Analysis of our "aging" list for 2008

[Bleed Red Blood]

Hence why both Scheinder and Dempster are gone, both Buchanen and J Bolton got a kick up the arse and why Matthews, Bevan and to a lesser extent Crouch are not guaranteed game time early next year.

Yeahhh getting rid of two 23 year olds, will really help with the lack of quality in the 20 to 24 year old age group.

I hope Jude's pay increase softens the "kick up the arse"

[mocaholic]

A key problem is that some of our best players fall into the older age category being Everitt, Kirk, Hall and Berry

Try this split to get a different perspective..

28 years plus (performance likely to decline)
23 - 27 (peaking)


Anyway, I think we are in deep @@@@.

Quality post. Great assessment.

[connolly]

I have included Brennan and Barlow as well as the new guys.

But excluded one Paul Bevan from the list altogether??? Just turned 23 and having played 65 games is our second most experienced "young player". O how infamy fades

[goswannie14]

But excluded one Paul Bevan from the list altogether??? Just turned 23 and having played 65 games is our second most experienced "young player". O how infamy fades

You're starting to sound a bit obsessed.

[SimonH]

Confirms that all of the hype about Sydney hitting the skids in 2009 when Roos is scheduled to walk away, is largely nonsense (even with the quality that Kirk, MOL, BBBH and Leo represent).

2011/12 is when we're really headed for meltdown, unless Sydney makes a large number of tough decisions at the end of each of the next 3 seasons.

I'm only basing my assessment on gut feel rather than a statistical comparison with other teams, but I can't imagine that too many other teams have such a high proportion of their first 22 in the 25-28yoa range. In that context, losing two 23yos and adding a 24yo and a 25yo to our list in trading, wasn't too bright.

[Nico]

Those 20 -24 year olds need some serious game time.

If the team is not picked on form but seniority in 2008 we are in serious trouble.

[swans song]

Brabazon is not mentioned anywhere. I feel he is a good chance to play in 2008

[humphrey bear]

Realistically we are 2 or 3 injuries off the wooden spoon. If Goodes, Malcesky and Kirk were all injured we couldnt beat anyone.

Dont say it couldnt happen as West Coast were without there best 3 or 4 players at times last year.

Theonly other team who are as reliant on so few are Brisbane who couldnt function without Brown and Black.

[goswannie14]

Theonly other team who are as reliant on so few are Brisbane who couldnt function without Brown and Black.

Is that because they are colour blind?

[snappy]

Yeahhh getting rid of two 23 year olds, will really help with the lack of quality in the 20 to 24 year old age group.

I hope Jude's pay increase softens the "kick up the arse"

i dont see what the fuss is about losing two under achieving 23 y/olds, for 2 better players that are only 1-2 yrs older..
IMO its the players that arent performing particuarly in the late 20s+ bracket, thats an issue. Like many have said you take 2-3 of them out this year, and we got kids ready to fire in 2009..
Heres hoping to see some new faces during the year..

[Bleed Red Blood]

i dont see what the fuss is about losing two under achieving 23 y/olds, for 2 better players that are only 1-2 yrs older..

That wasn't the trade though.
We traded two "Under achieving 23 y/olds" for a pick in a weak draft.

And if they are "under achieving" then obviously they could play better, so why did we trade them when they're price was low, instead of waiting for it to increase?

If Schneider had plateud as some suggest, despite his obvious talent, doesn't that say something about Roos' inability to develop good young players?

Out of the "2 better players", Playfair is a dud.

[NMWBloods]

Story I hear from someone pretty close to the club is that the players are pretty unhappy about the trade of Schneider and Dempster.

[Layby]

Gave good massages i hear

[Rob-bloods]

In fairness Collingwood have reinevented their list pretty quickly without a rash of high draft picks (a la Saints under Thommo). I had written malthouse off but he did extremely well, following I think, a bit of the Swans model.

How quickly we forget when Roos took over we were too old, slow and unskilled and we have had a terrific run. Let's not give up yet, but we will have to work pretty hard next year especially in light of the draw which looks tough to me.

[The Big Cat]

It is generally agreed among unbiassed onlookers that Hall and Kennelly are our two most important (not necessarily best) players. For all intents and purposes last season neither was really up and running due to injuries. So our recruits should include those two if fully fit a la Jason Ball after his shoulder injury in 2004.