Lets get real

[liz]

Doesn't that call into question what Roos did in his last few years? The team hasn't been a genuine Premiership threat since probably 07/08, so why has it taken that long to play youngsters?

Bird debuted in round 1 of his first year on the list and stayed in the team for pretty much the whole year.
Vez debuted as soon as his body had gotten over groin issues (and probably before he was really fit enough).
Meredith was injured for practically the whole of his first season but debuted in his second.
Hanners debuted in his first season, despite being still at school.
Heath debuted in his first season after he actually got to Sydney, after a knee reco in his first year (while also at school).
Reid debuted in his first season.
Jetta debuted in his first season.
Rohan debuted in his first season.
TDL debuted in his first season.
Pyke (not a youngster, but a newbie) debuted in his first season.

So which youngsters were not given a fair go by Roos once we came off our premiership-challenging perch?

Even for Johnston, this is really only his second year in a playing condition given he had foot problems in his first year and he also missed most of last pre-season with another foot problem.

It is a myth that Roos didn't give younger players a chance, especially during the latter years.

[giant]

We were a kick away from making a prelim last year. NOt falling for this "but we have so many youngsters" line - got to be better than we've been the last few weeks.

[dimelb]

We were a kick away from making a prelim last year. NOt falling for this "but we have so many youngsters" line - got to be better than we've been the last few weeks.

And we will be. Jack's injury may have cost us the game against Carlton. If one of our two injured ruckmen was OK, we would have had more structure than we did yesterday and probably done better. And the fact is that youngsters take time: Reid is already pretty good, and is going to be a fine player. You could say the same about Johnston, Johnson, Parker and even Hannebery, Pyke and Jetta. Patience, there are good times coming.

[ernie koala]

Bird debuted in round 1 of his first year on the list and stayed in the team for pretty much the whole year.
Vez debuted as soon as his body had gotten over groin issues (and probably before he was really fit enough).
Meredith was injured for practically the whole of his first season but debuted in his second.
Hanners debuted in his first season, despite being still at school.
Heath debuted in his first season after he actually got to Sydney, after a knee reco in his first year (while also at school).
Reid debuted in his first season.
Jetta debuted in his first season.
Rohan debuted in his first season.
TDL debuted in his first season.
Pyke (not a youngster, but a newbie) debuted in his first season.

So which youngsters were not given a fair go by Roos once we came off our premiership-challenging perch?

Even for Johnston, this is really only his second year in a playing condition given he had foot problems in his first year and he also missed most of last pre-season with another foot problem.

It is a myth that Roos didn't give younger players a chance, especially during the latter years.

We came off our "premiership challenging perch" in 07.
As your list clearly shows, it was only really in his last year as coach, 2010, when Roos really got serious about playing youngsters...Not many from your list debuted in 07, 08, 09..
So I'd suggest the evidence shows, either there was no youngsters at the time worth looking at in seniors, because the recruiting around this time was poor, or, Roos was reluctant to rebuild.
Given his assertion the that the Swans can't afford to bottom out, and the fact the Swans only drafted the bare minimum that was mandatory, points to the probability he was reluctant to rebuild until he felt he absolutely had to.... in his last year.

[Bleed Red Blood]

It is a myth that Roos didn't give younger players a chance, especially during the latter years.

I'm not going to say McGlone! lol.

Tim Schmidt is one that comes to mind. Remember when he was dropped after that Port game that he was very influential in.
Thornton and Laidlaw never got good shots at it. Arguable whether they would've ever made it, sure. But that's no different to most young players.

To go back further, what about Simon Philips being played in the midfield (When he eventually was selected) despite obviously being more of a forward.

What about all picks he traded for the likes of Chambers, Playfair and Shaw. What about not even utilising all the selections available to us in a draft?

[Young Blood]

I think playing Johnson, Johnston Reid and Parker ahead of White Moore and Bevan is an excellent selection policy.

IMO White has been hard done by this year. He kicked 6 goals in the first 3 games, while changing in the ruck - a good return. He then had two poor games in very wet conditions, when the team struggled also, and was dumped. I can't comment on whether Johnston or White is the better long term prospect, but (Bradshaw aside) I'm sure White is our best current FF in regular conditions.

BTW I agree with the basic premise of the OP.