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

[chubbspeterson]

3rd rounder and a fresh start will do both us and him good.

Sadly, it's highly likely that happens. I think there's 38 on the main list currently and list spots are real tight.
I would think CCJ, Bergman, Harvey are delisted. Phillips and Ford explore their options and are traded.
Corr stays on and Fisher and Stephens are contracted. Tucker is an interesting one, does he stay on the list?
Opening up 5-6 spots to bring in a players from other clubs, promote rookies and/or draft a few kids is likely.

I think we've got 6 rookies that may have to become 4 if the AFL reduces our extra rookie spots.
I would guess RHJ, Maley and Payne stay on and two cuts are out of Pink, Kal Dawson and Teakle.
Some may be promoted onto the main list, but list spots are pretty tight, that's for sure.

 

[Event Horizon]

Sadly, it's highly likely that happens. I think there's 38 on the main list currently and list spots are real tight.
I would think CCJ, Bergman, Harvey are delisted. Phillips and Ford explore their options and are traded.
Corr stays on and Fisher and Stephens are contracted. Tucker is an interesting one, does he stay on the list?
Opening up 5-6 spots to bring in a players from other clubs, promote rookies and/or draft a few kids is likely.

I think we've got 6 rookies that may have to become 4 if the AFL reduces our extra rookie spots.
I would guess RHJ, Maley and Payne stay on and two cuts are out of Pink, Kal Dawson and Teakle.
Some may be promoted onto the main list, but list spots are pretty tight, that's for sure.

Not sure how you can discuss delistings already. Harvey and Bergman can still get a game and string a few together. This time last year Hansen was gone. Now he is only a good month of footy away from a 2 year deal

 

[Event Horizon]

I think we all knew that Will was going to be a slower burn physically, coming in with a lower base due to the COVID draft year.
Having his second year wiped out by glandular fever didn't help and probably negated any physical gains he made in his first season.

The issue is now he is physically ready, but there isn't a role for him as a ball-winning inside midfielder. I'd still like to see him get a chance to play without the limitations of a run-with/tagging role, and hopefully will brain it in the VFL.

But also with the increased depth of centre square midfielders (Sheezel, Wardlaw, Powell) and potential for the future (Mckercher? Duursma? FOS?) with more weapons, not sure how he fits into our plans.

Have no doubt there is an AFL player in there and opportunity is what he needs, but may not get that with us, which is unfortunate as he seems like a great teammate and clubman.

Everybody keeps talking about his COVID year and glandular fever, but we are in the 2025 FFS. He has had two full preseasons since the glandular fever. He hasn't been tagging this season, I don't think. I think we just need to accept he is a limited player. He just doesn't have it.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Id like to see him in the tagging role again

Seemed to make that work last year

I really liked his first half on the weekend

 

[chubbspeterson]

Not sure how you can discuss delistings already. Harvey and Bergman can still get a game and string a few together. This time last year Hansen was gone. Now he is only a good month of footy away from a 2 year deal

It's just the reality of the list spots on the primary list, 4-6 spots will need to open up at end of the year.
It's out of Bergman, CCJ, Phillips, Ford, Harvey and Tucker. Corr, Stephens and Fisher I think are contracted.

 

[disco_cowboy]

Id like to see him in the tagging role again

Seemed to make that work last year

I really liked his first half on the weekend

even as a tagger he's still not great.
Our midfield is stacked and would rather have FOS learning his craft in their than wiphi

 

[ferball]

Everybody keeps talking about his COVID year and glandular fever, but we are in the 2025 FFS. He has had two full preseasons since the glandular fever. He hasn't been tagging this season, I don't think. I think we just need to accept he is a limited player. He just doesn't have it.

2023 was his best season. He's gone backwards since then. If he'd gone forwards he'd be a real gun. But it ain't looking good for him now.

 

[koshari]

2023 was his best season. He's gone backwards since then. If he'd gone forwards he'd be a real gun. But it ain't looking good for him now.

Not in the guts thats for sure, i think his future is the paddy dow or liam stoker route. Ie migrate to another position.

 

[Passmore]

Not in the guts thats for sure, i think his future is the paddy dow or liam stoker route. Ie migrate to another position.

Or team. Maybe St Kilda ala Dow and Stroker.

 

[koshari]

Or team. Maybe St Kilda ala Dow and Stroker.

Might find a defensive post here, cant see him getting a fwd berth with the logjam on medium forwards.

 

[Passmore]

Might find a defensive post here, cant see him getting a fwd berth with the logjam on medium forwards.

I think the horse has bolted for him here.

 

[Dinkers]

2023 was his best season. He's gone backwards since then. If he'd gone forwards he'd be a real gun. But it ain't looking good for him now.

Absolutely spot on Ferbs, and there has to be reasons a team struggles to win all the time. For us to change and become a force how many current players in our side do the masses think will need to make way.

From the side that got beat by the CRows I'd suggest 6/7. Then allow for further improvement for the likes McKercher, Comben, O'Sullivan, Konstanty & say Curtis.

Also our best side currently would contain Archer, Logue, Wardlaw, so that's 3 ins that improve us, whether they make a huge difference is yet to be seen, but improve us they will.

 

[swaeney]

Everybody keeps talking about his COVID year and glandular fever, but we are in the 2025 FFS. He has had two full preseasons since the glandular fever. He hasn't been tagging this season, I don't think. I think we just need to accept he is a limited player. He just doesn't have it.

Don’t comment unless you’ve had it. He had two bouts of glandular fever, keeping him out of the game for 12months.

 

[Wild Bill]

Id like to see him in the tagging role again

Seemed to make that work last year

I really liked his first half on the weekend

Bring him in for Rowell or Anderson next week.

 

[Dierdre Chambers]

Atkins plays exactly the same role for the Cats, career average 16 touches and 5.8 tackles, but nowhere near the same skill or efficiency as WIP. Will just needs to improve his tank and confidence… Rowbottom Nash Drew Bedford Graham etc all of them career average no more than 17 touches. Game plans are built on tackling and pressure acts more than ever. Matt Rowell career ave is only 20 touches. Would also help if he could get even a couple of handball receives each week, he’s still got the talent

 

[Dierdre Chambers]

Btw WIP averages 13.9 touches despite playing way less game time than all of the aforementioned
There is a role for the defensive tackling contested pressure player, Kangas need one to complement all the stars imo

 

[ferball]

Btw WIP averages 13.9 touches despite playing way less game time than all of the aforementioned
There is a role for the defensive tackling contested pressure player, Kangas need one to complement all the stars imo

His name is George.

 

[Pres]

Atkins plays exactly the same role for the Cats, career average 16 touches and 5.8 tackles, but nowhere near the same skill or efficiency as WIP. Will just needs to improve his tank and confidence… Rowbottom Nash Drew Bedford Graham etc all of them career average no more than 17 touches. Game plans are built on tackling and pressure acts more than ever. Matt Rowell career ave is only 20 touches. Would also help if he could get even a couple of handball receives each week, he’s still got the talent

Excellent post.

Actually they just interviewed Atkins at HT and he said "I'm a defensive midfielder".

He's had 10 possies till half time (and 8 tackles).

 

[Themanbun]

Btw WIP averages 13.9 touches despite playing way less game time than all of the aforementioned
There is a role for the defensive tackling contested pressure player, Kangas need one to complement all the stars imo

We have Luke Parker playing that role and averaging more tackles than Will, plus >20 disposals, plus improving our midfield intelligence tenfold.

We have George Wardlaw who will take that role long term.

 

[DocSholl]

Don’t comment unless you’ve had it. He had two bouts of glandular fever, keeping him out of the game for 12months.

Of course but if he's not fully recovered by now then he shouldn't be on our list.

 

[Merlin007]

We have Luke Parker playing that role and averaging more tackles than Will, plus >20 disposals, plus improving our midfield intelligence tenfold.

We have George Wardlaw who will take that role long term.

That's true, but we also now have the benefit of Dierdre Chambers, who joined the site a week ago, and whose posts are laser focused on tutoring us as to the playing strengths of one player.

I'm thankful.

 

[Makeshift Park]

If he’s happy to play as our second string defensive midfielder, he’ll have a long career on a modest salary at Arden St I reckon.

Let’s face it, as a footballer, he doesn’t have the athleticism to do much else.

He’s always looked okay to me. Clearly AFL standard. Just not necessarily best 22.

He also seems like a good character to have around the club and it’s hard to dislike having him on the list.

Just seems like 3/4s of the posts in this thread are still built around the antiquated hopes and broken expectations of a shit draft that was nearly five years ago now.

 

[hotchilli]

l

Will not done yet, Kangas midfield now batting super deep yet still working out the best mix. He’s the best defensive pressure mid in there and best creative handball both left and right side. He basically gets no receives so every possession is loose ball hard ball or occasional uncontested mark. Playing four quarters seems the issue, second half last week was frustrating after a solid first half. No problem retaining him, gives great depth, presumably low salary, could still be ideal foil for stars like LDU Sheezel FOS Colby etc. He also hits targets more than most mids, classic role player, quality character

His defensive pressure is a bit overstated.

Very good on the inside but becomes a liability when it gets out the contest.

 

[perplexed]

Don’t comment unless you’ve had it. He had two bouts of glandular fever, keeping him out of the game for 12months.

Sounds like you think we could pop him on the LTI list. I like the idea. We currently don't have any spots for the MSD, this could work.

 

[perplexed]

l

His defensive pressure is a bit overstated.

Very good on the inside but becomes a liability when it gets out the contest.

Yep. Defensively, he is completely useless outside stoppages - which is most of the game. Everyone arguing for Will seems obsessed with stoppages (where he is capable, but not more than that), and they ignore 90% of his job.