The Case For Signing Mitch Wallis

[bornadog]

I would have thought a coach would elevate it to get the required result.

He didn't negotiate the contracts

[bornadog]

Dogs free agent hopes 'the faith is repaid'

IN-FORM free agent Mitch Wallis believes he's proven himself as a best-22 player at the Western Bulldogs and hopes "the faith is repaid" by the club in contract negotiations.

After a slow start to the season that saw him spend time in the VFL, Wallis' quest for a new deal has gained momentum since the mid-season bye, with the 25-year-old averaging 21 possessions and slotting 12 goals, switching between midfield and half-forward.

It's a role the life-long midfielder is starting to excel at, to the point where Champion Data rates Wallis 'elite' this season in contested possessions (11 per game) and goals (17 goals at 1.2 per game), while being 'above average' in disposals (21.1), tackles (4.1), pressure acts (18.7) and goal assists (1.1).

He has also finally found "comfortability" in the left leg he badly broke in round 18, 2016. The injury saw the father-son recruit miss the club's 62-year premiership drought.

While he admits a new deal is unlikely to be struck until season's end, Wallis told AFL.com.au he's showing the form he always knew he was capable of.

"It was a challenging start to the year to get my body right and hit consistent form, but since the bye I've been able to pull together some consistent footy, and hitting the scoreboard, which I've also felt has been a part of my game," Wallis said.
"It's been a 50-50 split between midfield and time forward, but as you get older you learn to influence games for longer and more effectively, so I feel I've got a handle on that.

"(My contract) is probably going to be put off until the end of the year, and I'm going to be optimistic about it, but we'll just have to wait and see how it plays out."Hopefully I've shown the value of myself and the faith is repaid come the end of the year."
Coach Luke Beveridge called on Wallis to add a "qualitative sheen" to his game after being sent back to Foostcray in early June, and while he didn't agree with the demotion, the playmaker feels he's answered the challenge.

Wallis had a career kicking efficiency of 58 per cent before round 13, but his "purple patch" of form has coincided with him hitting the target 64 per cent of the time.

"There was a real turning point in the middle of the year when I was disappointed to be out of the side, and whether that was warranted, in my head it probably wasn't," Wallis said.

"Coming back into the side I had a lot to prove to myself and my teammates that I deserved to be there, and it hasn't been the main driver, but it's been a big driver in getting back and being in the best 22 players.

"I've had some good numbers and I think my effectiveness with my disposal, playing forward, hitting the scoreboard and being involved in scoring chains has really risen.

"I feel like I am being a lot more effective, I'm kicking the ball as far as I ever have and as far as my skills, I feel like I've improved dramatically.

"'Bevo' put it on from me that point of view, and I hope I have (proven myself)."Asked if his relationship with Beveridge had become strained, Wallis said the two haven't let emotion affect the strong bond they share.

"Bevo and I have always been close from the moment he came to the club, and he's known my family for a while, but it's also a player-coach relationship at times," Wallis said.

"He has to be the coach, and you have to put your off-field relationship for the benefit of the club, but it has never ever been strained.

"We'll sit down over the next month or so and review the year and where he sees me going forward, but at the moment there's no problem with (our relationship)."

With only four games left in the Dogs' disappointing season, Wallis concedes a future without Whitten Oval had crossed his mind, but he holds out hope that he'll remain at the club his father Steve captained and played 261 games for.

"I've thought about that, and I don't want to say 'D-Day', but it's coming and coming soon, so I'll cross that bridge when I have to," Wallis said.

"I'll never lose sight of that fact this is where I've grown up, supported my whole life and the team that I love.

"I'm a passionate supporter of the club, as much as a passionate player, so hopefully everything can be resolved."

[GVGjr]

He didn't negotiate the contracts

I think most coaches would have elevated the issue when they realised it wasnt happening quick enough and there was a risk both he and the club would lose a player.
Dysfunctional relationship with Fantasia or not, he should have followed through even if that meant going above Fantasia's head.

[GVGjr]

The article just reinforces my view what a quality asset Wallis is. Its a difficult period but hes acknowledging the challenges in a professional manner.
We need to get this deal done.

[jeemak]

The article just reinforces my view what a quality asset Wallis is. Its a difficult period but hes acknowledging the challenges in a professional manner.
We need to get this deal done.

I have a different view. Wallis is saying all of the right things, but there's a very strong PR campaign happening to put the club under pressure. Check the language.

My immediate view suggests he's gone on the back of that.

[GVGjr]

I have a different view. Wallis is saying all of the right things, but there's a very strong PR campaign happening to put the club under pressure. Check the language.

My immediate view suggests he's gone on the back of that.

That's a fair view, but I still think he wants to be a Bulldog player and I think the club should be under a bit of pressure to get a decent deal done.

[Ghost Dog]

How could we not sign him? If we don't the old ladies will hurl their knitting at the Ted Whitten statue, and I will applaud them.

[Rocket Science]

I have a different view. Wallis is saying all of the right things, but there's a very strong PR campaign happening to put the club under pressure. Check the language.

My immediate view suggests he's gone on the back of that.

Hard to disagree with this, as a card-carrying member of the Keep Wally Club I don't like the subtext of that piece one bit.

How can we manage to f*ck up re-contracting a bloke who should've been one of the easiest contract slam dunks on our agenda?

[Greystache]

Hard to disagree with this, as a card-carrying member of the Keep Wally Club I don't like the subtext of that piece one bit.

How can we manage to f*ck up re-contracting a bloke who should've been one of the easiest contract slam dunks on our agenda?

Bad luck?

[Greystache]

I think most coaches would have elevated the issue when they realised it wasnt happening quick enough and there was a risk both he and the club would lose a player.
Dysfunctional relationship with Fantasia or not, he should have followed through even if that meant going above Fantasia's head.

Especially when the outcome directly effects your ability to do your own job. I sounds ridiculous to think someone would say that's a different department to mine so I won't worry about it, despite it directly affecting the team I lead. Either way it's a pretty poor reflection on leadership.

[bornadog]

Especially when the outcome directly effects your ability to do your own job. I sounds ridiculous to think someone would say that's a different department to mine so I won't worry about it, despite it directly affecting the team I lead. Either way it's a pretty poor reflection on leadership.

It didn't happen that way and I am not going to go over old ground.

[Mofra]

How can we manage to f*ck up re-contracting a bloke who should've been one of the easiest contract slam dunks on our agenda?

I really don't like the 'putting it off until the end of the season' bit.
Didn't stop us signing other players - McLean a notable example.

It seems Power is shaping up for quite the cull.

[bornadog]

I really don't like the 'putting it off until the end of the season' bit.
Didn't stop us signing other players - McLean a notable example.

It seems Power is shaping up for quite the cull.

I think he has a lot do and he is prioritising them. Recently The Bont mentioned this with his own and was happy to sort it out later

[bulldogtragic]

I have a different view. Wallis is saying all of the right things, but there's a very strong PR campaign happening to put the club under pressure. Check the language.

My immediate view suggests he's gone on the back of that.

That's my take on the article too. Last week it was his manager in the media, and assuming he was also the source saying 'four years' would secure Wally. This is starting to get get very smelly. If he is gone, we can only hope there's a bidding war (very unlikely) from Brisbane, Essendon & GCS who his manager said has lodged interest. FA compo is probably at best pick 24. I'd rather have Wally.

[LostDoggy]

I really don't like the 'putting it off until the end of the season' bit.
Didn't stop us signing other players - McLean a notable example.

It seems Power is shaping up for quite the cull.

I really think the club had put a pencil line through Wallis mid year. To his credit he has improved aspects of his game. Sometimes coaches will develop a set against a player though. I hope I'm wrong but that a smart cookie like Wallis has felt the need to go to the media like this to reiterate his desire to remain a Bulldog, hardly inspires confidence that the club feels the same way.If Bev really wanted him the deal would be done by now. Instead we get lukewarm motherhood staements from the club.

Article almost felt like Wallis is laying groundwork to manage the fallout of him leaving.

In a club seemingly light on for hungry, talented, experienced players with leadership qualities its a bizarre situation.

Give me Wallis over Dahlhaus or Hunter any day of the week. I'd also take a fit Wallis over a regularly injured and sometimes questionable bloke like Libba as well.

Only can be explained by Bev not rating Wallis.

Big mistake if we let him go IMO.

True test of Power's mettle to go against the coach (IMO) and re-sign Wallis.