Over-rated / Under Rated #4: Rhylee West

[mjp]

Age: 24
Games Total: 58
Games Last Year: 21

The story:
Recruited under the Father/Son rules WAY, WAY back in 2018...somehow it doesn't feel like it was that long ago. He has had a very 'stop/start' career playing 3 games in his debut season (2019), then 4 in 2020, 3 in the GF year, 14 in 2022, 12 in 2023 and (finally) 21 games last season. His strengths seem VERY clear - ability to read the ball off hands, clean below his knees and 'clever/neat' by hand and foot...but his measurables are all 'average' (180cm, not fast) and he has really battled to find himself a role. Many see him as a born to rights inside midfielder (just like dear old Dad) but he has rarely if ever played in that role at AFL level, spending his time learning his craft as a small forward.

He really seemed to unlock something last year (2024) - specifically the ability to play ON a dangerous running defender, keep them quiet AND impact the score-board...there was a block of games between round 4 and around about his 4-goal effort vs Carlton in R#19 where it seemed he had gone from fringe player to one of the first picked...injuries struck near the end of the season though and despite being declared 'FIT' he was left out of the disaster that is often called the 2024 EF vs Hawthorn. That said, much of the teams best footy in 2024 where it ranked in the top #2 for both attack and defense was with a small forward gang of 4 in 'full flight': West, McNeil, Weightman and VDM. I can hear the scorn through the keyboard but sometimes numbers tell a story your eyes can't see!! In any case, Rhylee kicked a more than respectable 25 goals from his 21 games whilst winning the footy 'about' 12-15 times most weeks and being credited with > 3x tackles per game.

Is Rhylee:
a). Over-rated - He's been given a heap of chances - but still can't really nail a spot. A small, slow small-forward who can't play midfield at AFL level is not moving the needle.
b). Properly-rated - Kicks goals, sticks tackles...sure, he's limited but what more do you want? Maybe he isn't the 'next' generational mid we all dreamed of but he is a solid player and should play most weeks.
c). Under-rated - Give the kid a chance. He's learned a new position since being drafted* (small forward) and if it wasn't for injuries would have kicked 30+ goals last year...as for not being an AFL midfielder, give the kid a chance in there!!

* (He actually played a heap of small forward before being drafted but let's not allow the truth to interrupt a good argument!!

[GVGjr]

West seems to be properly rated so B for me.
He plays in a difficult position to get a lot of stats and he's effective in some games and less so in others.
A handy player who needs to both back up on the gains he made in 2024 and get further improvement in 2025.

[Critter]

He's a solid B for me. Similarly to Libba, West is highly aware spatially. He knows instinctively where opportunities and threats are. He knows where best to put the ball to our advantage, as he is entering the contest. That he sometimes gets caught or kicks the odd "clanger" can most often be put down to experience. He simply needs to play more regularly.
His teammates would benefit greatly if they were to build a greater rapport with him.

[Woofingwarrior]

Under rated . Needs more time in the middle seems a real game breaker jack viney type.

I feel as tho bevos issue has been not running enough differnt players through the midfield.
the game is all about speed now and I would like to see west and Garcia used more through the middle

[soupman]

Overrated by our supporter group, properly rated by the MC.

He is a good player, and in the last two years has really fixed his issues of not playing within his limitations, but i think a lot of supporters think he is even better than what he has shown.

He is best 22, although not that comfortably, has never proven he is a mid at AFL level despite a smattering of opportunities, is a dangerous forward including importantly as a crumber, provides good pressure but not to the level of Vandermeer or McNeil, he is a better Matt Owies (ouch), but with a similiar stat line.

[Grantysghost]

My sentiments reflect Soupman's.

He is loved by supporters but for mine is rated correctly so B).

If he really focuses on what he's good at and spends less time doing things he doesn't excel at he will be a consistent role player in the AFL side.

His trajectory is upwards over the last two seasons so hope he continues that pattern.

In a battle with three or four others for that medium/small forward spot.

[Mofra]

B - and that's noting his improvement from 2023 to 2024, where things seemed to 'click' for him and his role in the forward half.
Barring injury(jaw) he's best 22.

[jazzadogs]

Properly rated. He was a really important member of the team last year and if he maintains those standards in pre-season should be a lock through 2025, and hopefully continue to improve.

If his career is 100-150 games of effective defensive small forward with multiple seasons of 25-30 goals, that's a win.

[Jasper]

He has a big season in front of him because expectations will increase. Hopefully he stays injury free but he needs to get his scoring rate up a little bit. 25 goals from 21 games is a decent return. 30 goals should be his aim this year.

[mjp]

30 goals should be his aim this year.

Best tallies for smalls in 2024:

Stengle (46)
Toby Greene (44)
Charlie Cameron (44)
Will Hayward (41)
Papley (36)

That's probably tier #1.

Jack Higgins (36)
Kozzie Pickett (36)
Dylan Moore (36)
Kye Lohmann (36)
Ben Keays (34)

That's prob tier 2.

Then there's the midfield hybrids.

Warner/Bolton/Heeney

Others who did it:

Rayner (who spends time at half back), Bobby Hill (who's Bobby Hill), Matt Owies (who got traded) +Josh Rachele and Paul Curtis (who are probs just starting to figure it out).

Who out of that group would you choose West ahead of? Not many...we're asking him to play a role for us (if we want 30 goals) that he just isn't equipped to play.

I just don't think he's a 30-goal per year player...he might do it once I guess but we're talking about something that is bloody hard to do!!

[Rocco Jones]

B. What mjp said in OP.

[Jasper]

Best tallies for smalls in 2024:

Stengle (46)
Toby Greene (44)
Charlie Cameron (44)
Will Hayward (41)
Papley (36)

That's probably tier #1.

Jack Higgins (36)
Kozzie Pickett (36)
Dylan Moore (36)
Kye Lohmann (36)
Ben Keays (34)

That's prob tier 2.

Then there's the midfield hybrids.

Warner/Bolton/Heeney

Others who did it:

Rayner (who spends time at half back), Bobby Hill (who's Bobby Hill), Matt Owies (who got traded) +Josh Rachele and Paul Curtis (who are probs just starting to figure it out).

Who out of that group would you choose West ahead of? Not many...we're asking him to play a role for us (if we want 30 goals) that he just isn't equipped to play.

I just don't think he's a 30-goal per year player...he might do it once I guess but we're talking about something that is bloody hard to do!!

Thanks for the detailed response.
While I'm not really comparing him to others in terms of a ranking I can't see why adding an extra 5 goals is seen as a bridge too far for him
He's got some limitations but a couple of straighter kicks for goal and he's half way there to bridging that gap. With his defensive efforts that extra 5 goals in a season could make a big difference
Time will tell if last season performances can be improved on or if he is more or less at his limit.
We have a couple of players like Vandermeer and McNeil that he's going to challenge him plus the addition of M.Kennedy and Sanders looking for a spot up forward so there is some competition.

[jazzadogs]

Thanks for the detailed response.
While I'm not really comparing him to others in terms of a ranking I can't see why adding an extra 5 goals is seen as a bridge too far for him
He's got some limitations but a couple of straighter kicks for goal and he's half way there to bridging that gap. With his defensive efforts that extra 5 goals in a season could make a big difference
Time will tell if last season performances can be improved on or if he is more or less at his limit.
We have a couple of players like Vandermeer and McNeil that he's going to challenge him plus the addition of M.Kennedy and Sanders looking for a spot up forward so there is some competition.

The thing he's got over those guys is that he actually kicks goals.

[Critter]

He kicked 25 goals in 2024 and had 15 goal assists. Improved symbiosis between him and other forwards and I think we’ll see him in upper echelons of small forwards.

[jeemak]

West had a really good year relative to his progression over time. If he can build on that then he becomes best 23 week in week out. To date I've not been as troubled by his development as others. It's a tough role that he has to play, having him adjust and hopefully excel at it while still being a midfield option in a pinch brings versatility to our small forward brigade.

However, that he wasn't selected irrespective of fitness in the EF probably outlines in the view of the MC he has plenty of work to do to cement a spot ongoing. If he continues to play disciplined and sharing football he'll get there.

Possibly overrated by some fans, probably about right in terms of the MC.