Mattaes Phillipou

[Grantysghost]

Re: Mattaes Phillipou

This is a pretty consistent message.

Everyone likes Phillipou the player (a lot). No-one really minds the confidence (I wouldn't say he's over confident - but he certainly believes in himself and is prepared to verbalise that).

There are some other elements of his behaviour that is putting clubs off. It is convenient to say it is related to 'ego' and him being 'over' confident but that isn't it.

Do I think it's a problem? Not really. But I don't know him. I think he is an exceptionally talented player and - as I have said - would draft him at pick one based on the onfield bits I have seen. But there are certainly questions and they seem to be in that 'character/behaviour' space more than anything else...and it isn't that he's done anything 'wrong'...he's just tends to do some things 'differently'...

Apologies - I'm trying to talk around things without 'SAYING IT' to try and paint a picture of what is happening...whether I have been able to do that or not, well...

So you're saying he's a flog

[Grantysghost]

Re: Mattaes Phillipou

Ha, what a legend! His hyper-self awareness as he sees it definitely comes across as a massive lack of self-awareness!

Like someone who tells you they're super empathetic and always putting others before themselves without taking a breath, rarely realise how much empathy for the listener they're lacking.......

Time will tell, but I get the feeling (albeit from a limited sample) a massive shock awaits him once he hits senior footy and realises how ridiculously hard it is.

Love the question, apart from Ashcroft who is the best player.

I'd say myself.

[hujsh]

Re: Mattaes Phillipou

This is a pretty consistent message.

Everyone likes Phillipou the player (a lot). No-one really minds the confidence (I wouldn't say he's over confident - but he certainly believes in himself and is prepared to verbalise that).

There are some other elements of his behaviour that is putting clubs off. It is convenient to say it is related to 'ego' and him being 'over' confident but that isn't it.

Do I think it's a problem? Not really. But I don't know him. I think he is an exceptionally talented player and - as I have said - would draft him at pick one based on the onfield bits I have seen. But there are certainly questions and they seem to be in that 'character/behaviour' space more than anything else...and it isn't that he's done anything 'wrong'...he's just tends to do some things 'differently'...

Apologies - I'm trying to talk around things without 'SAYING IT' to try and paint a picture of what is happening...whether I have been able to do that or not, well...

So confident but confident in his own methods and maybe a bit stubborn making recruiters worry he'll stick to doing his own rather than listening to coaches every time.

Would it be fair to compare to a more football related 'Liam Jones not getting vaccinated' type issue?

Sorry of course don't answer if you think it's saying too much.

[Stevo]

Re: Mattaes Phillipou

A super confident kid can be brought down to earn but more experienced players. Who was the youngster they paired up with Eagleton years ago and Nathan bounced him around in a few of the drills throughout one preseason as a way of toughing him up?

[GVGjr]

Re: Mattaes Phillipou

A super confident kid can be brought down to earn but more experienced players. Who was the youngster they paired up with Eagleton years ago and Nathan bounced him around in a few of the drills throughout one preseason as a way of toughing him up?

I think you will find that it was Dylan Addison unless there was someone else as well.
When DFA arrived at the club he stayed at the longest serving player sponsors place. Roy sadly passed away last year.
Roy and I would often talk about footy at training sessions (they were the days) and watch the boys go through their paces.
Roy told me that it was identified that Dylan was not pushing himself that hard and that Eagleton was assigned to work with him particularly with boxing and tackling sessions. DFA initially hated the boxing, tackling and wrestling sessions because Eagle made him work.
Eagleton had obviously been hitting the gym for a number of years and could dominate DFA when he thought he wasn't pushing himself hard enough. He apparently even pushed him head first into the ground at times.
12 months later with some invaluable lessons learned of bringing your best effort to training a vastly stronger and determined DFA arrived at these sessions and had developed an ability to push back.
He may not have been one of the more talented players at the club but Addison was a hard worker and brought his best effort.

This is why I'm not that fussed about Phillipou being a bit lets say 'confident'. There are plenty of ways to refocus him.

[jeemak]

Re: Mattaes Phillipou

So confident but confident in his own methods and maybe a bit stubborn making recruiters worry he'll stick to doing his own rather than listening to coaches every time.

Would it be fair to compare to a more football related 'Liam Jones not getting vaccinated' type issue?

Sorry of course don't answer if you think it's saying too much.

Probably more along the lines of Aker in 2007 wasting away to a shadow and not listening to the club dietitians who were telling him he wasn't eating enough or eating enough of the right things. Because, he's Aker and he's a dickhead but doesn't regret being a dickhead because he wouldn't be the dickhead he is if he wasn't a dickhead.

[Mofra]

Re: Mattaes Phillipou

So you're saying he's a flog

Has anyone heard Bailey Humphrey speak?
If that's the reason Phillipou is potentially sliding, and nobody is saying anything about Humphrey, well...

[GVGjr]

Re: Mattaes Phillipou

Has anyone heard Bailey Humphrey speak?
If that's the reason Phillipou is potentially sliding, and nobody is saying anything about Humphrey, well...

Yep, Humph has some pep in his step.
There is a bit more towards why some clubs having apprehension with Phillipou but there will be clubs confident it can be managed.

[Mofra]

Re: Mattaes Phillipou

Yep, Humph has some pep in his step.
There is a bit more towards why some clubs having apprehension with Phillipou but there will be clubs confident it can be managed.

I do wonder why interviews seem (to the outside observer) to hold so much weight.

Watts over NicNat due to his 'mature head'
Sicily sliding into the 50s
etc etc

Again I'm not privvy to interviews and the sorts of things clubs would put up as red flags, but it does seem the most important question (can they play?) is slipping down the ladder of importance.

[GVGjr]

Re: Mattaes Phillipou

I do wonder why interviews seem (to the outside observer) to hold so much weight.

Watts over NicNat due to his 'mature head'
Sicily sliding into the 50s
etc etc

Again I'm not privvy to interviews and the sorts of things clubs would put up as red flags, but it does seem the most important question (can they play?) is slipping down the ladder of importance.

As previously stated, I think interviews are really important if you are wanting to bring in the right people for an organisation and especially a football club but there are some traits or quirks you can live with or accept.
For every Watts over Nic Nat examples there will also be bullets dodged the other way.

The secret is if you notice those quirks (that you think you can live with) is to have a plan to manage it and then follow through.
Geelong is wearing a huge salary over the next 2 years just to get an early draft pick this year so you can see clubs know it's a huge investment in training, development and player welfare.

[mjp]

Re: Mattaes Phillipou

I do wonder why interviews seem (to the outside observer) to hold so much weight.

Watts over NicNat due to his 'mature head'
Sicily sliding into the 50s
etc etc

Again I'm not privvy to interviews and the sorts of things clubs would put up as red flags, but it does seem the most important question (can they play?) is slipping down the ladder of importance.

Watts over Natanui was Brighton over Midland. You had one at Brighton Grammar, the other was best mates with Sonny Walters and Chris Yarren and - let's be honest - they basically lived on the worst street in the worst suburb in a capital city which is already called the 'Wild West' amongst recruiters and AFL clubs. Kids in Perth are generally thought to do more 'outside the lines' stuff than they do in Melbourne (with some justification to be fair)...

As someone said to me once when it comes to recruiting: "Look, it doesn't matter if you choose to select Stephen Hill ahead of Nic Natanui - both are amazing players and incredible talents. The problem comes when you select Jack Watts ahead of both of them...". Don't forget - at the time there was outrage in Perth (media circles, community clubs - not footy circles) that ANYONE could be selected ahead of Daniel Rich who had just played in a senior premiership at Subiaco and 'slid' all the way down to Brisbane at (I think) pick 7.

I think the interviews are absolutely crucial for 2-reasons.

1/. You have to get to understand as much as possible about the player and their personal values as you can. You are basically hiring someone for 3-7 years and dropping them in your organisation...I mean, I interview every new person who comes in the door at my business but if it goes bad, 3-months later I have a probation clause and just say 'SEEYA - no-ones fault but it isn't working out'. AFL Clubs can't do that...they are STUCK. So they need to know each player and understand what drives them.

2/. They need to be able to work out if the player is (in our case) a "Bulldog's PERSON". As in - yep, they can play. Yep, they could play in a role that we need. They are driven etc...but are they a "BULLDOG". I have often said that "footy clubs are the same the world over" - but we all know that is only 95% true. I often think about Simon Beasley when I think this way - he drove up to the Western Oval in a BMW. He was a stock broker. He was as far away from every Footscray cliche as you could get....but 'something' made him a BULLDOG - and he kicked more goals in the 1980's than any other player. I think there are plenty of examples of this where some people 'just fit' "THE CLUB". If you think of it in this sense, Dunks was a great player for us - premiership player, B&F winner - but something about his personality and the club hasn't seemed to 'fit' for a few years...he is a lot of things (and 99% of them are really good) but what he ISN'T is a "BULLDOG".

[jeemak]

Re: Mattaes Phillipou

The Melbourne media also played a huge role in the Watts decision. The blue eyed boy who could nail it from fifty, blond hair, six four and agile with a basketball background. Someone the Melbourne faithful could identify with, well spoken and made of the right stuff. It also enabled them to type cast Nat as a bit of a freak, an oddity who could jump and run.

I remember being puzzled when Watts was all of a sudden in the conversation, but his two or three amazing clips of long range goals and agility literally got the whole town talking about why Melbourne should take someone so identifiable to them.

Here's a vid of Watts at the Carnival, and to be fair, he does look amazing:

MJP - I remember Stephen Hill being taken by Freo ahead of Rich, and was surprised. Do you think Rich would have had the same career if he had have stayed in Perth? He's one of my favourite players, simply because I love players who can kick it at the elite level and he's been amazing at that over time.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Mattaes Phillipou

Looking at Phillipou footage, he really is a rangy player - long arms, good frame. Physically he will fill out well if he applies himself. Not too worried about believing he is the best - all top players do and our Bailey Smith was an intense example of this. I'm sure a guy like Danger/Dusty/Bont all have a very strong belief in how good they are. Lovely kick for goal, really puts his foot through it and his marking is pretty good. I agree he is versatile. If I had a knock its that passages of his field kicking showed him to be a bit loopy and lacking penetration.

The interview is important and if we aren't getting the vibes that he is a Bulldog person then that should count - its critical we nail first round picks. I would not discount him.

[GVGjr]

Re: Mattaes Phillipou

Looking at Phillipou footage, he really is a rangy player - long arms, good frame. Physically he will fill out well if he applies himself. Not too worried about believing he is the best - all top players do and our Bailey Smith was an intense example of this. I'm sure a guy like Danger/Dusty/Bont all have a very strong belief in how good they are. Lovely kick for goal, really puts his foot through it and his marking is pretty good. I agree he is versatile. If I had a knock its that passages of his field kicking showed him to be a bit loopy and lacking penetration.

The interview is important and if we aren't getting the vibes that he is a Bulldog person then that should count - its critical we nail first round picks. I would not discount him.

I know this is just a small part of the regarding yourself as the best player in the draft but I would imagine that if you regard yourself that highly you might not be striving to improve like you should.

I don't see why he would slide to our pick but it would be exceptionally hard us to pass on him unless we are 100% sure we can't help him get better.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Mattaes Phillipou

I know this is just a small part of the regarding yourself as the best player in the draft but I would imagine that if you regard yourself that highly you might not be striving to improve like you should.

I don't see why he would slide to our pick but it would be exceptionally hard us to pass on him unless we are 100% sure we can't help him get better.

It was interesting he said he went into one interview with a SA team mate.
Wonder if a team is going for the double deal like Anderson and Rowell.