The Case For Signing Mitch Wallis

[bulldogtragic]

Originally Mitch was a midfielder, towards the outside. Then under BMac he was a tagger. Under Bevo he's an inside midfielder who takes stints forward. So he's been thrown around.

Size: 186cm, 85kg - Which is virtually the same size as Tory Dickson. About the same speed, but more aggressive.

His career best goal kicking was 15 goals in 20 games. After the weekend he's now got 16 goals in just 13 games with 5 games to go. This year he's kicked 16 goals, 2 behinds (11 goal assist too). Accuracy better than Tory Dickson. His career goal kicking accuracy is 65%, pretty much the same as Tory Dickson (but under).

We've lost mid sized forwards in Stringer, Clay Smith & possibly Liam Picken and Tory Dickson. We've found Gowers, but he might be best playing a little higher up the ground.

Perhaps Mitch Wallis, with his hardness, good marking hands and elite goal kicking accuracy is actually a strong mid sized forward. And it's for this role we have him going forward. With the ability to move around if needed, but a bona fide mid sized forward, something we desperately need. If he can kick over 20 goals in 18 games whilst playing midfield/forward, perhaps as a dedicated forward he could become a 1.5 goal a game forward for the rest of his career. I think, for me at least, we are seeing another role emerge for him that would lead me to happily offer him a contract and focus on his strengths that have come to the forefront in the last month.

So Sam Power, sign him up please.

[Sedat]

Agree wholeheartedly. He has embraced the challenge from Bevo to find additional strings to his bow and, apart from one unfortunate poor kick, has performed better than anyone could expect in this role. Losing Dickson, Picken and Smith leaves a gaping hole in our forward line and Wally has filled the breach really well.

[Ozza]

I always feel confident when Wally is in a contest, that he will either win it or halve the contest at worst.

25 years of age, getting over 20 possessions and over a goal per game - absolutely he should be signed up. And if in future we are going well enough that he is getting pushed out of the side by others, then great. Coming back from that horrendous broken leg was always going to be hard. And adapting to different roles is an additional challenge, but you know that Mitch is up for it. I would be devastated if we let him walk.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Yep - need to get him signed for all the reasons stated above.

Adapted well to the forward half, he's a leader and a competitor.

[SonofScray]

He has responded really well to the challenges thrown at him. Good leadership, can sniff a goal. I'd be keeping him, no doubt.

[Eastdog]

Yeah I would like to hang onto to Wally. He is just one of those types of players you want around at the club.

[Rocket Science]

Wal's strengths, application and leadership traits outweigh his limitations as a player.

Ink the lad or another mob will. And for chrissake put him in the leadership group where he belongs.

[Dry Rot]

Wal's strengths, application and leadership traits outweigh his limitations as a player.

Ok, for the sake of some discussion, what are Wallis's limitations and what is case NOT to sign him?

[bornadog]

Ok, for the sake of some discussion, what are Wallis's limitations and what is case NOT to sign him?

I think his only limitation is lack of pace.

[Dry Rot]

I think his only limitation is lack of pace.

Holding his feet in a contest? Decision making? Disposal by foot?

[bornadog]

Holding his feet in a contest? Decision making? Disposal by foot?

I think he has improved in all of those. He isn't a long kick, but can be accurate.

[Testekill]

Ok, for the sake of some discussion, what are Wallis's limitations and what is case NOT to sign him?

* Not quick
* sometimes struggles to keep his feet
* if playing as a mid then he needs to be at the coalface but Libba is just far better in that role.


I'm all for keeping Wallis though; besides the fact that he's a good midfielder in an age range that we're badly lacking, you really can't just cough up solid father sons especially when they've had elite seasons in the past.

[LostDoggy]

* Not quick
* sometimes struggles to keep his feet
* if playing as a mid then he needs to be at the coalface but Libba is just far better in that role.


I'm all for keeping Wallis though; besides the fact that he's a good midfielder in an age range that we're badly lacking, you really can't just cough up solid father sons especially when they've had elite seasons in the past.

Libba has had three of the last four seasons ruined with injury. Sizeable gamble assuming he gets back on park to any affect on a long term basis.

[Axe Man]

He is certainly a capable forward but I still think he is best suited to a midfield/forward role rather than a permanent forward.

I'm not sure that he is very comparable to Tory Dickson though. No way is their speed about the same, Dickson would leave Wallis for dead. Look no further than Tory's run down of Mckenna against the Bombers earlier this year, no chance in hell Wallis could have done that.

A definite re-sign for mine though. What would our offer look like - 3 year contract at something like $450k?

[bulldogtragic]

Just for rounding stats out, entire competition wide:

2018 AFL Wide Ranking/All Clubs: Goal Kicking Accuracy

1. Mitch Wallis 88.9%