Phillipou v Bontempelli

[Sanctorum]

I was really "over the moon" when St Kilda drafted Mattaes Phillipou at pick 10 in the November NAB Draft - I've had my eyes on him for months but always thought he would be gone well before St Kilda's FRDP - he represented the type of player St Kilda has not had for forever, a big bodied strong midfielder in the mould of Marcus Bontempelli and Nat Fyfe, both of whom are around the 190 cm 92 kg mark and regularly impose themselves on the game.

We've not seen anyone like that in the RWB...EVER, not even in the halcyon eras of the 1960s, 1990's and 2008-2011!

Phillipou is a dead set Marcus Bontempelli clone - when the Bont was drafted in 2013 he was 191 cm and 84 kg, since then he's grown to 193 cm and 93 kg. He debuted for the Dogs in round 4, 2014 and played 16 games that year, remained in best 22 ever since and gone on to become one of the highest decorated players for his team.

Phillipou at 17 is 190 cm and 89 kg and in his interviews has stated his unequivocal determination to work his butt off to achieve success in the big league. I'm quite certain he'll debut in the first 3 or 4 rounds....

If I'm correct in my assessment of his potential, Phillipou could well be the one to give that extra edge to get the team into the finals.

[D.B.Cooper]

Great positive post.
There is no doubt this kid has the ability to be the best player of his draft.

But let’s please temper expectation.
He’s bottom end draft age, moving interstate and a bean pole who is probably still growing. He’s not an elite junior runner therefore the AFL level fitness base could take 3 preseasons.

I’d be stoked if he played the last 6 matches of the season and performed reasonably in those games, setting himself up for a big preseason for 2024.

[B.M]

Brendon Goddard

190cm
93kg

[B.M]

Blake Acres

190cm
89kg

[Devilhead]

We have both Phillipou & Owens now who are both bigbodied 190+ players and can potentially go through the midfield and also sit forward

Will be keeping a keen eye on both

[Impatient Sainter]

Its interesting the Woodville West Torrens site had him listed at 192cms as have others. Either way he is he perfect tall, strong marking, long kicking midfielder to compliment Windhager, Owens and Hotton going forward. I actually believe he will be a better player than Bontempelli as he has a quick burst of speed from stoppages.

I have said it earlier that I hope we dont rush him, but if he justifys selection then so be it.

[guitars4]

I just hope he doesn't get homesick & do a Horne Francis after a year . Still worried about NWM flying the coop at the end of the season would be devastating if we can't hold on to both of them ,fingers crossed we give them a reason to buy in

[Freebird]

Carl Ditterich
194cm 96kgs

[WellardSaint]

I just hope he doesn't get homesick & do a Horne Francis after a year . Still worried about NWM flying the coop at the end of the season would be devastating if we can't hold on to both of them ,fingers crossed we give them a reason to buy in

He said several times he wants to be a one-club player.
But as a teenager, he may just be saying what he thinks people want to hear, especially our club.
His GF is in Adelaide, the distance will be an issue and it's unreasonable to expect a young lady of that age to pull up stumps and join her BF, leaving her family support network.
That would be a distraction for him

[Saintmike65]

Mattaes is 192cm and still growing..he doesn’t put a ceiling on himself so why should we?
As far as running goes, he’s certainly held his own on that front.
He’s unlikely going to get a lot of minutes through the midfield YET but will be a threat up forward, providing an extra avenue in attack.

[CQ SAINT]

Great positive post.
There is no doubt this kid has the ability to be the best player of his draft.

But let’s please temper expectation.
He’s bottom end draft age, moving interstate and a bean pole who is probably still growing. He’s not an elite junior runner therefore the AFL level fitness base could take 3 preseasons.

I’d be stoked if he played the last 6 matches of the season and performed reasonably in those games, setting himself up for a big preseason for 2024.

I'm happy to temper the expectations. We took a risk taking the under-age draftee.

https://sanfl.com.au/league/news/2022-n ... e-results/

But given these results, if there is a better all rounder in this year's or next years draft, I'll go he.
-Highest leap right hand, 2nd left.
-3rd in his state combine for 2k @ 6.25. If he isn't elite, he is close, finishing 9 sec behind the winner, who he beat in the 20m sprint.
-3rd in agility test and an accurate 60m left foot and seamless right foot action.

Phillipou is 5 days of being next years No.1 draft pick.

[Sainternist]

Some people wrote him off as being a FIGJAM, but maybe the team needs a little bit of that. If he manages to be a St.Kilda premiership player, then he can knock Buckley off the FIGJAM perch.

[Saintmike65]

FIGJAM…what rubbish, the kid’s got confidence in his ability but is still respectful.

[B.M]

Why so sensitive?

Given some of the commentary- the shoe fits


I don’t care, as long as he can get a kick!

[skeptic]

Personally I’m a bit miffed about the commentary RE his attitude.

When we’re talking fig jam, I think entitled, obnoxious, stupid, false sense of achievement etc

I don’t see any of that. The kid is confident but everything about him screams he wants to do the work to be the best… not that he already thinks he’s a rockstar

I have zero concerns RE attitude at this point

[Banger9798]

He's enthusiastic, somewhat extroverted and has a healthy self belief...thank God

[Scollop]

Soccer: Alan Didak (at age 10) vs Lionel Messi now

Guitar: My mate (pissed as a fart around the campfire) vs Carlos Santana's career

Boxing: Jake Melksham vs Mike Tyson

Cooking: My nanna (her food is bland) vs Neil Perry

...long way to go for the 18 year old to carve out a career in the AFL and match the heights reached by the Bont

[Banger9798]

Soccer: Alan Didak (at age 10) vs Lionel Messi now

Guitar: My mate (pissed as a fart around the campfire) vs Carlos Santana's career

Boxing: Jake Melksham vs Mike Tyson

Cooking: My nanna (her food is bland) vs Neil Perry

...long way to go for the 18 year old to carve out a career in the AFL and match the heights reached by the Bont

Phillipou vs Scollop's Nanna
Now, there's a match-up I didn't see coming.

[D.B.Cooper]

FIGJAM…what rubbish, the kid’s got confidence in his ability but is still respectful.

I differ from you Saintmike, I don’t see being a bit of a “figjam” as being negative, I love the confidence (arrogance) of the lad.

Many of the greats have/ had it.

Hard to argue his comment to Didoro on draft day didn’t smack of arrogance, but personally I loved it. Really endears me to the lad.

[saynta]

FIGJAM…what rubbish, the kid’s got confidence in his ability but is still respectful.

I differ from you Saintmike, I don’t see being a bit of a “figjam” as being negative, I love the confidence (arrogance) of the lad.

Many of the greats have/ had it.

Hard to argue his comment to Didoro on draft day didn’t smack of arrogance, but personally I loved it. Really endears me to the lad.

Apart from probably being the truth.

[Sanctorum]

Blake Acres

190cm
89kg

B.M, I took both Goddard and Acres into consideration when I stated that Phillipou imho is the most promising big bodied mid St Kilda has ever picked up in a draft, and the comparison with Bontempelli.

Acres has never become a superstar and has not become an impact player for either St Kilda or Fremantle and I doubt he will achieve that level at Carlton.

Yes, Brendon Goddard was a great player and did have impact at times, but nothing like Bontemnpelli. He played with a lot of passion, was fiercely competitive and rose to the occasion in big games - but I don't recall BJ ever spending much time in the midfield, from memory he was more often than not deployed as a rebound half back.

From what I've read, Phillipou in his junior years has played a lot of his games as a midfielder, and that's what I find really exciting!

As for comments that the club should nurse him along because he's so young, I don't go along with that notion at all. Selection to play in the seniors must always be based on merit, first and foremost, and if Phillipou forces his way into consideration during the practice matches in February/March there's no need to hold him back. Over the years there've been any number of 18 year-olds to debut in round 1 and go on to illustrious careers - Nick Daicos is a prime example!

[B.M]

Has Phillipou ever played senior footy?

Even at SANFL level??

He needs to earn a spot through performances in the seconds imo

He has done nothing at this point in time.

[Otiman]

The only thing will stop him will be OP. It seems to be a lot more under control in the AFL these days but I worry about a young kid enthusiastic and hungry.

[Teflon]

The only thing will stop him will be OP. It seems to be a lot more under control in the AFL these days but I worry about a young kid enthusiastic and hungry.

I seriously do not think an Opening Paragraph will stop MP

[Viscount Jeremiah]

Has Phillipou ever played senior footy?

Even at SANFL level??

He needs to earn a spot through performances in the seconds imo

He has done nothing at this point in time.

Yes he has played a handful of senior SANFL games