Looks very unlikely he’ll get a contract you would think
I hope he’s played rd 22 against collingwood. It’d be nice to see a goal or two out of him on the MCG one last time
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Oh come on dude. That’s terrible list management. Playing essentially with one spot down the entire year.
We’re used to that. Nothing to see here…
Just my view, his presence around the younger indigenous boys (1) and our love for his journey (2) are the only factors supporting the notion he gets a new contract, based on his performance on field.
He’s not fit enough (let’s call it like we would for Stringer), isn’t really contributing in the VFL and has lost his speed. On that basis, a ruthless pragmatic decision looks pretty obvious to me. However, things aren’t always that simple.
I’d see if they can find a development role / mentoring role and have him play VFL next year like Narkle. I don’t think using a list spot for Tippa in 2024 is in our interests.
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Is ryder still at the club?
A off field role, with the indigenous boys should be his if he wants it
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No other player in the history of the AFL has dealt with the physiological issues he has and managed to play AFL footy either.
Don’t be so binary
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To get a top 5 small forward, and mentor to the young indigenous kids, yes.
Does he get a farewell match?
I’m never against having a spot or 2 on the list being used on a couple of break glass in case of emergency guys who can come in and play a role but otherwise serve the purpose of being a steady hand in the 2’s. Heath Hocking, Brent Stanton, and David Myers all did it in the twilight of their careers. This year went very well may be been that for Walla, that year might be next year. I think you will find that ultimately he will know how much is left in his tank as well as anyone.
This season has been a success for him in my mind, he’s managed to play the majority of the season, improve on his fitness over that time, be available in the seniors when called up, and serve as a fantastic mentor to our young forwards and mids in the VFL all year, whilst never getting in the way of the development of all the kids who play his role.
That’s a success. Especially considering he wasn’t even playing footy this time last year.
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Yes and I’ve repeatedly said that those struggles and overcoming them have made him an inspiration, and that he is a wonderful person by all accounts. To give him a year on the list to get his body right so that he may be able to play footy in 2024 despite retiring the year prior, is terrible list management, however you want to spin it.
I would guess that they actually hoped he would play a bit this season and tested the waters by giving him a few games early on, but it clearly has not panned out the way they actually wanted it to.
Its not a binary way of looking at it to acknowledge his struggles and go despite that he still wasnt and isnt in the physical condition to be given a spot on the senior list. Like I said, there are multiple ways to integrate him into the club if that was the overall goal.
But he clearly wasnt and isnt a top 5 small forward currently. Put him on the clubs payroll as an employee or get him on the VFL list if they just want him to be a mentor.
The decision to give him a senior position has always baffled me. If he was going to use this year to build fitness and then maybe play seniors more next season, then a VFL position would have been perfect, and he could have been promoted in the case of an LTI (of which there are multiple every season).
The club got caught up in the romance of his return and it got the better of them.
We gave Michael Hurley 2 years on the list where he ended up playing 1 senior game.
Obviously there was extenuating circumstances around that but no one thought it was a bad idea, he’s now a coach at the club.
Those 2 years were a win in my mind.
You can’t play 38 guys in the seniors.
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Clearly you were not at the G when Walla ran on to the ground in game 1 vs Hawks. It was an inpsirational moment with everyone applauding.
Trolls are easily baffled.
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Yes so Im not sure how that is a fair comparison? We knew Tippa was not fit, we didnt know Hurley would contract a life threatening hip infection when we gave him a 5 year deal in 2016. Not to mention Hurls was AA in 2015 and replicated that in 2017. So no, not a bad decision at all.
If they want Walla to be a coach, like I said, give him a VFL contract.
Our treatment of tippa is emblematic of our attitude which has kept us mediocre for so long.
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Such a sad comment.
Taking Trollism to new heights.
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It is it a success. It doesn’t have to end in being a Brownlow Medallist, or a Grand Final victory or a B&F for it to be a success. It’s also inspirational.
Think about it.
A guy out of the Tiwi Islands played VFL and became adored by their fan base. He then gets drafted and becomes adored by kids (not only in our fan base but others). He’s about as close to an icon as you can get by the peak years of his career. He has personal problems and stumbles well back to the point where he’s just incapable of playing the sport that made him who he is. He comes back, works his absolute butt off, is a continual mentor to our young players (not just Munkara and the Davey’s but Menzie too) and he got his body to a point where he could contribute to team (albeit in small portions).
Walla has shown more resilience in his time as an AFL footballer than most people would have shown in their lifetime.
If this year is his last year, then selecting him in the Collingwood game is needed. At the very least, he should be celebrated publicly for how much he has given to the fans and the club (as long as he wants it that way). He deserves it.
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With the emotional side of my brain I love Walla. I want to see him play on next year.
But using the other side of my brain, thinking more logically, I am not sure. It’s not a hard no but it’s a 50/50 call.
For me it doesn’t come down to ‘he’s not fit enough’. He has improved over the course of the year. Maybe he is fit enough, maybe he isn’t.
Walla’s two strengths are his ability to rundown/apply pressure and his deadly goalkicking.
The latter is why I have doubts on him.
I know he’s spent time in the VFL midfield, but his goalkicking has fallen off a cliff. He can’t kick set shots, he can’t kick snaps. He’s now become a Will Snelling type. Applies pressure but doesn’t kick goals.
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His goal kicking has fallen off because of his fitness levels.
When you have a set shot, you have a short period of time to settle, catch your breath and take the shot.
If you’re gassed, you’re going to need more time to settle before the kick. But if you’re fit (like he was before 2020), then you can settle down quicker get your breathing right and take the shot.
Whether he gets to a decent enough fitness level so that isn’t as much of a factor is another matter.
I’m 50/50 on him. I think we’ll make him wait until trade period. Same deal with a few other players.
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Has been improving in the VFL as the year has gone on.
Hard to make a decision but we do need to make three changes to the list. I’m hopeful he gets another year.
Last l heard, Ryder had departed, his role is tailor made for Tippa and l would he shocked if he didn’t take on that type of role, if not the same actual position as Ryder next year. I am still open about Tippa playing on in 2024, it comes down to else is cut. There are still a few rounds to go to see if he the playing ability to warrant a one year deal.