Tom Phillips was in a lot of fantasy sides at the start of the year as coaches hoped for a lift in scoring, having been cleared in a sudden fire sale by Collingwood for purely financial reasons after they got into salary cap trouble. At Hawthorn, Phillips has had some good scores but also gone missing in other games, cementing his level as a B-grade wingman who lives and dies on supply from a Hawk engine room that is sputtering at best. He will probably be in most fantasy coaches' never-again lists after 2021, and it's hard to argue that he'll pull out a Ricky Henderson jump in future.
Tom Phillips was in a lot of fantasy sides at the start of the year as coaches hoped for a lift in scoring, having been cleared in a sudden fire sale by Collingwood for purely financial reasons after they got into salary cap trouble. At Hawthorn, Phillips has had some good scores but also gone missing in other games, cementing his level as a B-grade wingman who lives and dies on supply from a Hawk engine room that is sputtering at best. He will probably be in most fantasy coaches' never-again lists after 2021, and it's hard to argue that he'll pull out a Ricky Henderson jump in future.
Tom Phillips looked like a million dollars in preseason and has duly played every game on a wing for Hawthorn this season, but like the team itself he has failed to live up to expectation and is now looking rather over appreciated. Fantasy coaches can declare him a bust by this point, a player they bought in the hope that he would graduate to premium status but who has gone missing for too many quarters when the inside mids who feed him get belted. This is perhaps a lesson not to rely on outside players in poor teams, of which Hawthorn is definitely one.
Phillips is a blade runner
Despite being upstaged by draftee Jay Rantall in the 2k time trial, Tom Phillips remains Collingwood's most reliable outside runner. The wingman's scores were notably affected by the Pies' win-loss ratio with a 22-point differential. A slight drop in possessions and marks dampened what was otherwise a consistent and stellar campaign. Phillips will line up on the wing and run his guts out to link up between defence and attack, occasionally getting a cheap goal or two as well. Being such an outside player his output is going to fluctuate, but the Magpies are top four prospects so he's going to put up big points. Expect the elite runner to keep his form line going and select him with an early pick.
Phillips is the fillip
Tom Phillips delivered the best year of his short career in season three, mostly thanks to his elite running and ability to chalk up disposals on the outside. While his tackles were down, all of his other stats lifted including leading the club for kicks. Phillips is now an pivotal outside player in Collingwood’s starting lineup. Phillips won Collingwood’s 2km time trial yet again, and looks to be in excellent preseason shape. If he can manage to eliminate the quieter games and improve his consistency, Phillips is every chance to increase his fantasy output. With the league’s best midfield shovelling the ball out to him, Phillips looks set for a great 2019 and warrants a pick in middle rounds.
Hold on, Phillips
The left wing at Collingwood was set aside for Tom Phillips in 2017 and he reached 20 disposals in 11 out of 18 games, including five over 25. Despite an illness in July that put him out for three weeks, his post-bye averages increased by 18 fantasy points, with four tons in the last five. Phillips showed signs late last season that his ceiling is closer to 25 disposals than 20, and may even be higher than that. 2017 was his breakout, and he has upside as the graph was still climbing by round 23. You will be able to pick him up in middle rounds.
