Player Watch Pick #23 (2019) - Dylan Williams

[Ford Fairlane]

Let him bulk up a bit. They seem more likely to play him close to goals now, the extra strength will help.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

Are fitness issues still there

Yes but slowly getting better IMO.

 

[RangaInTeal]

Yes but slowly getting better IMO.

He stayed here over the summer to get fit, the one off season we seem to have let our standards slip below AFL standards.

 

[RossFC]

Another 4 goals from Williams putting him up to 7th in the Ken Farmer. Including this goal in the pocket.

 

[Jojay]

You just know Clarkson would be getting the best out of this lad.

 

[Chewy316]

You just know Clarkson would be getting the best out of this lad.

I loathe Ken's coaching decisions as much as anyone on this forum, but good luck playing Robbie and Dylan in the same forward line. Forward craft would be great but you can't carry both as deep forwards on the ground at the same time without losing a ton of forward defensive pressure. Would likely result in the ball getting out of the forward 50 way too easy.

I am sure Dylan will get a chance eventually, but I'm not in a hurry to get him into the forward line at AFL level whilst Robbie is still in the side.

 

[Powerage]

I loathe Ken's coaching decisions as much as anyone on this forum, but good luck playing Robbie and Dylan in the same forward line. Forward craft would be great but you can't carry both as deep forwards on the ground at the same time without losing a ton of forward defensive pressure. Would likely result in the ball getting out of the forward 50 way too easy.

I am sure Dylan will get a chance eventually, but I'm not in a hurry to get him into the forward line at AFL level whilst Robbie is still in the side.

You are probably right. We would lose defensive pressure if we play Williams and Gray. Sometimes though the best defense is a good offense. It just is. We win by scoring more than the opposition. We don't win by the amount of time we can keep the ball inside our forward fifty and their opponents can't run off them if they are taking marks and kicking goals.

Dylans form at an average of 2.3 goals in the SANFL and 4 goals in his last game is demanding he get picked. So pick him and see what happens. We gain defensive pressure with Dixon coming in. We have an excellent defensive forward in SPP. Marshall is playing well defensively at the moment. Gray's tackles and tackles inside 50 are above for a small/medium forward this season and he is averaging 1.5 goals a game and 1 goal assist. Let his opponent run off him at his own peril. There are other players who can press forward and assist with defensive pressure anyway if it is the be all and end all.

This season we average 66 points a game which has us ranked 15th. What do we need more at this point? Defensive pressure inside 50, or to kick a winning score?

 

[Jonts]

Seemed to play up the ground a bit more with Dixon and Lord in the same side

 

[Chewy316]

You are probably right. We would lose defensive pressure if we play Williams and Gray. Sometimes though the best defense is a good offense. It just is. We win by scoring more than the opposition. We don't win by the amount of time we can keep the ball inside our forward fifty and their opponents can't run off them if they are taking marks and kicking goals.

Dylans form at an average of 2.3 goals in the SANFL and 4 goals in his last game is demanding he get picked. So pick him and see what happens. We gain defensive pressure with Dixon coming in. We have an excellent defensive forward in SPP. Marshall is playing well defensively at the moment. Gray's tackles and tackles inside 50 are above for a small/medium forward this season and he is averaging 1.5 goals a game and 1 goal assist. Let his opponent run off him at his own peril. There are other players who can press forward and assist with defensive pressure anyway if it is the be all and end all.

This season we average 66 points a game which has us ranked 15th. What do we need more at this point? Defensive pressure inside 50, or to kick a winning score?

I agree, more scoring is needed. But there is no point in bringing in a player who is going to make it so easy for transition out of defence that his ineptitude in that facet of his game will literally require a significant change to the overall defensive structure.

The problem with the lack of scoring imo isn't a lack of talent - it's because the gameplan isn't conducive to clean forward 50 entries against high pressure teams, along with the repetitive instinct of players to bomb it in aimlessly and hope for the best.

If Dylan had a decent tank I wouldn't even be debating it - you'd play him next week without question. But he doesn't, which limits what you can do with him at AFL level. I fail to see how he and Gray playing as deep forwards would not result in easy exits out of defence for the opposition. And as we saw against Hawthorn in round 2, when you allow easy defensive 50 exits, the high press gets broken and you give away a very high score.

 

[StuMan]

 

[JimmyBC]

He's got swagger

 

[Long live PAFC]

I still think put him in the centre square and get him to build his centre craft and force him to work on the tank.

 

[PJ Power]

I still think put him in the centre square and get him to build his centre craft and force him to work on the tank.

Don’t mind it.

 

[Expat power]

I loathe Ken's coaching decisions as much as anyone on this forum, but good luck playing Robbie and Dylan in the same forward line. Forward craft would be great but you can't carry both as deep forwards on the ground at the same time without losing a ton of forward defensive pressure. Would likely result in the ball getting out of the forward 50 way too easy.

I am sure Dylan will get a chance eventually, but I'm not in a hurry to get him into the forward line at AFL level whilst Robbie is still in the side.

Exactly this

 

[DaTBird187]

Another 4 goals from Williams putting him up to 7th in the Ken Farmer. Including this goal in the pocket.

"Right in front of me!"

 

[Powerage]

I agree, more scoring is needed. But there is no point in bringing in a player who is going to make it so easy for transition out of defence that his ineptitude in that facet of his game will literally require a significant change to the overall defensive structure.

The problem with the lack of scoring imo isn't a lack of talent - it's because the gameplan isn't conducive to clean forward 50 entries against high pressure teams, along with the repetitive instinct of players to bomb it in aimlessly and hope for the best.

If Dylan had a decent tank I wouldn't even be debating it - you'd play him next week without question. But he doesn't, which limits what you can do with him at AFL level. I fail to see how he and Gray playing as deep forwards would not result in easy exits out of defence for the opposition. And as we saw against Hawthorn in round 2, when you allow easy defensive 50 exits, the high press gets broken and you give away a very high score.

Things could well pan out as you suggest. So what do we do? Keep cramming the forward 50 with as many defensive forwards as possible to make it difficult for our opponents to transition out of defense? Or play a couple of offensive weapons deep so that lo and behold we put the ball through the big sticks, therefore not having to worry about the ball coming out of defense and in the process hopefully kicking a winning score?

I see your point. I guess its a chicken and egg situation. Do you keep playing selecting players based on a flawed gameplan? Or do you select players capable of kicking a decent score that is defensible and hopefully teach the players that if they put it to the advantage of the best forwards we can put on the park often they will do the rest.

Besides, is denying Williams AFL experience which he is entitled to on form really what is best for the long term future of the club? Lets not kid ourselves into thinking we are are going to win a premiership this year. Might as well let Williams serve an apprenticeship with Gray while he is still playing. Dylan might learn something about the importance of preparation as a result.

 

[davesnothere]

Ken's got 800,000 reasons not to play Williams. Not making the 8 has him out of a job so we wallow in mediocrity until it is mathematically impossible to get there.


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[Us against the rest]

He needs to play some consecutive games at AFL level, so he has a chance to show what he is capable of.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

I still think put him in the centre square and get him to build his centre craft and force him to work on the tank.

I've been saying this too.

100% agree

 

[Enviable Tradition]

He needs to play some consecutive games at AFL level, so he has a chance to show what he is capable of.

Id give him 1 just so he can see how far off he is in fitness and 2nd efforts.

Hayes showed you can make up for a lot of fitness issues with just pure effort and heart

 

[Us against the rest]

I still think put him in the centre square and get him to build his centre craft and force him to work on the tank.

This is a good idea imo.

 

[malcheski]

Sam Hayes doesn't have the tank for AFL either according to Stinkley.

Put Williams in and watch him make massive steps towards being a solid AFL player week on week.

 

[Frank Hansen II]

I loathe Ken's coaching decisions as much as anyone on this forum, but good luck playing Robbie and Dylan in the same forward line. Forward craft would be great but you can't carry both as deep forwards on the ground at the same time without losing a ton of forward defensive pressure. Would likely result in the ball getting out of the forward 50 way too easy.

I am sure Dylan will get a chance eventually, but I'm not in a hurry to get him into the forward line at AFL level whilst Robbie is still in the side.

Very true that we wouldn't have great forward pressure but under the current system, when we don't score off the immediate entry/crumb, it comes out too easily already that I doubt it would make much difference.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

You just know Clarkson will be getting the best out of this lad.

Edited for hope

 

[chiwigi]

I said this in the Gray thread before the season (and got panned), but him playing is a terrible sign for us and holding back players like Williams.

It is time for transition whilst Robbie is around to cover for injuries.