Player Watch #29: Will Phillips [Part II] - Extends to End of 2025

[FootySmartSimpson]

Sheez appears to be playing way more outside and HF too.

There's defo a spot for Will.

The prospect of Sheeze playing HF is such an incredible luxury to have, made possible only by the likes of Phillips and Powell improving and filling that pivotal extracting role on the inside.

If Sheeze plays 50-60% of his time forward, he could kick 30-40 goals next year on top of his GAs, inside 50s and score involvements. That is where we need him. Winning games off his own boot.

 

[DuckYeah]

Thats what you wanna see in footballers legs. That looks miles better than the last 2 years. So hopefully, fingers crossed, it happens this year.

Theres potential that Maddies magical photos have made em look better but then I look at Eddie ford and think.. nah, thats not too far off

 

[hoffseason gains 01]

Could be a bit of Sam Flanders about him hopefully

 

[shinboner magic]

LDU, Sheezel, Powell, Wardlaw, Parker, Simpkin, McKercher.

He’ll have to force his way in through a sustained period of VFL dominance, injury-permitting.

I really want wilphi to make it and prove the doubters wrong.
If we have no injuries from the above I can’t see him getting a good run in the side.

One of his biggest issues is that he plays like he doesn’t belong- to those that have been to training has Will looked more confident in game play

 

[Chadwiko]

I think Will can cement himself in the 22.

It's all about rotations.

I think our 'core' midfield rotation will be: LDU, Wardlaw, Powell, and Phillips.

I think our 'midfield/forward' rotation will be: Sheezel, Parker, Simpkin, and Zurhaar

(I have McKercher solidly as a wing/HBF type this year, and Duursma solidly as a forward/HFF, which is why neither are listed above)

 

[The Dark]

The prospect of Sheeze playing HF is such an incredible luxury to have, made possible only by the likes of Phillips and Powell improving and filling that pivotal extracting role on the inside.

If Sheeze plays 50-60% of his time forward, he could kick 30-40 goals next year on top of his GAs, inside 50s and score involvements. That is where we need him. Winning games off his own boot.

That high half forward who becomes an extra mid but also an attacking option is probably the hardest position on the ground.

But the most damaging if done right. If Will frees Sheez up to play that role, then hooley Dooley.

 

[Horizons_00]

Another pre-season stand out. Has been head down ass up all pre season. His teammates and the coaches have been thrilled with the inroads he has been making.

WAP has never been a bad trainer by any means but there has been a notable shift in his intensity, everything has been at 100%. He really is leaving no stone unturned.

This is his 2nd pre-season where he has had no interruptions and it's really showing.

Fingers crossed for him (and us) that it translates on game day.

Music to my ears!

 

[Horizons_00]

I really want wilphi to make it and prove the doubters wrong.
If we have no injuries from the above I can’t see him getting a good run in the side.

One of his biggest issues is that he plays like he doesn’t belong- to those that have been to training has Will looked more confident in game play

Its because he is constantly the first one to be shoved back to the VFL

 

[shinboner magic]

I think Will can cement himself in the 22.

It's all about rotations.

I think our 'core' midfield rotation will be: LDU, Wardlaw, Powell, and Phillips.

I think our 'midfield/forward' rotation will be: Sheezel, Parker, Simpkin, and Zurhaar

(I have McKercher solidly as a wing/HBF type this year, and Duursma solidly as a forward/HFF, which is why neither are listed above)

 

[hotchilli]

Phillips is twice the midfielder of Simpkin. Hopefully Simpkin plays forward and wing

Comments like these are so ridiculous. Phillips has never played a game at AFL level that comes close to matching Jy’s best games.

You can hope that Wil Phil is in our midfield and Jy is playing half forward/wing without such a ridiculous comment to go with it.

 

[Shack18]

Comments like these are so ridiculous. Phillips has never played a game at AFL level that comes close to matching Jy’s best games.

You can hope that Wil Phil is in our midfield and Jy is playing half forward/wing without such a ridiculous comment to go with it.

Jy has zero composure, not a great decision maker and very iffy disposal. Way prefer Phillips in the midfield. Jy’s running ( his strength) I hope we can better utilise across half forward. The bit I struggle with in assessing Jy is the impact of concussions.

 

[hotchilli]

Jy has zero composure, not a great decision maker and very iffy disposal. Way prefer Phillips in the midfield. Jy’s running ( his strength) I hope we can better utilise across half forward. The bit I struggle with in assessing Jy is the impact of concussions.

All reasonable criticisms and all well and good to prefer Wil Phil to Jy just think it's ridiculous to call a guy who hasn't been able to cement himself at AFL level as twice the midfielder over a guy who has won 2 Syd's playing as a mid.

Feel like Will's opportunity is going to rely heavily on how the coaches use the flexible mid types in Parker, Powell, Sheez & Simpkin as can all but guarantee LDU & Wardlaw will be playing all their minutes in the midfield again.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

WilPhil is following a 6 point plan.

1. Sign 1 year contract. Tick
2. Come back in ripping shape for the pre-season. Tick
3. Be amongst the best players in the Intra and Practice matches. TBA
4. Be selected round one and stay in there all year. TBA
5. Top 15 Syd Barker. TBA
6. Contract extension for 2026 and longer. TBA

 

[Flawed Genius]

Lock in. He's on his way

 

[northbergs]

Yeah strongly agree with this.

A couple of strong preseason games could get him there but you certainly don't become best 22 from a few nice match sim highlights.

Let’s hope he takes his chance, unlike Charlie Lazarro last year where some people on here were falling over themselves to proclaim him as best 22 due to a ‘he’s flying’ pre-season. FWIW - I believe Will is a better talent and physically equipped than Charlie. But can he find a spot amongst our bulging midfield talent?


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[JGreezy]

I've said a few times that his missing piece is having the ability to run all day. If he had that then he has the other skills to be a great midfielder.

He hasn't had a great healthy stretch to develop that early in his career, until now. And you shouldn't underrate how much the fatigue related health issues can set you back.

 

[justroyal]

Who’s a better tackle?

Jy or Will? - jy?
Kick? Will?

I feel like between these guys, being slower inside types it’s going to come down to tackling numbers and effective disposals.

If I’m Jy, I’m probably going to try and find those dancing feet and create an assisting role in the forward line.

 

[Themanbun]

Who’s a better tackle?

Jy or Will? - jy?
Kick? Will?

I feel like between these guys, being slower inside types it’s going to come down to tackling numbers and effective disposals.

If I’m Jy, I’m probably going to try and find those dancing feet and create an assisting role in the forward line.

Jy is literally the fittest player on our list who has been playing a self sacrificing 'inside' role because we had nothing else.

I like Will but he's nowhere near as fit as Jy, and that is very important for our mids and structures.

I can't believe this is even a conversation at this stage in their respective careers.

 

[the big lebowski]

Jy has zero composure, not a great decision maker and very iffy disposal. Way prefer Phillips in the midfield. Jy’s running ( his strength) I hope we can better utilise across half forward. The bit I struggle with in assessing Jy is the impact of concussions.

Phillips has had 20 plus touches 6 times in his career

Simpkin probably over 10 X that

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

Let’s hope he takes his chance, unlike Charlie Lazarro last year where some people on here were falling over themselves to proclaim him as best 22 due to a ‘he’s flying’ pre-season. FWIW - I believe Will is a better talent and physically equipped than Charlie. But can he find a spot amongst our bulging midfield talent?


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

It’s up to that “bulging talent” to win games. No excuses. Heads will roll and players like WP should rightfully push their way in if the midfield continue to disappoint.

 

[justroyal]

Jy is literally the fittest player on our list who has been playing a self sacrificing 'inside' role because we had nothing else.

I like Will but he's nowhere near as fit as Jy, and that is very important for our mids and structures.

I can't believe this is even a conversation at this stage in their respective careers.

Well, these are the times we find ourselves in…

We’ve got a young developing midfield mix that is more talented than the both of them.

And when both our captains were out for games, there wasn’t any distinct change in performances. Add, Parker, Daniel’s and Darling to add cover - you could say that it’s pretty concerning we’re having these conversations at this stage of their respective careers.

 

[Nylex]

Silly discussion atm.
1 player won consecutive Sid Barkers in 2021-22
1 player has struggled to find the footy at VFL level.
Track watchers seem optimistic, and hopefully Will puts in a career best year and becomes an important cog in our 2025 team… but a direct Jy-out Will-in discussion seems silly atm

 

[The Brady Bunch]

Phillips has had 20 plus touches 6 times in his career

Simpkin probably over 10 X that

Would you believe... 83 times in his career.

 

[the big lebowski]

Would you believe... 83 times in his career.

I would believe that.

But that’s partly because you come across as trust worthy

 

[The Brady Bunch]

I would believe that.

But that’s partly because you come across as trust worthy

I don't know about trustworthy but I can count to 83 on a footy stats page.

What was eye opening was seeing that he racked up 20+ touches on a weekly basis virtually across two seasons.