Player Watch #12 Angus Sheldrick

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Uncle, what on earth would convince you of that? I'm a fan and I can't see him playing regular seniors before 2027.

Skill set breadth, have him ahead of several more Ltd players in the 1s, a couple of whom have maxed their ceiling out.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

I think if Sheldrick stays with the Swans then his best bet is to try and add more strings to his bow. Work on his forward craft so he can play as a forward, build his tank so he can spend time on the wing, etc. Just give himself more avenues into the best 22.

If he's gonna stay purely an inside mid then I think he's gonna be waiting a long time and/or reliant on an injury, because Heeney, Rowbottom, Warner & Gulden won't be going anywhere for years.

I think this is why he didn't get selected earlier this year even when there were spots available and he was fit. If he played in the 22, his role would likely be probably 40/60 midfield/forward (or wing) split that Adams currently has, and for Horse & co, there are better players for that 60 than Sheldrick.

Rowbottom needs remedial kicking lessons… not within cooee of the other mids. Can we carry a specialist tackler?

 

[caesar88]

He doesn't need to change his game, he just needs to stay healthy for an extended period and he will be in the team.

Based on what? Horse had the chance to pick him when he was healthy at the start of the year and didn't.

And who'd he be coming in for?

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Based on what? Horse had the chance to pick him when he was healthy at the start of the year and didn't.

And who'd he be coming in for?

The argument could equally be made that he was locked into the best XXII last year before the knee injury.

Its all a bit hypothetical, as we're yet to see Gus have a prolonged injury-free run ..... until that happens, its impossible to really know where he sits in the overall scheme of things.

Its fair to say he won't replace Chad, Rowy, Errol or Heeney. Nobody in the AFL would. But I don't think we can say with any certainty that Gus won't take someone else's spot if he gets a bit of luck on the injury front.

 

[tombomb]

Based on what? Horse had the chance to pick him when he was healthy at the start of the year and didn't.

And who'd he be coming in for?

Just because he wasn't picked in the Melbourne game, doesn't mean he wasn't a big part of the plans for the year. Then he got injured that weekend.

As for who he would replace. We are going well, but we don't have literally 23 locks running around that could never be dropped.

Roberts, Campbell, Jordon, Wicks, Cunningham, Adams all could find themselves under pressure if they have a couple of quiet weeks and someone is playing really well in the reserves.

 

[The King!]

Rowbottom needs remedial kicking lessons… not within cooee of the other mids. Can we carry a specialist tackler?

Wowzers

love you but please don't apply for a job at the club

 

[The King!]

Just because he wasn't picked in the Melbourne game, doesn't mean he wasn't a big part of the plans for the year. Then he got injured that weekend.

As for who he would replace. We are going well, but we don't have literally 23 locks running around that could never be dropped.

Roberts, Campbell, Jordon, Wicks, Cunningham, Adams all could find themselves under pressure if they have a couple of quiet weeks and someone is playing really well in the reserves.

And Sheldrick could have stunk up the VFL and been delisted . All hypothetical

 

[caesar88]

Just because he wasn't picked in the Melbourne game, doesn't mean he wasn't a big part of the plans for the year. Then he got injured that weekend.

As for who he would replace. We are going well, but we don't have literally 23 locks running around that could never be dropped.

Roberts, Campbell, Jordon, Wicks, Cunningham, Adams all could find themselves under pressure if they have a couple of quiet weeks and someone is playing really well in the reserves.

Doesn't this just prove my point though? Five of those six names you mentioned aren't playing as inside mids. They're playing as half back flankers or run with players or small pressure forwards or lockdown defenders. Why would Horse think Sheldrick could replace any of them when he has little to no proven ability in any of those sorts of roles or positions?

The safest, most immovable group of players in our 22 are all in the only position that Sheldrick has proven ability in. So the "he's good enough, therefore he plays" confidence some seem to have is lost on me. He's gonna need something more.

 

[Kiama Chris]

Current midfield pecking order (arguable I know but currently playing seniors):
Heeney
Warner
Gulden
Rowbottom
McInerney
Adams
Lloyd
Jordon
-------------
Mills
Parker
Sheldrick
Roberts
Warner C
Mitchell
Cleary
It will take at least 3, possibly 4, injuries for Gus to get a game.
Who could he reasonably replace? IMO Adams, Rowbottom or Jordon. He would need a big block tearing the VFL apart and getting past at least Parker.
It isn't going to happen.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

Doesn't this just prove my point though? Five of those six names you mentioned aren't playing as inside mids. They're playing as half back flankers or run with players or small pressure forwards or lockdown defenders. Why would Horse think Sheldrick could replace any of them when he has little to no proven ability in any of those sorts of roles or positions?

The safest, most immovable group of players in our 22 are all in the only position that Sheldrick has proven ability in. So the "he's good enough, therefore he plays" confidence some seem to have is lost on me.

Love my B Graders most as things have come harder for them. But for me Gus has a vastly superior and diverse skill base as an inside mid to Rowy who like JMac and some of the others mentioned is bloody solid B Grader.

Rowy has to maximise his skill set and contribute more beyond stoppages.

 

[The King!]

Current midfield pecking order (arguable I know but currently playing seniors):
Heeney
Warner
Gulden
Rowbottom
McInerney
Adams
Lloyd
Jordon
-------------
Mills
Parker
Sheldrick
Roberts
Warner C
Mitchell
Cleary
It will take at least 3, possibly 4, injuries for Gus to get a game.
Who could he reasonably replace? IMO Adams, Rowbottom or Jordon. He would need a big block tearing the VFL apart and getting past at least Parker.
It isn't going to happen.

Campbell

 

[Kiama Chris]

Campbell

True, also ahead, though not a replacement barrier. Thanks.

 

[tombomb]

Doesn't this just prove my point though? Five of those six names you mentioned aren't playing as inside mids. They're playing as half back flankers or run with players or small pressure forwards or lockdown defenders. Why would Horse think Sheldrick could replace any of them when he has little to no proven ability in any of those sorts of roles or positions?

The safest, most immovable group of players in our 22 are all in the only position that Sheldrick has proven ability in. So the "he's good enough, therefore he plays" confidence some seem to have is lost on me. He's gonna need something more.

Half the team is rotating all over the ground all the time. Rowbottom appears to be the only midfielder who starts in the centre and doesn't move much.

Sheldrick could easily fit into one of the roles where they start forward or on a wing and then rotate through inside midfield or just come off the bench. He doesn't need to change his game to do that.

He just needs to get healthy for an extended period and people will realise that he is just straight up a better player than than a few currently in the team.

Regardless, he is way too promising to hand over to another club while under contract for a crappy draft pick.

 

[The King!]

Love my B Graders most as things have come harder for them. But for me Gus has a vastly superior and diverse skill base as an inside mid to Rowy who like JMac and some of the others mentioned is bloody solid B Grader.

Rowy has to maximise his skill set and contribute more beyond stoppages.

Sheldrick has done nothing to suggest he is better than rowbottom who is one of our best mids.

In his games he looks a tough nut who can get the footy and like what I saw , but he was hardly kicking them lace out and playing with elite skills like Gulden and those types, if anything he seemed a bull.

Like last year against the Eagles he got similar touches as Rowbottom and his efficiency was 10% lower.

I hope to see him back in the mix, but Rowbottom will rightly finish high up in our best and fairest again.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

Gus hadn’t played a game since the Richmond game in July last year so even though he got through preseason relatively unscathed, he still needed match fitness.

If he hadn’t gotten the concussion against the Giants in the 2’s, maybe he’d have gotten a game as the sub or off the bench the following week?

He’s been cruelled with the worst luck I’ve seen in a long time!

 

[caesar88]

Half the team is rotating all over the ground all the time. Rowbottom appears to be the only midfielder who starts in the centre and doesn't move much.

Sheldrick could easily fit into one of the roles where they start forward or on a wing and then rotate through inside midfield or just come off the bench. He doesn't need to change his game to do that.

He just needs to get healthy for an extended period and people will realise that he is just straight up a better player than than a few currently in the team.

Regardless, he is way too promising to handing over to another club while under contract for a crappy draft pick.

You're so focused on what Sheldrick would bring in though that you're not really paying respect to what we'd be taking out. Sheldrick being a "straight up better player" than Wicks doesn't mean he'll be able to apply forward pressure like Wicks, or do negating roles like Jordon, or lock down small forwards like Cunningham, or distribute in defence like Roberts.

Horse won't sacrifice those things just to bring a guy in because he rates them. Ask Luke Parker.

 

[tombomb]

You're so focused on what Sheldrick would bring in though that you're not really paying respect to what we'd be taking out. Sheldrick being a "straight up better player" than Wicks doesn't mean he'll be able to apply forward pressure like Wicks, or do negating roles like Jordon, or lock down small forwards like Cunningham, or distribute in defence like Roberts.

Horse won't sacrifice those things just to bring a guy in because he rates them. Ask Luke Parker.

If we always play like we have in the first part of this year, then yes, Sheldrick and Parker and maybe even Mills is going to have a battle to find a spot in the team.

But that isn't going to happen.

We are going to come back to the rest of the field, there will be injuries, and some of our fringe players will be more exposed. If it doesn't happen this year, it will happen next year. At that point, I think there will be more than enough opportunity for someone as good as Sheldrick if he can stay healthy.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Current midfield pecking order (arguable I know but currently playing seniors):
Heeney
Warner
Gulden
Rowbottom
McInerney
Adams
Lloyd
Jordon
-------------
Mills
Parker
Sheldrick
Roberts
Warner C
Mitchell
Cleary
It will take at least 3, possibly 4, injuries for Gus to get a game.
Who could he reasonably replace? IMO Adams, Rowbottom or Jordon. He would need a big block tearing the VFL apart and getting past at least Parker.
It isn't going to happen.

With Cleary's debut announced - you might have to rejig your pecking order list here KC!

 

[FreeAgent1]

To be fair it hasn’t been like he has had 40 disposals every week and hasn’t been selected. So maybe he isn’t that pissed….

Still can’t see how we can offer what others can.

I’d say 20% chance to stay at best. Early 3rd from WCE at best.

 

[Kiama Chris]

With Cleary's debut announced - you might have to rejig your pecking order list here KC!

Warner and Mitchell are outsiders but if Cleary jumps ahead of Sheldrick.......

 

[BloodySwan]

You should expect any WA player will be hunted by the Eagles and Freo. Sheldrick being targeted by the Eagles is no surprise.

 

[ShireSwan]

The other tagger's song "Every Breath You Take".

Surprising that few people have pointed out half his songs were pedo/stalker inspired.
In any case I have nothing good to say about him since he was the halftime show at the fixed grand final.

 

[JackHiscoxWasFast]

Sting also sang "Can't Stand Losing You".



PS: he was apparently tagged in his earlier years too, which was the inspiration for "Don't Stand So Close To Me".

For some of us on here it’s more like “Every little thing he does is magic”

 

[tombomb]

To be fair it hasn’t been like he has had 40 disposals every week and hasn’t been selected. So maybe he isn’t that pissed….

Still can’t see how we can offer what others can.

I’d say 20% chance to stay at best. Early 3rd from WCE at best.

No idea why our own supporters would be even consider just giving him to West Coast for such a weak return.

 

[SM]

I would hope he recognises that guys like Adams and Parker don't have a particularly long shelf life and will be getting managed over 2025-26 where he will be able to integrate into the side. There'll be plenty of opportunities here. It's not as if our midfield is all 25 and under, it's a blend of youth and experience meaning that experience will be phased out soon enough.

It's like Parker in 2012 with guys like Bolton and ROK ahead of him but pretty quickly that flipped.