Player Watch #35: Matt "The Swingman" Whitlock! - Extends contract to 3 years.

[Shermanator]

Go well young fella. Big part of our future.

 

[giantroo]

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[giantroo]

 

[giantroo]

 

[sheridan]

still got my polaroid photo with the great man Johnny Law, when I was a youngster playing little league for nth in the woollen nth jumper…

 

[Chadwiko]

Wasn't ready.
And what's worse is that it was patently obvious to anyone who has watched him in match-sim at training or seen him in the VFL.

He plays as a free-floating interceptor in the VFL and that's just not a role he has the size/speed for at the AFL level. And whats worse is we tried to play him as an actual KPD tonight which is just stupid for a kid who looks like he weights 65kg when wet.

I like the kid and think he has an enormously bright future. But he's not ready. Playing him tonight was the dumbest selection decision we've made in some time.

 

[Blightys Barrel]

I hope his confidence was not too damaged tonight. It was reckless to pick him and subject the kid to that game.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Easy to criticise the selection in hindsight. But like many others I was excited to see him get a shot. And when you have the likes of Trainor competing well already, I can see the attraction in giving him an early call up. Just wasn’t his time yet, and that’s okay.

 

[Chadwiko]

Easy to criticise the selection in hindsight.

Some of us questioned it in foresight too mate

Surprised by the Whitlock inclusion, if the report is accurate.

Not sure how he fits in to this squad, unless someone like Comben is going to be an unexpected 'out'.

Or, maybe Pink is out, and Logue is coming back via the VFL?

Confusing tbh.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Some of us questioned it in foresight too mate

Questioning isn’t criticising mate

 

[Duck the GOAT]

Debut to forget.
But thought there were glimmers.
Seems to be calm under pressure in possession, doesn't look to hack it out of the area. Yes got caught a couple of times but his awareness will improve with more exposure to the pace of the game.

 

[Uncle_Leo]

Hopefully ready in 2027

 

[roos_fanatic08]

Don’t think he that bad, had a few howlers but generally looked composed with ball in hand.

He has been fantastic in the first few weeks of the VFL but I think it was unnecessary to debut him so early. Should’ve just continued on taking them up and building confidence in the twos.

 

[shintemaster]

Debut to forget.
But thought there were glimmers.
Seems to be calm under pressure in possession, doesn't look to hack it out of the area. Yes got caught a couple of times but his awareness will improve with more exposure to the pace of the game.

Same. I thought plenty of good signs whilst a big number of his mates were rolling out the white flag.

 

[rooboytom_90]

He showed enough but I think we just played too many talls down back.

Also, the ball came inside the D50 so easily so wasn't an easy night for the defenders.

 

[Only Forwards]

That’s your taste. See you in 2026.

 

[roos 10]

That’s your taste. See you in 2026.

Should have give him a go up fwd with larkey having a shocker

 

[shintemaster]

Should have give him a go up fwd with larkey having a shocker

Agree. Probably would have been worth bringing him forward and getting Hardeman on earlier. Looks to have a genuine brain with and without the ball which is a good trait at either end.

 

[yeahboi]

Wasn't ready.
And what's worse is that it was patently obvious to anyone who has watched him in match-sim at training or seen him in the VFL.

He plays as a free-floating interceptor in the VFL and that's just not a role he has the size/speed for at the AFL level. And whats worse is we tried to play him as an actual KPD tonight which is just stupid for a kid who looks like he weights 65kg when wet.

I like the kid and think he has an enormously bright future. But he's not ready. Playing him tonight was the dumbest selection decision we've made in some time.

I was at the game and we had him playing on a midget high half forward, not KPD. He looked lost because he was played out of position. He found himself in the forward line at times accidentally following his man up field. Coaching staff a lot to blame for his debut performance

 

[footy2016]

Not really understanding the criticism. Made 1 or 2 errors…. Far from disgraced and looked quite poised at times.

Let him develop in the VFL and bring him back towards the back end of the year if he’s put on some size.

 

[tazaa]

Club is meant to know better but that's a debut to forget.

 

[Zondor]

Club is meant to know better but that's a debut to forget.

Yeah yah gots to feel for the kid. It was a poor debut and not a surprise he was subbed. :stern look

He will always be linked to the trading of our future first. As such the pressure is on him to be a success. :stern look

 

[Twinkletoes]

A bloody tough night to debut. He’ll have learnt plenty.

 

[Karanicolas]

Not really understanding the criticism. Made 1 or 2 errors…. Far from disgraced and looked quite poised at times.

Let him develop in the VFL and bring him back towards the back end of the year if he’s put on some size.

He did look poised at times. Really liked the confidence in the 3rd quarter when he kicked it around the corner in our D50 and found a target.

 

[Midas]

Over the top criticism, Jesus.

Liked the look of him, didn’t panic, made a few mistakes but will be a player.