Will Schofield - 195cm wingman?

[Obeanie1]

I was checking out the stats on our younger guys and was surprised to see Schofield is 195cm tall........he doesn't look it.

I mean Glass is about that and he looks like a man mountain standing next to team mates, he does have big shoulders.

So even though this guy is still young where do we think we will end up?

Back pocket then Full back?

HBF then CHB?

Wing?

How many games do you think he'll get in 2008?

 

[Lynch takes a mark]

wisbey profile

SCHOFIELD, Will (50 WCE) [44] Emerging 195cm HBF with a style similar to Bassett. Raw but showing good signs. Punt on developing. I wrestled with whether to include Will in this category as he hasn't really done much to this stage but, as a bottom-age tall who only played 11 TAC games due to school footy, I was impressed with his improvement trend late '06 and various AFL-like traits he displayed in that period. Good endurance, works hard and prepared to create run out of defence yet still be accountable.

His actual form to date doesn't scream "AFL!" but I suspect he will continue to be a rapid developer. There's not much about the way he was going about his game latish season that caused me concern. Pace was only average for a flanker but he looks to me to have scope to improve it. Attacks the ball, balanced mover, makes a contest, prepared to judiciously back his judgement. Reads the play well, shows poise, looks for and finds options (even on the run, which he often is), links well, works hard.

Kicking accuracy and marking aren't quite there yet but I believe he has the scope to be a fairly reliable kick and a good contested mark. Might always be a flanker as he is very slim and he is suited to HBF (or maybe 3rd tall defender) but perhaps he might even be able to play "wing" in time. If he can bulk up enough, could definitely be a nice CHB or FB on the right opponent but ability to bulk up enough for that has to be a query. The WCE style of game and big grounds will suit him.

Logically he hasn't yet shown enough to be classed as any sort of "sure bet" but I'm quietly confident that he and WCE will be a good fit for each other and that we'll see a lot of him in future years, possibly as a reliable Bassett type.

 

[sleekism]

Wing, third tall, HBF, BP. Any of those positons he will be good for and I think he will succeed at either or any.

However I like him as the third tall who can run off. Could play on any opponent.

We have plenty of wingmen/midfielders so tall backman I think is best suited for team structure and what he is personally suited to.

 

[lyall]

Ive been thinking he could be a avery versatile wingman. Almost impossible to match up on in the future when he has finished developing.

 

[jako27]

hes 196+ now, interesting to note wiseby says pace was so-so, not now, he is very explosive particularly for his height.

Extreme athlete BUT a natural footballer unlike staker, eventually he should imo, be a big mid/winger who pushes fwd and creates a mismatch.

 

[Mastablingbling]

He should get a few games - I reckon he's going to be handy

 

[Bestbird]

wisbey profile

SCHOFIELD, Will (50 WCE) [44] Emerging 195cm HBF with a style similar to Bassett. Raw but showing good signs. Punt on developing. I wrestled with whether to include Will in this category as he hasn't really done much to this stage but, as a bottom-age tall who only played 11 TAC games due to school footy, I was impressed with his improvement trend late '06 and various AFL-like traits he displayed in that period. Good endurance, works hard and prepared to create run out of defence yet still be accountable.

His actual form to date doesn't scream "AFL!" but I suspect he will continue to be a rapid developer. There's not much about the way he was going about his game latish season that caused me concern. Pace was only average for a flanker but he looks to me to have scope to improve it. Attacks the ball, balanced mover, makes a contest, prepared to judiciously back his judgement. Reads the play well, shows poise, looks for and finds options (even on the run, which he often is), links well, works hard.

Kicking accuracy and marking aren't quite there yet but I believe he has the scope to be a fairly reliable kick and a good contested mark. Might always be a flanker as he is very slim and he is suited to HBF (or maybe 3rd tall defender) but perhaps he might even be able to play "wing" in time. If he can bulk up enough, could definitely be a nice CHB or FB on the right opponent but ability to bulk up enough for that has to be a query. The WCE style of game and big grounds will suit him.

Logically he hasn't yet shown enough to be classed as any sort of "sure bet" but I'm quietly confident that he and WCE will be a good fit for each other and that we'll see a lot of him in future years, possibly as a reliable Bassett type.

Good profile by Wiseby as per usual

Personaly i really like the look of Schofield late last year playing in defence as a third tall and it should be interesting to see how he goes considering their is a fair amount of competition among the young players for that role

The Wingman proposition certianly is interesting, i recall that Mackenzie played on a wing for Claremont at times last year so maybe the club is tinkering with the idea

 

[anti.]

to me, hes like staker + footy smarts.

i rate him highly, and i think he'll play at least half of our games this year. he can slot in as a 3rd tall, he can even play on smalls considering his pace. has a great spoil on him and can run and create with a booming kick. he could become a wingman with his pace and kick but at the moment i'd like to see his great spoiling abilities utilised in the backline, this can also allow hunter to swing forward.

i wonder if schoey and staker can both fit in the same team? depends if stakers role as a midfield tagger works out i guess.

 

[Crimson King]

Certainly a big year coming up for him.

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

Seems like a pretty similar mold to Staker.

Let's hope he can lay a tackle and actually manages to find a position.

 

[tonywce23]

Reminds me more of Embley than Staker, exciting young prospect

 

[imright]

Wing, third tall, HBF, BP. Any of those positons he will be good for and I think he will succeed at either or any.

However I like him as the third tall who can run off. Could play on any opponent.

We have plenty of wingmen/midfielders so tall backman I think is best suited for team structure and what he is personally suited to.

I like him best in defence, the Eagles need his rebound. Sitting in a back pocket next to Glass he could learn alot like McIntosh did when he played next to Brennen at fullback.

 

[karl0s]

didn't look to bad last year, definitly a player for the future if he can get some games and find a place in the team, maybe somewhere in defence

 

[Ozzie72]

At school, he played back as like a loose man in defence. He could intercept the pass into the forward 50m, as he had the height and athletism and because he had no direct opponent he would be able to run off and create the play from the backline. It worked a treated in finals because he was the difference as we won the APS Premiership 06.

 

[juddy_Like]

The beauty of this is, that we have another possible 194cm wingman in McKenzie on the books as well.



God i love our recruiting. YEAHHHHHH

 

[Gunnar Longshanks]

The beauty of this is, that we have another possible 194cm wingman in McKenzie on the books as well.

I thought Mackenzie was more a traditional key defender?

And are tall wingmen really what we need at the moment?

I'd much prefer a natural, mid-sized forward or a reliable, versatile defender.

 

[tin can sam]

If he's on a wing, you'll lose his best asset, his ability to spoil (well second best, behind his run and carry)

He should be developed into a CHB, he was the best spoiler drafted in 2006, and IMO he should be used in defense.

 

[anti.]

im more with tin can sam. he's a great spoiler, i think maybe playing as the 3rd tall and moving to CHB when hunter is swung forward is a good role for him. he can run and create and use his height and long arms to spoil over opponents.

the only problem is his body weight, dunno how hes going at the moment in regard to that.

 

[juddy_Like]

I thought Mackenzie was more a traditional key defender?

I would say he is the prototype modern-day key defender. Speed, agility, endurance, flexibility, etc. But don't get me wrong, E-Mac would be more than capable of being left on the wing.

And are tall wingmen really what we need at the moment?

No not really. Im more than happy having the relatively small Braun out there. But i think were more of less discussing how flexible our youngsters really are.