Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn: Ethan Phillips. 2024 SSP (delisted 2024)

[Hawkthorn33]

Phillips was again resolute across 18 VFL outings last season, averaging 11 intercept possessions, 4.9 intercept marks, 4.6 spoils and 17.6 disposals at 83.2% efficiency per game.


Get him in.

If that form and it’s a big IF, converts to AFL level then we have ourselves the next Full back to win Norm Smith in a premiership winning team.

No pressure!

 

[bigmaxi]

Blanck will be missed. But in 2025, we might be blessed with both!

I love this, Blank, Phillips, Serong, McCabe, DGB all fighting for spots. Nice problem to have.

 

[Roddy]

If that form and it’s a big IF, converts to AFL level then we have ourselves the next Full back to win Norm Smith in a premiership winning team.

No pressure!

How about he joins us, plays for us for three years, wins three flags from three, and then retires…

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

How about he joins us, plays for us for three years, wins three flags from three, and then retires…

I would not set the bar that low

 

[Flukey!]

The Doggies games will give us a better take on where he sits in the pecking order.

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

The Doggies games will give us a better take on where he sits in the pecking order.

agree. Not jumping to conclusions just yet and he may just been seen as a back up and will have to bide his time before others are given a go first.

But I am expecting a BOG performance nevertheless.

 

[SSSSSS]

agree. Not jumping to conclusions just yet and he may just been seen as a back up and will have to bide his time before others are given a go first.

But I am expecting a BOG performance nevertheless.

Speak for yourself mate if he isn't AA FB by the end of the year he's been an absolute SPP bust.

 

[TheFourPillars]

As much as I feel for James Blank we’re not losing much replacing him with this guy , in fact if you are to believe the wraps from those in the know , he might even be an improvement.

Steady on mate VFL is far below in standard. Dave Mirra was an absolute star at VFL level. Sadly that was his level.

Lets see him play first

 

[HedgeFund]

Steady on mate VFL is far below in standard. Dave Mirra was an absolute star at VFL level. Sadly that was his level.

Lets see him play first

Try Fergus Greene - who kicked 53 goals in 2022 and plenty thought he’d be a solid inclusion into our 2023 AFL forward line.

Now he is playing for Sandhurst in the Bendigo League.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Try Fergus Greene - who kicked 53 goals in 2022 and plenty thought he’d be a solid inclusion into our 2023 AFL forward line.

Now he is playing for Sandhurst in the Bendigo League.

No other Hawks players made it to the big Channel 7 AFL season promo though....

 

[HedgeFund]

No other Hawks players made it to the big Channel 7 AFL season promo though....

Well there’s that…yes…I guess…

 

[TheFourPillars]

Try Fergus Greene - who kicked 53 goals in 2022 and plenty thought he’d be a solid inclusion into our 2023 AFL forward line.

Now he is playing for Sandhurst in the Bendigo League.

I believe Dave was a better player than fergus. He was also captain of box hill. He is the best example i could think off to illustrate my point

 

[cmndstab]

Came to see if anyone made a Neelix reference, left disappointed.

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

Love these sorts of picks. you never know the gems you find.

 

[Alite]

Try Fergus Greene - who kicked 53 goals in 2022 and plenty thought he’d be a solid inclusion into our 2023 AFL forward line.

Now he is playing for Sandhurst in the Bendigo League.

A bit harsh on Fergus. He was a not-as-good Gunston 3rd tall replacement asked to be the main forward in some games early in 2023. And while he got a number of shots on goal his usual dead-eye set-shot deserted him. He needed that edge.

Put Bailey Fritsch in the same position as Fergus Greene and Fritsch would have also struggled… yet we know Fritsch can play.

However, point taken TheFourPillars. It is a significant step up from VFL to AFL and only a few mature agers can do it (think JPod).

 

[Alite]

I am glad that we have someone to fill the hole in our list that was left by James Blanck’s long-term injury. While Blanck is no world beater, he is tall, fast, agile, defends well and is OK with his disposal.

Ethan Phillips is not as tall (edit: taller), not as fast, not as agile, a much better mark, and very careful with his disposal (read not very good but smart enough to take the easy option: hence the 86% disposal efficiency from last year)

Unless Phillips can find a way to block / bump / harras his opponent… Sam Collins style (damn he is a smart player)… I think Phillips will get burnt on the lead more often than Blanck would.

As KermitJagger has said, Ethan Phillips will look as good as our midfield pressure allow him... along with how well he plays.

Good Luck big man. You have your shot. Now go and be you within the Hawks system and find out if you have the stuff. We all hope you do.

 

[FB19]

Speak for yourself mate if he isn't AA FB by the end of the year he's been an absolute SPP bust.

WTF IDKWYTA.

 

[dermott]

I believe Dave was a better player than fergus. He was also captain of box hill. He is the best example i could think off to illustrate my point

Agreed. Mirra was a standout at VFL level

 

[eldorado]

Ethan Phillips is not as tall,

Phillips is 198cm, Blanck 196cm

 

[matey]

Everything in life happens for a reason. Wishing Blanck the best of luck in attacking his rehab. He is such a competitor I’m sure he will come back stronger ……. now for Ethan to grab the opportunity by the scruff of the neck!

 

[Flukey!]

Having been overlooked in 2 drafts, any senior games from EP will be a bonus for us this year.
It would be amazing if he can make that jump.

 

[hawkmang]

Given the current Taylor Swift hysteria I can only presume the chat between Macca and Ethan went something like this

 

[Mappa]

Any idea if he can play one-on-one? Intercepting is a good skill to have, but every now and then you’ll have to go body-on-body. We’re very light in this area.
Good luck to the fella though.

 

[Alite]

Phillips is 198cm, Blanck 196cm

Cheers for the correction, I have edited my post.

 

[hawker79]

You beauty!! So good to hear this news, especially so soon after hearing bad news, but this could be really amazing, not only for Ethan but for us as a team moving forward in 2024 and beyond. There are players out there who have great talent in the VFL who haven't quite had the chance to take themselves to the next level, but by the sound of things and being ajudged the best young player in the VFL, and the clear need that we need a play in his position, he certainly deserves the opportunity and I hope he really grasps it. Positionally, we need the most reinforcement down back and having a key defender who can defend, intercept and also be a springboard down back is vital. Best of luck to him and we will be even stronger when Blank comes back next year.