View Full Version : Willits
hilly69
20 Aug 2006, 19:51
I am a collingwood fan but i thought this kid wasnt bad he lead to the right spots, bit unlucky dropping that mark when he beat Jimmy Clement on the lead, could be come a good Key tall for you guys.
Any thoughts?
malcolm
20 Aug 2006, 19:59
Willits has developed slowly but steadily at CHB, CHF for Glenelg.
I suggets that his AFL development will be the same - he needs lots of game time.
I am a collingwood fan but i thought this kid wasnt bad he lead to the right spots, bit unlucky dropping that mark when he beat Jimmy Clement on the lead, could be come a good Key tall for you guys.
Any thoughts?
A big strong brusier, not mentally tough enough yet but with some potential - is at least 12-18 months away from getting a regular spot.
almqvist
20 Aug 2006, 21:00
i think he is an excellent leading forward target. just from what i saw of him. he was constantly running around trying to take off on a lead.
Toots Hibbert
20 Aug 2006, 21:18
A big strong brusier, not mentally tough enough yet but with some potential - is at least 12-18 months away from getting a regular spot.
Will be harder next year for him when Tredders comes back. White and Thurstans would be ahead of him in the queue but I reckon he could quickly overtake them if he had a game where he grabbed a few strong marks close to goal and converted. Thought he showed something promising on Friday night.
Troy Wingate
20 Aug 2006, 21:29
Will be harder next year for him when Tredders comes back. White and Thurstans would be ahead of him in the queue but I reckon he could quickly overtake them if he had a game where he grabbed a few strong marks close to goal and converted. Thought he showed something promising on Saturday night.
You mean Friday night
I'm thinking of adopting him as my mascot.
He could easily become a cult figure with us with that size, running style and tendency to run through people. Might just give Rutten a contest next week, if he stays in. Did just as much as Damon usually does, including some backline work, so might as well be there. Looked much more composed in the second half. And who called him slow?
But what do we call him?? Bruce, Willo? Want something to match the Crow's "Rooooo".
Toots Hibbert
20 Aug 2006, 22:34
You mean Friday night
My bad.
Porthos
20 Aug 2006, 23:11
But what do we call him?? Bruce, Willo? Want something to match the Crow's "Rooooo".Bruuuuuuuuuuuce
RussellEbertHandball
21 Aug 2006, 00:04
From Tredders T-Mail @ portadelaidefc.com.au
Just wandering if you knew anyone that has a bigger kick than Stuie Dew? Best of Luck For the Rest of the season.
Matthew
TREDDERS: Well, he hasn’t played for us yet but look out for Ryan Willits. He’s nicknamed (apart from Bruce) Sixty because all he ever does is have set shots from 60m out at training.
Lets hope he kicks a couple of booming goals this week and Sixty will stick.
Power House
21 Aug 2006, 00:40
May be a bit harsh and critical, but if he has been on the list for 2 seasons and is clearly a season away from making the grade, its hard to justify keeping him, his form this year in the SANFL has not been impressive at all. Really needs to show something in the next two games I feel
Toots Hibbert
21 Aug 2006, 01:01
I think you are a bit harsh. He's a big bloke so will take a little longer to mature. He's still only 19. I can't see, having got him this far, that the club is going to ditch him for a couple of years yet. Look how much time they've given to Thurstans.
Willits kicking has improved out of sight this season. He's already a very impressive specimen on the park. If he can start hauling in marks and converting up forward we may have our next key forward already at the club. I thought he looked a bit raw at times on Friday night but cripes remember the appalling lapses by Surjan last year?
And remember, it was his first game...
Power House
21 Aug 2006, 10:00
Yeah point taken, he has the perfect build for football, and assuming he plays the next two weeks he still has the opportunity to show the Club something before the season is out. He is a huge kick I agree, I'm just concerned about his SANFL form this season - if he's developing as a future Power player he should be doing more at SANFL level I feel.
Ford Fairlane
21 Aug 2006, 10:05
Willits has played every game barring injury in Glenelg's league side usually at CHB this year. He doesn't get big stats because teams try to go over or around him. He was a bottom age draft pick so he's a little less advanced than the others drafted around him, and as such a big guy he will take longer. To use a cliche, he's reinvented his body shape since last season, has worked hard on his fitness and kicking and will reap the benefits of his commitment. He didn't have the most enviable of tasks either having to come off the bench and going straight into a key forward post. I had the feeling the plan was for him to go forward when Lade went into the ruck and Brogan to the bench to rest. That's not an easy gig for a young kid in his first game.
Porthos
21 Aug 2006, 10:49
He is a huge kick I agree, I'm just concerned about his SANFL form this season - if he's developing as a future Power player he should be doing more at SANFL level I feel.You mean like how Pearcey was stuck in Sturt seconds?
I would agree with doing more at SANFL level if Glenelg were playing him in position.
Eddie Woloschek
21 Aug 2006, 11:02
May be a bit harsh and critical, but if he has been on the list for 2 seasons and is clearly a season away from making the grade, its hard to justify keeping him, his form this year in the SANFL has not been impressive at all. Really needs to show something in the next two games I feel
File under Josh Carr.
Eddie Woloschek
21 Aug 2006, 11:03
Bruuuuuuuuuuuce
He's more Bluto than Bruce.
Toots Hibbert
21 Aug 2006, 11:29
File under Josh Carr.
Could you flesh that out a little? :confused:
I would agree with doing more at SANFL level if Glenelg were playing him in position.
Yes - difficult to develop as a key forward when played at CHB.
Love the way he goes about it, and he's absolutely massive. But he is a long long way from being a decent AFL footballer. That attempt at a mark (I think) on the forward flank would have been hilarious if wasnt so terrible. And he makes Lade look as agile as Pearce.
bringbackbucky
21 Aug 2006, 13:24
But what do we call him?? Bruce, Willo?
My sister was yelling at the top of her voice - "Go big Willy!"
He's more Bluto than Bruce.Hehe...nice pick-up.
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7796/willitsll5.gif http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/972/blutojp5.gif
or did you perhaps mean this Bluto:
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/1488/belushirk5.gif
;)
Eddie Woloschek
21 Aug 2006, 13:53
iHehe...nice pick-up.
http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/7796/willitsll5.gif http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/972/blutojp5.gif
or did you perhaps mean this Bluto:
http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/1488/belushirk5.gif
;)
It was the Popeye character i had in mind, but Belushi is a nice fit too.
Eddie Woloschek
21 Aug 2006, 13:54
Could you flesh that out a little? :confused:
If Josh Carr's form at the Bay was any guide, we would have let hm go without playing a game for Port. The scattered SANFL is no place for our youngsters.
Toots Hibbert
21 Aug 2006, 13:57
If Josh Carr's form at the Bay was any guide, we would have let hm go without playing a game for Port. The scattered SANFL is no place for our youngsters.
Cheers.
And yes a big amen to the bolded bit.
ctpower
21 Aug 2006, 18:20
watching training sessions and listening to mark williams it is obvious we see him as a key position foward.
Therefore there is no point having him at glenelg where he is playing centre half back. He should be moved to another sanfl club next season where he can play centre half foward.
watching training sessions and listening to mark williams it is obvious we see him as a key position foward.
Therefore there is no point having him at glenelg where he is playing centre half back. He should be moved to another sanfl club next season where he can play centre half foward.
Its been raised on here a few times that Willits would be wise to look at wandering over to thunda powers side. Win/Win for both parties.
He's more Bluto than Bruce.
How about Bruiser.
Nah
Bluto works :D
Though it will probably end up being Willo.
We should have been playing him a month ago. He needs time, i already have more faith in him than Bishop or White and i've only seen him play 2 games (one at the bay). He's massive, has a long kick, a good approach and he's 19! I'd love to have had him up to half a dozen games by seasons end. If he was plying for the tingles he'd already be the next Ivan Maric;)
Handyandy
22 Aug 2006, 17:15
We should have been playing him a month ago. He needs time, i already have more faith in him than Bishop or White and i've only seen him play 2 games (one at the bay). He's massive, has a long kick, a good approach and he's 19! I'd love to have had him up to half a dozen games by seasons end. If he was plying for the tingles he'd already be the next Ivan Maric;)
He could be another barry hall in a few seasons. He got a hell of alot of the ball in the internal trial at the start of the year but he kicked 2.8 or something.
One of my friends at the game thought he looked like a very good prospect and another said he was the worst player he had ever seen at afl level so I guess there is going to be alot of debate over him.
Definitely worth more game time.
Ford Fairlane
22 Aug 2006, 19:52
Had his turn doing a pre-Showdown press conference today.
rubberman
22 Aug 2006, 20:17
We send a rookie to do interviews, the cows send their CEO. Seems like they are trying to deflect difficult questions to their CEO. When was the last time Greg Boulton did what Trigg is doing. Or maybe Trigg likes to see himself on TV.
Pinepower
22 Aug 2006, 20:24
We send a rookie to do interviews, the cows send their CEO. Seems like they are trying to deflect difficult questions to their CEO. When was the last time Greg Boulton did what Trigg is doing. Or maybe Trigg likes to see himself on TV.
Maybe a better analogy would be John James rubberman. I think he is the equivalent to Trigg at PAFC.
I do not know who the president of the Crows is (it could be Sanders) who would be the same as Boulton.
But I do know what you mean, we send a boy to do a mans job
rubberman
22 Aug 2006, 20:26
Maybe a better analogy would be John James rubberman. I think he is the equivalent to Trigg at PAFC.
I do not know who the president of the Crows is (it could be Sanders) who would be the same as Boulton.
But I do know what you mean, we send a boy to do a mans job
You are right JJ would be a better anology, but we dont see him that often so i forgot.:D Unlike HOLLYWOOD trigg.
Pinepower
23 Aug 2006, 00:10
You are right JJ would be a better anology, but we dont see him that often so i forgot.:D Unlike HOLLYWOOD trigg.
JJ has popped up
http://portadelaidefc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=291530 (http://portadelaidefc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=
291530)
A message from John James
3:55:15 PM Tue 22 August, 2006
The Port Adelaide Football Club appreciates the fantastic support it receives from its passionate and loyal supporters. Showdowns provide a wonderful opportunity for supporters across the state to show their passion and be part of the special rivalry that’s developed over the past 10 years.
The clubs, along with its supporters, enjoy the on-field and off-field rivalry that has made these games such special occasions, regardless of ladder positions.
Loud passionate supporting and healthy banter between fans is fantastic. Fans are however reminded that bad language, taunting and offensive behaviour are not acceptable and that fellow and opposition supporters should always be treated with respect.
Enjoy the game and enjoy the rivalry, and please ensure our games continue to be great family-friendly games for all supporters.
Regards,
John James
Chief Executive
Liked the look of Big Bad Bustling BRUCE today, maybe Glenelg were right afterall playing him down back against Big Footys better judgement. He's gonna be one hell of a gorilla!!
Liked the look of Big Bad Bustling BRUCE today, maybe Glenelg were right afterall playing him down back against Big Footys better judgement. He's gonna be one hell of a gorilla!!
He's still finding his feet but he gives us a lot of flexibility. Should have played him a month earlier.
Porthos
27 Aug 2006, 21:40
IMO Matthew Pavlich is proof that getting more possessions playing in a certain way isn't necessarily better for the team. This year his count is down, but Freo have a real structure.
Its good for him to get a taste in defence, but I reckon if he improves his marking and blocking (and kicking!), forward is still the place.
Should have played him a month earlier.
Actually I don't know if his form had really warranted senior selection, I think it's more a case of Chocco finally throwing away all (except Bish) of the gold passes, forcing players who would have normally been able to play the season out with minor niggles to have early corrective surgery in preparation for next season. I'm more than happy that Bruce has been given even this small chance and looks the goods.
He's raw as sushi, but there's certainly (to use the dreaded word) some potential about the lad. Fantastic size to him. Can't be fun having that cannoning into ya.
At 19 he's as big as anyone i've seen pull on a jumper.
"He's as raw as sushi" - that's comic gold Pred :D
Ha! raw as sushi. Let’s hope he doesn’t give us all worms.
The biggest downside is his complete lack of pace and agility. I know he's big but man, there were a couple of times there I thought he was just jogging and went to blast him, only to realise he was actually going as fast as he could.
But the same could be said about Alistair Lynch, Ben Rutten isn’t exactly quick either. He appears to have a bit of ruthlessness about him too (just ask mattner).
Definitely a "project" player and worthy of our patience.
Porthos
27 Aug 2006, 21:58
Yep, he's not fast and needs to learn the abilities that will make that not matter as much.
birdmanptr
27 Aug 2006, 22:03
I did not think he would make it but while he has a long way to go he is certainly heading in the right direction
Ford Fairlane
27 Aug 2006, 22:33
Was it Mattner copped Bruce's knee in the back of his head when he went up for a hanger? He lets guys dropping into the space know he's around.
Yep, he's not fast and needs to learn the abilities that will make that not matter as much.
He's quicker & has more agility than WHite. Has more aggression & is more versitile than Thrustans.
spice18
27 Aug 2006, 22:53
I did not think he would make it but while he has a long way to go he is certainly heading in the right direction
He will be better for the run, and can only get better next year playing alongside Wazza and Motlop who will be attracting a fair bit of double-teaming, allowing him to play on a 2nd or 3rd tall defender.
Ford Fairlane
27 Aug 2006, 22:57
He's quicker & has more agility than WHite. Has more aggression & is more versitile than Thrustans.
Yep, there's some real purpose about the way he presents himself. Those leads he gave in the first quarter were top shelf. He's spoken of the work he's done with Warren, who's shown him a number of leading patterns. I've mentioned before too, of how well he worked with Motlop in the Brisbane trial this year, just picking off the chasing forward to create some space.
Bring in Fiji Bob next week and let Bruce work up forward.
Porthos
27 Aug 2006, 23:01
Yeah, I'd set him against McPharlin with the instruction being to make sure he knocks him extremely hard whenever the ball is vaguely nearby. Don't let him zone off.
nickname from junior days= mcbain
The Floodbuster
28 Aug 2006, 00:41
2 years time he will be better than Thurstans and White.
Toots Hibbert
28 Aug 2006, 00:46
2 years time he will be better than Thurstans and White.
I'd have Willits ahead of Toby now, when picking a team, if it was my job.
PJ Power
28 Aug 2006, 00:54
I'd have Willits ahead of Toby now, when picking a team, if it was my job.
Absolutely.
With White out this week (almost certainly you'd think), Bruce should be played up forward for the whole match.
Why not even rest Wakes if his head is sore, and let Bob settle down behind his old mate the Chapster.
It's only the Dockers after-all;) .
*PAFC*13
28 Aug 2006, 10:42
My mum thought he was 30 years old. She saw him and asked me why he hasn't been played before, I said because he was 19...!! :D
Eddie Woloschek
28 Aug 2006, 10:49
Bluto can play.
Malibu#27
28 Aug 2006, 10:57
I didn't think he looked bad up forward early - certainly was leaving Big Bad Bustling Ben (cant do it without my mates back helping me) Rutten in his wake in the first quarter when our delivery was ordinary - two strong marks in a hurry but kicking needed some work.
I'd have Willits ahead of Toby now, when picking a team, if it was my job.
In a heartbeat Toots - I was a fan of Toby - hanging on for dear life - but the effort yesterday was not to PAFC standards even for someone out of form or whatever.
He must go - now - release the beast!!!