Player Watch #24: Tom Powell - signed thru 2026 - finishes 5th in the 2024 SBM.

[tazaa]

I think we're a little bit too obsessed with the high end picks being the thing to carry this rebuild.
We put far too much pressure on them to develop as quickly as possible.
Don't get me wrong they turn games in the GF, but you can find and develop elite players anywhere in the draft.

That Lions team had some elite talent (Raynor, Ashcroft, McLuggage etc.) for sure, but they also had plenty of later R1 picks (Hipwood, Wilmot, Lohmann , Berry, Fletcher, Starcevich etc.), R2/R3/R4/R5 picks (Morris, Lester, Andrews, Payne etc.) and traded-in players (Daniher, Neale, Dunkley, Cameron etc) who made important contributions.
It took them 8 years to build it and a lot of those Lions players had 6+ years in the system and look like men compared to our boys who are just finding their way, so patience is still required in some respect.

But generally you are right with our talent I.D. and development for the last few decades.
We need to find some gems and turn some later picks into elite players like PC.
If we can push up the ladder next year and at least be mid table with 8-10 wins then maybe fans can take a bit of a depth breath and just let the younger core group develop and grow together.
I still think we're a while off finals as we turn the list over, as it's lacking talent and experience like that Lions team.

Fair points chubb

If we didn’t have the black hole of failed 1st selections from 2018-2021, then we’d be under less pressure and can genuinely rebuild using 2nd and 3rd picks, free agency and trade and other drafts.
But when you have that age gap - all of a sudden it does place pressure on your kids to develop quicker.

Thomas, Phillips, Powell and JHF - none of them are going to be apart of the engine room going forward, and then we have Duursma whose had a tough 2 years and we traded away pick 3 this year for Whitlock.

I just hope it all comes together but **** I have my reservations still.

 

[Makeshift Park]

For someone who can't tackle his effort on ROB on the weekend was pretty good.

Also many of our best footy moments this year were the fast handballs through the centre of the ground, where Powell did much of his best work.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

I'm not doing player grades for every player on our list, but if I was, mine would look something like this for Tom Powell;

========================
Tom Powell Season 2025 Review
========================
GRADE: C-

Tom had a handful of very nice games, but on the whole his season was underwhelming. He struggled to find a position in the team where he could consistently cement himself, and it wasn't a coincidence that our midfield looked it's best when he wasn't getting midfield minutes. Powell had stints on the wing and HBF, but unfortunately, this coincided with Powell's worst individual performances of the season.
Powell's tackling and general defensive efforts were highlighted numerous times throughout the season as insufficient, and he was outshone by younger and less experienced players in this regard too many times. Doesn't have the pace and attacking prowess of a Colby McKercher to compensate for the lack of defensive effort.
If Powell's going to be a best 22 player in 2026, then he needs to work on his endurance, defensive effort, and tackling.
==========================

Anyone want to argue that my review there is unfair?

On that basis, Phillips has to be a D-.

The very first phrase has Tom at least a grade above Will (who had no "very nice games").

If you think D- is harsh on Will, then you've gone too hard on Tom.

Which is just so predictable.

 

[Chadwiko]

On that basis, Phillips has to be a D-.

The very first phrase has Tom at least a grade above Will (who had no "very nice games").

If you think D- is harsh on Will, then you've gone too hard on Tom.

Which is just so predictable.

Yeah I'd agree Phillips was a D- this year. So yes.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

Yeah I'd agree Phillips was a D- this year. So yes.

Why the f*** did you keep talking him up right to the bitter end, then, given you now acknowledge how crap his season was? Which followed a crap 2024, following a crap 2023?

The desire to hang onto D grade players who are good blokes is inconsistent with wanting to see the team move up the ladder.

 

[Chadwiko]

Why the f*** did you keep talking him up right to the bitter end, then, given you now acknowledge how crap his season was? Which followed a crap 2024, following a crap 2023?

The desire to hang onto D grade players who are good blokes is inconsistent with wanting to see the team move up the ladder.

You seem sad I didn't disagree with Phillips grade?

I think Phillips is a much better footballer than he demonstrated this year. Some of that is his own fault, and some of that is the way we managed him and utilised him.

But this thread isn't about Phillips, this is about Powell. So I'm confused why you raised him?

 

[CharlieMortdecai]

You seem sad I didn't disagree with Phillips grade?

I think Phillips is a much better footballer than he demonstrated this year. Some of that is his own fault, and some of that is the way we managed him and utilised him.

But this thread isn't about Phillips, this is about Powell. So I'm confused why you raised him?

May as well merge the threads the amount they get talked about in each other's. Although might be a bit late, more likely than not the WP thread is off to the Past Players dustbin of history.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

You seem sad I didn't disagree with Phillips grade?

I think Phillips is a much better footballer than he demonstrated this year. Some of that is his own fault, and some of that is the way we managed him and utilised him.

But this thread isn't about Phillips, this is about Powell. So I'm confused why you raised him?

I'm not sad about it, I'm just demonstrating your hypocrisy.

LOL at "I'm confused".

 

[Chadwiko]

I'm not sad about it, I'm just demonstrating your hypocrisy.

LOL at "I'm confused".

What hypocrisy? Months ago I straight up said Powell was a better footballer than Phillips.

What is it you're accusing me of doing? Can you point specifically to a quote/post of mine that you're taking offense to?

 

[LuvtheKangas]

What hypocrisy? Months ago I straight up said Powell was a better footballer than Phillips.

What is it you're accusing me of doing? Can you point specifically to a quote/post of mine that you're taking offense to?

Your extensive body of pro-Phillips posting (often denigrating superior footballers to make the point) is disingenuous at best if you now concede that he is a D grader. The "this season" qualifier is not the out that you imply, given "this season" of Phillips was no worse than any other season he has had with the club.

You know as well as I that I am reacting to the fact that you have consistently been overly critical of superior players, especially Powell, in your incessant pro-Phillips posting.

 

[Chadwiko]

You know as well as I that I am reacting to the fact that you have consistently been overly critical of superior players, especially Powell, in your incessant pro-Phillips posting.

I know there is this perception of me, but what I'm asking you to do is point to a specific post of mine that demonstrates what you're suggesting is so blatant and so common that it permeates everything else I say.

And the reason I'm challenging you to do that is because I don't think I was anywhere near as effusive of Phillips as you're suggesting.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

I know there is this perception of me, but what I'm asking you to do is point to a specific post of mine that demonstrates what you're suggesting is so blatant and so common that it permeates everything else I say.

And the reason I'm challenging you to do that is because I don't think I was anywhere near as effusive of Phillips as you're suggesting.

Don't be so disingenuous, everyone here would perceive the volume of your pro-Phillips posting. Exhibit A (Phillips thread):



Surely you're not denying that the majority of your 300+ posts in the thread were pumping him up. It was constant and repetitive, especially this season.

(FWIW, the shitposting of the f***wit who tops the list was far more annoying).

 

[Chadwiko]

Don't be so disingenuous, everyone here would perceive the volume of your pro-Phillips posting. Exhibit A (Phillips thread):

View attachment 2411219

Surely you're not denying that the majority of your 300+ posts in the thread were pumping him up. It was constant and repetitive, especially this season.

(FWIW, the shitposting of the f***wit who tops the list was far more annoying).

Yeah I'm not and have never denied being a Phillips supporter.

But I'm asking you to point to a specific post that you think I've been unfair in.

 

[LuvtheKangas]

Yeah I'm not and have never denied being a Phillips supporter.

But I'm asking you to point to a specific post that you think I've been unfair in.

For the final time, it's the volume of pro-Phillips (including many overly generous assessments of what he brings/brought to the team) coupled with anti-others posts. This whole volume looks a bit silly given you've now conceded he's a D-grader (notwithstanding you only made such concession to justify another Powell sledge).

 

[Chadwiko]

For the final time, it's the volume of pro-Phillips (including many overly generous assessments of what he brings/brought to the team) coupled with anti-others posts. This whole volume looks a bit silly given you've now conceded he's a D-grader (notwithstanding you only made such concession to justify another Powell sledge).

So, nothing specific then?

 

[LuvtheKangas]

So, nothing specific then?

View attachment 2411385

LOL, I'm not playing your pedantic little game.

There are dozens of 'specific' posts in the 300+ that I highlighted, as you well know. I thought they were rubbish the first time, so I'm certainly not wasting time locating and reading them again.

 

[FootySmartSimpson]

If we could mash Konstanty and Harvey into one player, we'd have something decent.

If we are playing this game, can we mash Scott (endurance, defensive running) with Duursma (silk, marking, smarts)?

 

[ferball]

"Why doesn't Phillips get a game when Wardlaw does?"

 

[Chadwiko]

LOL, I'm not playing your pedantic little game.

There are dozens of 'specific' posts in the 300+ that I highlighted, as you well know. I thought they were rubbish the first time, so I'm certainly not wasting time locating and reading them again.

Sure okay.

Well, back to Tom Powell since this is the Powell thread.

C- year.

 

[Dinkers]

That read like one of my performance reviews at work.

I'm working on my review of Will Phillip, parking to one side him getting the arse, he exceeded my expectations in 2025.

I gave him a B-

 

[ferball]

Statistically Powell had his best year for disposals, tackles, marks and score involvements. Also rebound and inside 50s which means he got up and down the ground better than he had previously. Something a side that struggles with transition would benefit from. Some people would say that was his best season yet altho I think he was better last year.

 

[ferball]

Any reasonable person would rate him B maybe B-.

 

[Chadwiko]

Any reasonable person would rate him B maybe B-.

He's on the cusp of not being best 22 in a team that won 5.5 games.

Give him a "B"!

Hilarious.

 

[amaz199]

Not again...

 

[zoomba23]

Any reasonable person would rate him B maybe B-.

I wouldn't.



But I'm not that reasonable, come to think of it.



Play on