What does the future hold for bulldogs leader?

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Sitting pretty on top of the ladder is a fair reflection of how well the Western Bulldogs are travelling.

Winning five games on the trot in the absence of key personnel who have contributed greatly in the recent past is also impressive.

Mitch Wallis was the club’s leading goalkicker in 2020 and finished 10th in the best and fairest playing an important role inside forward 50 as the Bulldogs made the eight.

Fast forward to today and the 28-year-old finds himself in the reserves as his teammates bank up win after win with a restructured attack inclusive of Aaron Naughton, Josh Bruce and Tim English.

With that in mind, Garry Lyon and Tim Watson discussed Wallis’ situation and threw up the hypothetical of what a possible mid-season trade period might look like for multi-position player of his ilk.

“Mitch Wallis is the vice-captain of the Western Bulldogs on the back of a near All-Australian year,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.

“For whatever reason he can’t break back in after he started in the senior team.
“He’s too good a player to be running around in the VFL. He is the vice-captain, they’re royalty the Wallis family.

“This is not saying he wants out, but this is just me thinking. He just needs to be playing footy.”

Watson says that Wallis’ skillset does not suit the the needs of the Dogs right now, hypothetically posing a potential solution.

“He is a really interesting player for this reason too, and that is he was taken out of the position that best suits him,” Watson said.

“Because of a need, they pushed him forward and they said, ‘We want you to play this role’, which was a forward that was going to apply pressure which he was great at. He then did more than that. He drew the ball and kicked goals.

“But his best position is as an inside mid. They don’t need him as an inside mid. They’ve got so much talent there, but there are a number of teams out there who would be playing him week in, week out as an inside mid.”

Lyon added: “You said if there as a mid-season trade, do you want to say the team you thought?”
Watson replied: “Yeah, Essendon.

“They would love to have a player like him, I would think.”

Wallis, who has played 153 games over 11 seasons, missed the Dogs’ drought-breaking 2016 premiership due to a broken leg and in the mind of Lyon would be intent on forcing his way back into Luke Beveridge’s side as the Dogs push towards September.

“Sometimes the reasons are just out of your control as we’ve just pointed out with Mitch who is an A-grade citizen, is the vice-captain of the club for god sakes, so he’s so well regarded,” Lyon said.

“There’d be others out there who aren’t getting a look at the moment.”
Watson: “We just wonder, someone like a Mitch Wallis just wants to play.”

Lyon: “We don’t know about him. He’s a bit different because he might say, ‘I’m prepared to stay and fight my way back into this side because I think there’s a premiership on offer. One that I missed out on because I had a broken leg’.”

Watson: “That’s true, but if you gave him the chance to go somewhere else now and play on the same money, I wonder what he might say.”

Lyon: “I don’t think he would, because of that lure of a possible flag and his personality says I’ll dig in and work away.”

Wallis picked up 18 disposals and kicked a goal for Footscray in their 67-point over the Gold Coast Suns in the VFL/East Coast league last weekend.

The Bulldogs seniors meet GWS in Canberra this Friday night while the VFL team take on the Giants at Blacktown on Thursday night.

Well that’s not exactly true is it?

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Originally Posted by Happy Days

Well that’s not exactly true is it?

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yeah very oddly phrased. We changed him because of a need but then goes onto say that we dont need him as an inside mid because we are stacked there. He changed because he wanted to get gametime.

He was never really a great inside mid either was he? Like he can play the role but I don't think he has any real amazing attributes that would set him apart.

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Originally Posted by hujsh

He was never really a great inside mid either was he? Like he can play the role but I don't think he has any real amazing attributes that would set him apart.

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His hands in close are elite, and he's an elite tackler. We sometimes forget what he did well because his kicking wasn't damaging and he lacked pace, but he was more than handy as an inside midfielder.

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Originally Posted by jeemak

His hands in close are elite, and he's an elite tackler. We sometimes forget what he did well because his kicking wasn't damaging and he lacked pace, but he was more than handy as an inside midfielder.

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This is the reason I think he should be in consideration for a recall against GWS. We need added forward pressure to keep the ball in our 50. I'm thinking we have a lot less marks inside 50 against the orange therefore his tackling and ferocity at the ball would be an added benefit.

His time will come. Its a long season

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Originally Posted by ratsmac

His time will come. Its a long season

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I agree, anything can happen and will.

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Originally Posted by hujsh

He was never really a great inside mid either was he? Like he can play the role but I don't think he has any real amazing attributes that would set him apart.

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They're saying he would be a great inside mid for Essendon.

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Originally Posted by jeemak

His hands in close are elite, and he's an elite tackler. We sometimes forget what he did well because his kicking wasn't damaging and he lacked pace, but he was more than handy as an inside midfielder.

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Fair enough, can't say I really recall those traits but happy to be corrected by someone who does.

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Originally Posted by 1eyedog

They're saying he would be a great inside mid for Essendon.

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Well I mean if the standard is the floor!

I know they're saying he'd be a good fit for Essendon butI wasn't sure he was a better inside mid than forward given I only really remember his best period in the role being as a run-with player

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Originally Posted by 1eyedog

They're saying he would be a great inside mid for Essendon.

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Almost anyone could get a gig as inside mid at Essendon , I don’t want to suggest any players as that would be an insult to any clubs playing list
They were terrible last week

But its true. He would be great for them and be playing every week.

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Originally Posted by hujsh

Fair enough, can't say I really recall those traits but happy to be corrected by someone who does.



Well I mean if the standard is the floor!

I know they're saying he'd be a good fit for Essendon butI wasn't sure he was a better inside mid than forward given I only really remember his best period in the role being as a run-with player

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On the back of his 2015 and 2016 seasons until he broke his leg Champion Data rated him one of six elite players at the Bulldogs to start 2017......which didn't end well on any level and we of course take Champion Data ratings with a grain of salt!

And I know stats aren't everything however, here's his 2015 season versus Shane Edward's 2018 which earned the latter AA selection:

https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/...2=P&fopt2=2018

Mitch was highly competent at what he did, though he's just not quick enough these days to be a genuine two way/ responsive inside midfielder and the broken leg was the last thing someone of his pace could afford.

How could the mid year draft be a win win for everyone.

I love Mitch, heart and soul but we would need to have a lot of injuries fit him to get back into the side. I would even say that JUH would be in front of him and he hasn’t played a game yet.

If Essendon were keen, I would like to think we would do our best to get the deal done. He should be a 200 game player but I can’t say he will be if he stayed a dog.

Mitch will be back :)

Geez Lyon and Watson talk some bullshit. I understand that they have a couple of hours or whatever it is (suprisingly I don't listen to them) to fill but they must have to shovel the crap out of the studio when they've finished their shift.

Mitch Wallis would die for the club. He's not going anywhere.

I’m not so sure. If he played the rest of the season in the VFL, which is a strong possibility I reckon, Im sure he’d listen to offers and I’m sure the club would wish him well.

I rate him, but I can see why he’s being left out also.

Suspect we will face some adversity at some point this year and he’ll find his way back in. The team just shuffled around underneath him and his role became less important, in favour of attributes he doesn’t really offer. Still a valuable member of the squad.

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Originally Posted by Twodogs

Geez Lyon and Watson talk some bullshit. I understand that they have a couple of hours or whatever it is (suprisingly I don't listen to them) to fill but they must have to shovel the crap out of the studio when they've finished their shift.

Mitch Wallis would die for the club. He's not going anywhere.

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Believe he considered an offer to head North a few years ago. If he feels he can work his way back into the side good on him I'd give him every chance to do so, but I also won't begrudge a 28 year old Mitch Wallis who is absolutely good enough to play AFL an opportunity elsewhere. I will not be surprised in the slightest however if Mitch gets another opportunity with us and performs. What's his contract status? Is there a thread for that?

Ultimately though I think Mitch needs to have a think and probably a chat to Bevo. It would very weird for me to see our vice captain shipped off to another club midseason. I can't see it happening until at least the end of the season if at all. I get what Mitch brings but I also think it was a lack of foresight from the club to make Mitch VC. We knew what our forward line set up would look like this year and we knew Mitch would have less opportunity down there.

Having your VC sit out a large chunk of the season when fit and available isn't a great look imo. Maybe we should have given the nod to a definite starter. Mitch has had a history of being 22-25.

FWIW I love Mitch but the club must come first.

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Originally Posted by 1eyedog

Believe he considered an offer to head North a few years ago.

FWIW I love Mitch but the club must come first.

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Ideal for the Suns where he can help mentor some of the young players.

I wouldn't want to lose him at all, and as Twodogs says he will be back, but of course the club comes first.

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Originally Posted by 1eyedog

Believe he considered an offer to head North a few years ago. If he feels he can work his way back into the side good on him I'd give him every chance to do so, but I also won't begrudge a 28 year old Mitch Wallis who is absolutely good enough to play AFL an opportunity elsewhere. I will not be surprised in the slightest however if Mitch gets another opportunity with us and performs. What's his contract status? Is there a thread for that?

Ultimately though I think Mitch needs to have a think and probably a chat to Bevo. It would very weird for me to see our vice captain shipped off to another club midseason. I can't see it happening until at least the end of the season if at all. I get what Mitch brings but I also think it was a lack of foresight from the club to make Mitch VC. We knew what our forward line set up would look like this year and we knew Mitch would have less opportunity down there.

Having your VC sit out a large chunk of the season when fit and available isn't a great look imo. Maybe we should have given the nod to a definite starter. Mitch has had a history of being 22-25.

FWIW I love Mitch but the club must come first.

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I thought the players voted him VC and the club endorsed it. Good selection at the time and still could be.

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Originally Posted by 1eyedog

Having your VC sit out a large chunk of the season when fit and available isn't a great look imo. Maybe we should have given the nod to a definite starter. Mitch has had a history of being 22-25.

FWIW I love Mitch but the club must come first.

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Given half the list aren't playing each week I actually think there is quite a bit of value in having someone in the leadership group who is part of the 'fringe dwellers'. It might not be a good look in the media but clubs win premierships - not teams. If a player like Wally - fighting hard for his opportunities, training and playing with the right behaviours and developing an on-field bond with the VFL bound players that he can reflect upon with the other leaders...that can only be good for the club.

The good news for everyone not in the ones? This year, there are VFL games. You want an AFL game - bang the door down.

What does a VC honestly do on game day anyway? It’s more about setting standards on and off the track and I can’t imagine a better person to be leading the way at VFL level.

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Originally Posted by comrade

What does a VC honestly do on game day anyway? It’s more about setting standards on and off the track and I can’t imagine a better person to be leading the way at VFL level.

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Usually plays in the ones?

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Originally Posted by comrade

What does a VC honestly do on game day anyway? It’s more about setting standards on and off the track and I can’t imagine a better person to be leading the way at VFL level.

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One of my old cricket vice captains used to say that he was responsible for the team's vice!

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Originally Posted by Twodogs

One of my old cricket vice captains used to say that he was responsible for the team's vice!

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If you had have said that when I was vice captain I used to say that I was responsible for the team's vice.....you could have told everyone that you were departing and they should try some milk fed cow that had been kept in the dark.

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Originally Posted by Twodogs

One of my old cricket vice captains used to say that he was responsible for the team's vice!

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Sounds like a comment from a number 11 who doesn't bowl i.e. a good clubman who is likely either the Secretary or President but does SFA else. Every club needs one.

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Originally Posted by hujsh

He was never really a great inside mid either was he? Like he can play the role but I don't think he has any real amazing attributes that would set him apart.

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He was surprisingly effective as a run-with player a few years ago.
Libba and Dunks are well ahead of him and as far as slow players go, Lippi is ahead of him as a mid.

There is no doubt it was the insertion of Wallis in the mid-field that sparked the third quarter revival against the GWS (VFL) last night. His bigger body and experience was invaluable in and under. However he is behind Bont, Treloar, Dunks, Macrae, Baz and Libba when it comes to that area. We are crying out for an effective small forward, so given he had been largely ineffective in the forward line, I am not sure it did him any personal good.