Introducing the Greatest midfield the AFL has ever seen.

[BazBoy]

Feel every footballer has their strengths and weaknesses and they definitely hone their strengths and train to reduce their weaknesses

A skill most cherished by all players is awareness and the ability to react as quick as possible to make that skill produce a plus for his team

Our most aware player shows us what awareness can produce —I talk of Pendlebury

It’s as tho plan A ,B & C come immediately to his attention and he can select
the right one—- he’s done this before your average player knows which way he will move

Awareness is the best skill for mine

[5 from the wing on debut]

TaylorMade,

You mean the article that lists Taylor Adams playing on a wing in the best Collingwood team? I don't tend to take much notice of articles written by people that seem to not know very much about the club or its players. Our club tends to have better knowledge than outsiders, and they rate Phillips highly.

You have listed some perceived faults with Phillips' game. All players have weaknesses but I think that you are fighting a losing battle with your stance on Phillips because you ignore what he can do. You mentioned before that you analyse players "to the bone". If you had analysed Phillips that way you would know that every week he busts a gut and outruns his opponents. He gets back and helps defend then pops up at the other end of the ground to kick goals. He doesn't do that riding a Segway - he does it because he is an elite runner. He is improving year on year with season's disposal averages of 17, then 21, then 25.5 last season, despite being tagged at times. His goal tallies were 3, then 9, then 15 in the corresponding seasons. If you want to compare his figures last season with Chris Mayne, Phillips had 8 possessions per week more, took more marks, tackled about the same, and kicked 3 times as many goals. I know that a lot of Mayne's value is in his pre-planned running patterns to help other players without actually getting the ball himself, but the comparison is still useful.

As to the supposed weaknesses of Phillips that you list above:
1. For most players composure comes with experience;
2. Sidebottom is older & has had more gym time. Daicos strong? In the VFL against children and part timers?
3. He doesn't get caught. He kicks as well on his right as Franklin does.
4 and 5. No doubt he is working on them.
6. Don't care what Buckley said - he wasn't talking about Phillips. Grundy would only get a game with us as a ruckman and he's not getting dropped either (yes, I know Grundy is mobile and gets many clearances etc.)

On the evidence that I have seen my 15 year old son is a better outside shooter than Ben Simmons. My son is just a suburban basketballer but despite his glaring weakness Ben Simmons is an athletic freak, is Australia's best athlete and sportsperson by so far there isn't even a sensible discussion about anyone else. He will sign a $150m contract at the 76ers when it is time to renew. By your reckoning Simmons should struggle to get a game as he has a weakness.

[K]

And a player cannot have it all, because different strengths tend to oppose each other. e.g. the bigger you are, the harder it is to have running ability.

[5 from the wing on debut]

[K]

Yep, posts crossed, I think. (See my post above.)

On the other hand, it can pay to think outside the box. e.g. T. Wallace playing M. Richardson on the wing. Darcy, perhaps?!

[HAL]

Your post.

[TaylorMade]

5 from the wing on debut

Ben Simmons is COMPLETE in every other single aspect of the game. He is like Russel Westbrook. are u freaking kidding me? Are you trying to compare Tom Phillips to Ben Simmons lol. The thing with Thomas, is there is a shopping list of concerns. Not one.

And when i analyze, i do it to the Bone. For example:

I have 400 minutes of proof from our last 4 finals. This is when you learn most about your players. Not a sunday afternoon against carlton. How many goals did your elite wingmen score for us in the last 400 minutes?

Im not saying because Taylor Adams cant kick well ( although he is improving ) he isnt going to make the team. Taylor Adams like Ben simmons is a complete player in every other aspect of the game!!!

Please dont try use Grundy in the multiplue position argument. Ill let you off the hook and pretend you never said that, OK?

Dont care what Bucks says lol? He is already giving us clues mate...

Darren Millane, Peter Matera, Andrew McCloud thats my idea of a wingman

Lastly, regarding your first point. I agree Adams should not be on the wing. He should be in the middle...

[K]

[TaylorMade]

True K,


Imagine Sidey on the left, Stephenson on the right

Im drooling...

[PyreneesPie]

[TaylorMade]

^
agree with Baz

I'd add evasiveness to Pendles abilitys. His vision and awareness could be great on Half-Back instead of Aish. Pendles is also a very strong mark. Maybe Pendles can help his good mate Quaynor, fit in back there as well...

[TaylorMade]

If i wanted to be harsh i could select stats to further suit my argument regarding Tom Phillips

Tom Phillips vs Chris Mayne ( 4 finals games )

Tackles : Phillips = 16 ... Mayne = 41
Goals : Phillips = 0 ... Mayne = 1
Clangers : Phillips = 9 ... Mayne = 4

I also forgot, Tom Phillips may have an engine. But that engine only has 2 gears, Low and Medium. Compare that with Treloar who is running an engine that has 6 gears and a twin-turbo upgrade...

[5 from the wing on debut]

[TaylorMade]

5 from the wing on debut,

I'd rather not continue with Grundy topic, you should realise by now how silly that comment was...

One more point, because Phillips finished 6th on our best and fairest, does that suggest he is better and more important than Jordan DeGoey who finished 8th?

Does that mean the club rates him higher than JDG??

Your funny, i never said Phillips was elite, far FAR from it


Regarding what you said about Westbrook only caring about himself. He has the highest number of assists in the NBA

Try talk your way out of that one mate lol

That was just of the top of my head, upon further inspection, Westbrook averages 3 more assists than Simmons per game... which is funny if u consider Simmons is surrounded by elite shooters 3-4 of them. Russel Westbrook plays with only 1 elite shooter ( Paul George )

[BazBoy]

My boy Aish name cropped up in this discussion and I ponder his retention in the best of our future

First saw him as I spent a Sunday in 2013 at an Adelaide pub —it was SAFL
Grand Final — he got BOG in Norwood flag side (at 16 he played the previous Norwood flag kicking the goal of the game) this done playing against men

Making 2012 & 3 SAFL all Australia status. Youngest in 134 yrs

Enough history and with the potential for Pendlebury to move potentially to a HB and the wings covered by Mayne and Phillips possibly

Where does my boy fit in the grand plan—-he has the talent