Merrett had a shocking tail end to the season didn’t he. When he got dropped and didn’t play finals…and such…
I thought Tippa had been shown with a boxing coach on an earlier post, so took that as a positive about his fitness and approach to the new season. I have just watch some of the earlier 2021 games, and when he’s happy, he’s on!!! I hope he’s happy!
As long as he doesn’t go to the US with his tattoo coach.
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Tippa will be right but I would love to see some more indig talent on the list and I reckon he would feel the same.
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Sucks that we missed Hill would have made Walla very happy
Hopefully next season he requests a trade to us again
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Origin of Name
Walla Walla, like Wagga Wagga, is a Wiradjuri word. In their definitive dictionary of the Wiradjuri language, Stan Grant Snr and Dr John Rudder, point out that ‘walla’ "seems to be linked to the concept of strength or hardness" which could mean that the name reflects the hardness of the granite outcrops in the area.
Walla will be right
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WALLLAAAA
I get what your saying and actually agree. but…there could be a million reasons and the biggest one is probably he doesn’t have to be. but yep, he has a point to prove. I’ll be keenly observant to what kind of shape he presents himself in day 1
I prefer he arrives when he has to and avoids the burnout he seemed to suffer this year.
He has nothing to prove by arriving early.
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Wish I was Zac Merritt…………
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Genuinely flat to hear that Walla has rocked up to day one of pre-season overweight. Plenty of time to get himself right but geez, that’s disappointing given the way he finished the year.
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I’m not mad at him.
I’d say he is battling with some very real mental health issues (which he has spoken about previously) and this is the manifestation. Sometimes you just lose that motivation. You have to be highly motivated and accountable to be an elite athlete.
He seems like he’s in the midst of a real battle internally and barely clinging on to the habits of a pro athlete.
It’s still salvageable obviously. And let’s hope things come together. He does have time if he finds the right headspace.
It’s disappointing as he’s obviously important to us and he’s a joy to watch but I can’t be angry as you just don’t know what he’s dealing with.
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yeah. flat is a good way to describe it
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GET AROUND HIM.
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Love you Walla.
The thing with our team at the moment as well is we have only two guys who play with brilliance/flair/class/x factor, call it what you want. The guys who are capable of doing the unthinkable and making something out of nothing.
We become quite a dour team without him.
It’s basically Stringer surrounded by good solid foot soldiers, maybe save for Hind at a pinch. Obviously some very good players but you need a few guys who can do those freak things.
Here’s hoping Walla gets happy and well 
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I reckon Draper has a fair bit of x-factor.
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I’ve seen him on multiple occasions working on his fitness at Aberfeldie Park, so it’s not as if he’s doing nothing. Maybe now he’s starting to work back into it. Whatever it is, as long as the club support him, but also if he’s not at the required fitness he shouldn’t be selected. As good as Walla is, and he’s one of the few players we have on the list that has a bit of magic to turn half chances into goals, if he’s not physically or mentally right we can’t play him, even with the dearth of small forwards on the list. Just hope he finds happiness in his life. 
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Perhaps we’re thinking of different things. Whatever he has he’s not in the same sphere as Stringer and Tippa.
To me Draper is the guy who makes those around him walk taller with the wholehearted, in-your-face way that he plays. That is by far his predominant mode rather than x factor or outright brilliance.
He’s done the odd thing where he’s taken it out of the ruck and tapped it to himself and run for a few strides but overall, not in that sort of category, at least not the one I was thinking of. He can’t even really kick the footy with much control at this point. He’ll be our ruck for the next decade and be a very good player for us though. Lots of improvement left too.
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Zac does it and it’s accepted. I do it and my wife wants a divorce!
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