Player Watch #35: Matt "The Swingman" Whitlock

[DuckYeah]

His brother looks alright, I don't see why he couldn't. Obviously not in next 3 weeks as well need to play a few rucks to cover X, but from Round 7 onwards I think he can and will.

Xerri’s days are numbered.. I wonder if the club has him on a strict plyometrics training schedule. What pissed me off about Xerri is there was an easy contested mark on wing/half forward last Q, barely contested. Needed to take that mark. Dropped it, went down the other end and * were 2 goals down. im starting to move off him to be honest, he’s important for the short term but I honestly think he needs bloody help in the middle. The answer isn’t CcJ, it isnt Dawson, maybe its Goad? I’d like to see whitlock in that role

 

[7577969923]

Xerri’s days are numbered.. I wonder if the club has him on a strict plyometrics training schedule. What pissed me off about Xerri is there was an easy contested mark on wing/half forward last Q, barely contested. Needed to take that mark. Dropped it, went down the other end and * were 2 goals down. im starting to move off him to be honest, he’s important for the short term but I honestly think he needs bloody help in the middle. The answer isn’t CcJ, it isnt Dawson, maybe its Goad? I’d like to see whitlock in that role

So you're writing off our reigning best and fairest and one of the only North players in the last decade to make the AA squad after 3 matches in which he has played some good footy?

 

[Chip Scab1]

Xerri’s days are numbered.. I wonder if the club has him on a strict plyometrics training schedule. What pissed me off about Xerri is there was an easy contested mark on wing/half forward last Q, barely contested. Needed to take that mark. Dropped it, went down the other end and * were 2 goals down. im starting to move off him to be honest, he’s important for the short term but I honestly think he needs bloody help in the middle. The answer isn’t CcJ, it isnt Dawson, maybe it's Goad? I’d like to see whitlock in that role

I hear ya, but I love the X. Can't blame him for the rule change that has rendered him 1/2 the player he was last year.

Goad will be first ruck and X will then do around the ground, possibly not taking a CB when Goad is up and about (soon).

 

[DuckYeah]

I hear ya, but I love the X. Can't blame him for the rule change that has rendered him 1/2 the player he was last year.

Goad will be first ruck and X will then do around the ground, possibly not taking a CB when Goad is up and about (soon).

Josh on that podcast thingy has Corey McKernan on. Corza talks about it in depth. How Corza just went in for CB and bailed straight to the forward line, didn’t stay on ball whatsoever.

Its actually worth a listen. Best poddy from Josh

 

[DuckYeah]

So you're writing off our reigning best and fairest and one of the only North players in the last decade to make the AA squad after 3 matches in which he has played some good footy?

Im saying his days as a centre bounce or ball up or tip off or whatever its called these days are numbered. He is rendered useless in there and IF he cant take contested marks in clutch moments like a Gawn can and he cant stay on the park because he does dumb shit? If you call it writing off then perhaps I am questioning whether he can be the “AA” ruckman. IMO he’s never been the “best ruck” in the comp, he’s been in the top 2 or 3. Also, Larkey is our only AA player on our list (other than Parkers multiple AA’s) of course

 

[ferball]

Darling has an AA jacket.

 

[DuckYeah]

Darling has an AA jacket.

He’s in the twos, where he belongs

 

[7577969923]

Im saying his days as a centre bounce or ball up or tip off or whatever its called these days are numbered. He is rendered useless in there and IF he cant take contested marks in clutch moments like a Gawn can and he cant stay on the park because he does dumb shit? If you call it writing off then perhaps I am questioning whether he can be the “AA” ruckman. IMO he’s never been the “best ruck” in the comp, he’s been in the top 2 or 3. Also, Larkey is our only AA player on our list (other than Parkers multiple AA’s) of course

My mistake. I thought X had made the squad last year. He should have done.

He dropped a mark after the blood incident. That did seem to throw him off his game. I'd back him to find a way to at least neutralise the centre square ball ups, and he beats pretty much every other ruck man around the ground.

Goad looks like a genuine talent, and the new centre ball up rules may suit him perfectly. Can we play them both though? Not sure any team has nailed the two genuine rucks.

He's not Gawn, but he's definitely good enough. Geelong won a flag with no real ruckman.

 

[DuckYeah]

Can we play them both though? Not sure any team has nailed the two genuine rucks.

Wobbles didnit with Cameron and Steen the other night. Steen would jump over Xerri

 

[pupstar]

Im saying his days as a centre bounce or ball up or tip off or whatever its called these days are numbered. He is rendered useless in there and IF he cant take contested marks in clutch moments like a Gawn can and he cant stay on the park because he does dumb shit? If you call it writing off then perhaps I am questioning whether he can be the “AA” ruckman. IMO he’s never been the “best ruck” in the comp, he’s been in the top 2 or 3. Also, Larkey is our only AA player on our list (other than Parkers multiple AA’s) of course

Yeah nice post Ducklike you we know he is a good leader but he does do a few silly thing that leaders should not and you are spot on when you say his contested marking needs work a fair bit of work . Are we writing him off of course we are not but he still in my opinion needs to work on a few things to be anywhere near Gawn and one or two others.

 

[zoomba23]

Xerri’s days are numbered.. I wonder if the club has him on a strict plyometrics training schedule. What pissed me off about Xerri is there was an easy contested mark on wing/half forward last Q, barely contested. Needed to take that mark. Dropped it, went down the other end and * were 2 goals down. im starting to move off him to be honest, he’s important for the short term but I honestly think he needs bloody help in the middle. The answer isn’t CcJ, it isnt Dawson, maybe its Goad? I’d like to see whitlock in that role

Dropped mark was a killer. Moments comprise the game; nothing else; and our players too often wilt when the pressure is applied. A miss here. Turnover there. Fumble there.

Already said it, but I'm very keen to see how we fare without him. We'll be without both positive (defensive pressure, innate hunger) and negative (grab it and kick it aimlessly) influences, and the adjustment will probably be jarring for the midfield group

 

[justroyal]

Last few seasons. Xerri = amazing.
Three games in this season. And I prefer the idea of him as a 200cm inside mid.
A lot of stupid shit went down after the 1st quarter with his game and I can’t believe so many opportunities were made to almost cough up the game when you’re a leader.

 

[The Dingrel]

Couldn't help have a chuckle at this ,poor Jack. No mention of his elation at being drafted by such an historic club like Port.

 

[SWMD]

Where does the emergence of Trembath leave Whitlock?

Still slight, trained up fwd, hasn't screamed best 23 in these early rounds.

But we are playing Aiden Corr.

 

[Makeshift Park]

Where does the emergence of Trembath leave Whitlock?

Still slight, trained up fwd, hasn't screamed best 23 in these early rounds.

But we are playing Aiden Corr.

We're still playing a nearly 34 yo Jack Darling most weeks, so I'd be a little surprised if Whitlock doesn't get a run of senior games by the end of the season.

 

[7577969923]

Where does the emergence of Trembath leave Whitlock?

Still slight, trained up fwd, hasn't screamed best 23 in these early rounds.

But we are playing Aiden Corr.

He looked like he had put on a good bit of size in the VFL games I've watched this season. Still a bit to go, but definitely getting there.

Cooper seems to have a natural advantage in that regard, as his physique is insane for a guy who was playing suburban footy less than twelve months ago and didn't get drafted, partly due to physical conditioning.

They must like Whitlock as the one to take over from JD as they persist in playing him forward, but the better opportunity to play seniors right now would be defence. Clarko has never been a big one for playing young players, but Whitlock can't be worse than Corr.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Four goals, nine marks against the AFL Academy boys today.

 

[Lomas]

He looked like he had put on a good bit of size in the VFL games I've watched this season. Still a bit to go, but definitely getting there.

Cooper seems to have a natural advantage in that regard, as his physique is insane for a guy who was playing suburban footy less than twelve months ago and didn't get drafted, partly due to physical conditioning.

They must like Whitlock as the one to take over from JD as they persist in playing him forward, but the better opportunity to play seniors right now would be defence. Clarko has never been a big one for playing young players, but Whitlock can't be worse than Corr.

Having trembath there is a plus for him I think. They can build together

 

[Loose_Cannon]

Where does the emergence of Trembath leave Whitlock?

Still slight, trained up fwd, hasn't screamed best 23 in these early rounds.

But we are playing Aiden Corr.

I think Trembath coming on is actually a boost for Whitlock, as Trembath does ruck work as well which I don't think was in Whitlock's near future. When it was only Darling offering a chop out to X, this meant any replacement had to also be able to ruck; not true anymore.

This has lessened the reliance on Darling, which in turn creates a path to senior selection for Whitlock if Darling misses a game or two, or if Larkey or Trembath need a spell. With the 5th on the bench we've taken an extra tall into games, so that hasn't hurt his chances either I would assume.

 

[SWMD]

I think Trembath coming on is actually a boost for Whitlock, as Trembath does ruck work as well which I don't think was in Whitlock's near future. When it was only Darling offering a chop out to X, this meant any replacement had to also be able to ruck; not true anymore.

This has lessened the reliance on Darling, which in turn creates a path to senior selection for Whitlock if Darling misses a game or two, or if Larkey or Trembath need a spell. With the 5th on the bench we've taken an extra tall into games, so that hasn't hurt his chances either I would assume.

Surely the back 6 is a more useful proposition for Whitlock with

Larkey, Trembath, Duursma
Zurhaar, Curtis

Plus two of Dov, JK, Banch.

Vs

Corr, Pink, Logue, Dawson, Thredgold
Hardeman,

 

[Passmore]

Surely the back 6 is a more useful proposition for Whitlock with

Larkey, Trembath, Duursma
Zurhaar, Curtis

Plus two of Dov, JK, Banch.

Vs

Corr, Pink, Logue, Dawson, Thredgold
Hardeman,

I'd imagine all options are open for him.

 

[Loose_Cannon]

Surely the back 6 is a more useful proposition for Whitlock with

Larkey, Trembath, Duursma
Zurhaar, Curtis

Plus two of Dov, JK, Banch.

Vs

Corr, Pink, Logue, Dawson, Thredgold
Hardeman,

While I agree, I'm not part of the coaching/development group, and they seem hell-bent on Whitlock being a forward, so he seems more likely to be in the queue behind Larkey-Trembath-Darling (in that order), maybe even a replacement for a mid-sized forward in CZ or PC who play more tall than small.

 

[Reginald0]

Parker 33 corr lmac 30+
Daniel 29 log 28 pink 27

Got a rough idea of where this bloke will go

 

[Passmore]

While I agree, I'm not part of the coaching/development group, and they seem hell-bent on Whitlock being a forward, so he seems more likely to be in the queue behind Larkey-Trembath-Darling (in that order), maybe even a replacement for a mid-sized forward in CZ or PC who play more tall than small.

Can't remember who it was, but one if the coaches, possibly a recruiter, mentioned they know he can play back, playing him forward was to open up possibilities for him.

I wouldn't rule out him going back to defence at some point in the future.

 

[Loose_Cannon]

Can't remember who it was, but one if the coaches, possibly a recruiter, mentioned they know he can play back, playing him forward was to open up possibilities for him.

I wouldn't rule out him going back to defence at some point in the future.

Neither would I; I'm more talking short-term cracking into the side in the wake of Trembath emerging as possibly our best key forward, and what that means for Whitlock in the short to medium term, as a response to the question posed.

I think if he can kick goals under the bright lights, but then be sent back when the game is close and late, that's a lot more useful to the team than if he is just a back. We saw a good example of that on the weekend with Oscar Allen being swung back multiple times to take the heat out of our forward forrays. Hugely advantageous if someone has that flexibility.