating]

Just get the feeling he's a slow burn. Like there will be a few years where he battles away in the twos and we sort of forget about him while Powell etc have good years ... And then all of a sudden he blows the doors off against Southport or something and has 37 with 14 clearances and kicks 3. And we all go oh yeah. George. And once he's in he never leaves the team again

That’s a carbon copy of what Cunnington did.

 

[DuckYeah]

Just get the feeling he's a slow burn. Like there will be a few years where he battles away in the twos and we sort of forget about him while Powell etc have good years ... And then all of a sudden he blows the doors off against Southport or something and has 37 with 14 clearances and kicks 3. And we all go oh yeah. George. And once he's in he never leaves the team again

Its not a bad thing. Good midfields allow time for their future stars to develop. Unless he is absolutely dominating the scoobs and deserves a call up due to non performance in the seniors. Its a good problem to have. He probably debuts in round 1

 

[Mjs94]

Just get the feeling he's a slow burn. Like there will be a few years where he battles away in the twos and we sort of forget about him while Powell etc have good years ... And then all of a sudden he blows the doors off against Southport or something and has 37 with 14 clearances and kicks 3. And we all go oh yeah. George. And once he's in he never leaves the team again

Reckon it might be one year tops. Has more of an all round than Cunners did but I like the idea of spending most of '23 in the twos building conditioning in his hammies and playing predominantly as an on-baller.

LDU-Phillips-Powell-Simpkin-Wardlaw in 2026 is seriously tantalizing as an on-ball brigade.

 

[jay317]

No issue at all for me if he's in the VFL all year. Let him get fully healthy and build his body. We've got no need to throw him into the fire.

 

[susurrar]

interesting discussion. im not sure he will be such a slow burn. i definitely cant see him battling it out in the twos for a long time. hes already shown hes above that level.

if he is healthy and playing regular vfl games, his form will be too good. they wont be able to keep him out.

ive noticed a lot of comments on his lack of size too, and this is getting into weird territory, but his legs are impressive.

 

[DuckYeah]

interesting discussion. im not sure he will be such a slow burn. i definitely cant see him battling it out in the twos for a long time. hes already shown hes above that level.

if he is healthy and playing regular vfl games, his form will be too good. they wont be able to keep him out.

ive noticed a lot of comments on his lack of size too, and this is getting into weird territory, but his legs are impressive.

Games on merit. Deserves a game, gets a game. No free rides any longer.

The bus has a staunch driver. Ticket or **** off and earn it

 

[shinboner magic]

Just get the feeling he's a slow burn. Like there will be a few years where he battles away in the twos and we sort of forget about him while Powell etc have good years ... And then all of a sudden he blows the doors off against Southport or something and has 37 with 14 clearances and kicks 3. And we all go oh yeah. George. And once he's in he never leaves the team again

Yep I’m a patient man

Rd 1 vfl 2023 stats thx

 

[Tas]

Just get the feeling he's a slow burn. Like there will be a few years where he battles away in the twos and we sort of forget about him while Powell etc have good years ... And then all of a sudden he blows the doors off against Southport or something and has 37 with 14 clearances and kicks 3. And we all go oh yeah. George. And once he's in he never leaves the team again

I think how Collingwood used Nick Daicos this year was smart, they could have put him in the guts and he would have done okay, but he would have been physically hammered over an entire season. He has bulked up a bit already over the pre-season and I am sure he will go through the midfield more next year but probably another pre-season away from it.

Clarko might have something similar in mind. A lot depends on what kind of structure we have down back and who he things is able to bring the ball out of defensive 50. Hall was critical for us in terms of run and carry, he was able to just be mobile and create momentum, he wasn't as hot in terms of his delivery by foot, it was a bit hit or miss.

 

[DuckYeah]

I think how Collingwood used Nick Daicos this year was smart, they could have put him in the guts and he would have done okay, but he would have been physically hammered over an entire season. He has bulked up a bit already over the pre-season and I am sure he will go through the midfield more next year but probably another pre-season away from it.

Clarko might have something similar in mind. A lot depends on what kind of structure we have down back and who he things is able to bring the ball out of defensive 50. Hall was critical for us in terms of run and carry, he was able to just be mobile and create momentum, he wasn't as hot in terms of his delivery by foot, it was a bit hit or miss.

Nick Daicos copped an absolute bath from Gwelfie. Nick Daicos took majority of collingwoods kick ins and ran around without an opponent for most of the year. Nick Daicos is nothing short of a sheep dog that has a neat kick. Piss weak and will never EVER win it in the middle on his own terms. EVER.

Do not compare Wardy with that sheep dog.

 

[The Dingrel]

Games on merit. Deserves a game, gets a game. No free rides any longer.

The bus has a staunch driver. Ticket or * off and earn it

Well considering he was BOG for Australian U18 team against Collingwood reserves suggest he was well and truly up to or beyond VFL level as a 17yo. I seriously doubt he is a fare evader either, by George he'll earn his spot.

 

[DuckYeah]

Well considering he was BOG for Australian U18 team against Collingwood reserves suggest he was well and truly up to or beyond VFL level as a 17yo. I seriously doubt he is a fare evader either, by George he'll earn his spot.

He’s no slouch..

 

[Horace]

It wouldn't be Bigfooty if some of us were not writing him off (more or less) at this early stage of his career.

BTW where are we are at in terms of his career? The 10 minute mark of the first quarter of his career or the 10 minute mark of the first quarter of his first pre-season?

Oh well.

 

[Del191229]

Just get the feeling he's a slow burn. Like there will be a few years where he battles away in the twos and we sort of forget about him while Powell etc have good years ... And then all of a sudden he blows the doors off against Southport or something and has 37 with 14 clearances and kicks 3. And we all go oh yeah. George. And once he's in he never leaves the team again

LDU like.

 

[speedy]

Every one of our draftees seems to be a slow burn. Half of them don't even play much the first couple of years because they are injured. We are due for one or two to burst out of the blocks.

 

[My Left Foote]

Every one of our draftees seems to be a slow burn. Half of them don't even play much the first couple of years because they are injured. We are due for one or two to burst out of the blocks.

Sheezel and Drury will burst out of the blocks this year. We can give Wardlaw, Harvey and George all the time they need.

 

[Lomas]

Sheezel and Drury will burst out of the blocks this year. We can give Wardlaw, Harvey and George all the time they need.

Harvey's genes suggest he has 20 odd years, no need to rush.

 

[Sphynx]

Whilst Wardlaw reminds me a bit of WP physically at the moment when he joined the club (hasn’t played much in 9 months etc), people are underestimating his raw talent.

Comparing him to Cunners and even LDU at the same age is a little off.

Wardlaw was a much more credentialed junior than even those two at 17/18 (and that’s saying something, as I fully realize how good both of them were)

This is someone that was being talked about 3-4 years ago by recruiters and even last year with commentary around JHF power in the contest there was a lot of “yeah, but wait until you see Wardlaw next year, he’s probably even more athletic and even more fierce defensively”

Whilst Sheezel is going to be an unbelievable player for us, I think Wardlaw is going to be even a level above him at his peak.

Even underdone and probably 3 years off being really fit, I’m still expecting (and would be disappointed to not see) 12+ games from him.

He showed what he would be like at VFL level against Collingwood, it will be a bit of a waste.

Once he’s fully fit, I fully expect him to be playing seniors.

We don’t have a midfielder with the defensive potential like him, Greenwood is the only one and he can’t defend anyone outside of the initial contest, where Wardlaw regularly breaks and hunts opposition midfielders that break from congestion.

That should be his initial role imo, not a tagged, but to stand the Petracca/Neale/Anderson/Treloar/Warner types with leg speed that can break from stoppage and prevent it.

 

[guapo]

Whilst Wardlaw reminds me a bit of WP physically at the moment when he joined the club (hasn’t played much in 9 months etc), people are underestimating his raw talent.

Comparing him to Cunners and even LDU at the same age is a little off.

Wardlaw was a much more credentialed junior than even those two at 17/18 (and that’s saying something, as I fully realize how good both of them were)

This is someone that was being talked about 3-4 years ago by recruiters and even last year with commentary around JHF power in the contest there was a lot of “yeah, but wait until you see Wardlaw next year, he’s probably even more athletic and even more fierce defensively”

Whilst Sheezel is going to be an unbelievable player for us, I think Wardlaw is going to be even a level above him at his peak.

Even underdone and probably 3 years off being really fit, I’m still expecting (and would be disappointed to not see) 12+ games from him.

He showed what he would be like at VFL level against Collingwood, it will be a bit of a waste.

Once he’s fully fit, I fully expect him to be playing seniors.

We don’t have a midfielder with the defensive potential like him, Greenwood is the only one and he can’t defend anyone outside of the initial contest, where Wardlaw regularly breaks and hunts opposition midfielders that break from congestion.

That should be his initial role imo, not a tagged, but to stand the Petracca/Neale/Anderson/Treloar/Warner types with leg speed that can break from stoppage and prevent it.

Keep that stuff coming Sphynx - want this kid to be every bit as good as you say. All time great midfields if he and Phillips deliver to promise

 

[r_boy]

12 games is surely a stretch. Will he have the conditioning?

 

[The Dingrel]

Every one of our draftees seems to be a slow burn. Half of them don't even play much the first couple of years because they are injured. We are due for one or two to burst out of the blocks.

Expectations too high? Paul Curtis couldn't really have done much more as a rookie stay at home forward in the worst team.....hell if we were a junior country footy team, his mum would have brought gloves out at quarter time to stop the frost bite how rarely the ball would have been down his end. Stevo won the rising star award, as an outside goal kicking type going into a team challenging for silverware. Reckon Curtis could have had similar output in a top 4 team! Powell was good for a skinny kid in his first season. I think when we select contested mid types, the reality is it just takes time for them to adjust to playing against the bigger bodies.

 

[DesertRoo]

Every one of our draftees seems to be a slow burn. Half of them don't even play much the first couple of years because they are injured. We are due for one or two to burst out of the blocks.

Two picks, Drury and the Sheezle, both will get opportunity next year,
Sheezle has a massive tank and skills, he could easily play that Nick Daicos role well, that run up and back, give and go with a lethal boot.