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

[Psicosis]

Club probably thinks there is absolutely no rush with him & I think it’s spot on. Not rushing talent isn’t a luxury we’ve previously had really. Another benefit of having depth.

 

[Disco Dew]

View attachment 1567690

I, for one, welcome our new inside bull warlord

This is ****ing elite! Well done. Shut bigfooty down, we have our winner

 

[Heaps of fun]

I didn't realise how skinny he is. Between his size and injuries I'm only expecting a small run of games here and there that is unlikely to begin until mid-season.

 

[DunderHead]

They’ll take it one step at a time with Wardlaw. There will be a long list of milestones he has to hit and no telling how long each stage will take for him to progress. They should be prepared for him to play no footy next year if necessary if that gets him right long term.

 

[Nugget 83]

The issue is that he's going to start with 6 BOGs in the VFL. Will make for some tricky selection meetings.

 

[Mixed Results]

Between Simpkin, Powell, Phillips, Davies-Uniacke, Cunnington, Swallow, and Ziebell, how many times do we have to draft a top-end insider midfielder before people realize they're most often write-offs for their first two years?

Some of the best athletes in Australia are playing in the middle and it'll take George a few years before he can compete physically with the likes of Clayton Oliver, Patrick Cripps, and Touk Miller.

 

[King Corey]

Between Simpkin, Powell, Phillips, Davies-Uniacke, Cunnington, Swallow, and Ziebell, how many times do we have to draft a top-end insider midfielder before people realize they're most often write-offs for their first two years?

Some of the best athletes in Australia are playing in the middle and it'll take George a few years before he can compete physically with the likes of Clayton Oliver, Patrick Cripps, and Touk Miller.

Swallow was pretty good in his first 2 years though. Even played in 3 finals.

 

[Shermanator]

The timing of GW’s ‘arrival’ to AFL midfield gun should coincide with Cunner eventual retirement

 

[The acurate one]

I don't think he'll take 3 years like LDU did.

 

[Colby Cheer Squad]

Between Simpkin, Powell, Phillips, Davies-Uniacke, Cunnington, Swallow, and Ziebell, how many times do we have to draft a top-end insider midfielder before people realize they're most often write-offs for their first two years?

Some of the best athletes in Australia are playing in the middle and it'll take George a few years before he can compete physically with the likes of Clayton Oliver, Patrick Cripps, and Touk Miller.

FFS, will you please piss off with your ****ing well-reasoned logic.

 

[shintemaster]

I don't think he'll take 3 years like LDU did.

LDU plays pretty differently and a different skillset. I agree though, I reckon anything at AFL level next year is a bonus but I also wouldn't be surprised to see him play some games next year in the 1's and be a key member by 2024.

 

[The acurate one]

I didn't realise how skinny he is. Between his size and injuries I'm only expecting a small run of games here and there that is unlikely to begin until mid-season.

He's listed as

182cm 79kgs
Powell 184cm 75kgs
Phillips 181cm 80kgs.

LDU plays pretty differently and a different skillset. I agree though, I reckon anything at AFL level next year is a bonus but I also wouldn't be surprised to see him play some games next year in the 1's and be a key member by 2024.

Yes he does ( LDU) and if Wardlaw is fit, I'd be disappointed with anything sub 12 games at AFL level.
We're stone motherless last.

Too many shitmen lining up weekly.

 

[Makeshift Park]

if Wardlaw is fit, I'd be disappointed with anything sub 12 games at AFL level.
We're stone motherless last.

Too many shitmen lining up weekly.

But none of those shitmen are in our top five midfielders - what exactly do you propose Wardlaw will spend at least 12 games doing?

 

[shintemaster]

He's listed as

182cm 79kgs
Powell 184cm 75kgs
Phillips 181cm 80kgs.





Yes he does ( LDU) and if Wardlaw is fit, I'd be disappointed with anything sub 12 games at AFL level.
We're stone motherless last.

Too many shitmen lining up weekly.

Just goes to show build shape does contribute. Phillips is a solid ball of fury at 80kgs...

Agree on games, just depends on the knee issue. Once he is fit enough to play a handful of VFL games I suspect the issue will mostly resolve itself (or he'll be getting kept out of a team that is flying compared to the last couple of years).

 

[The acurate one]

But none of those shitmen are in our top five midfielders - what exactly do you propose Wardlaw will spend at least 12 games doing?

Mate learning the craft, getting ready for 2024 and our blitzkrieg.

As I see it, Cunners, Simpkin & LDU.

Then Powell, Phillips, Greenwood, we aint exactly settled in the middle.

 

[Mjs94]

Happy for him to spend a year or most of it in the VFL if it means he improves his conditioning and hamstring strength.

Long game is the play here especially with no pressure on the coaching staff for immediate results.

 

[hilly]

Too many shitmen lining up weekly.

No he will need to prove himself to break into our esteemed best 22.

 

[The acurate one]

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

 

[the big lebowski]

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

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

 

[buttox]

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

I think he will start the year in the vfl and break in pretty quickly. He does not seem to have a fall back position like say sheezel does. Unless clarko finds him one through the off season ofc.

 

[shinboner magic]

FFS, will you please piss off with your ******* well-reasoned logic.

Yep you’ve gone early with your username- comeback in a couple of seasons

 

[My Left Foote]

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

Certainly not writing him off by any stretch, just give him all the time he needs to make sure he’s completely over his hamstring injuries and to build his endurance in the VFL. A debut somewhere around the bye makes sense to me.

 

[Lomas]

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

I think we can cover the 31 games, agreed.

 

[JGreezy]

I wouldn't mind seeing him spending some time up forward and rotating through the middle. He is quick, he is a great leaper, and I think would really improve the forward pressure with his tackling.

Ultimately he will be a full time centre mid, though.

 

[Psicosis]

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

Yeah I expect him to play early, fitness permitting