Dogs Cut Vez

[magic.merkin]

A genuine shooda cooda player. I think he found his life outside footy was more in keeping with his persona. I liked him. Thought he could have made it, but that is no guarantee is it. We have players on our list who were "never going to make it", so there you go. We draft them as kids (most of the time) and their wants/needs/ambitions are not settled at that age.

*cough*Raise the draft age*cough*

[Jewels]

*cough*Raise the draft age*cough*

Yep

[Swansongster]

*cough*Raise the draft age*cough*

This is one of the huge benefits for American sports - their college system.

[magic.merkin]

This is one of the huge benefits for American sports - their college system.

There's an argument for and against the college system (NCAA making profit, kids none etc). But definitely for our game it's too young at 18 for the majority. I like the idea of them playing a year at a VFL/SANFL etc club, make the 1's if they are good enough. Mandatory schooling/trade for the first year. Let them get life experience, put on size, grow, play against men and see where they fall after that. It will strengthen the state leagues and make them a further point of interest for supporters. I'm sure i've overlooked things, but something similar to above.

[Untamed Snark]

*cough*Raise the draft age*cough*

When you have both players & coaches saying the same thing you have to wonder why it has not been looked at

[caj23]

When you have both players & coaches saying the same thing you have to wonder why it has not been looked at

What's the point of having blokes like Ollie Wines, jack Viney etc wasting away in the VFL when they are clearly ready for senior AFL level because a minority like Vezpremi aren't mature enough to put their head down and work hard

[magic.merkin]

What's the point of having blokes like Ollie Wines, jack Viney etc wasting away in the VFL when they are clearly ready for senior AFL level because a minority like Vezpremi aren't mature enough to put their head down and work hard

A minority play regularly before they are 20.

[ugg]

Not liking the potshots being taken at Vez here. If you read the updated version of Emma Quayle's book, there are some insights into some of the different training setups that he had been using to attempt to improve his fitness. Sometimes just having the desire alone isn't enough, there are physical aspects that come into play such as genetics.

Why does a player like Jarred Moore who seemed to have similar issues to Vez escape criticism for his perceived lack of fitness?

[jono2707]

I thought the knock on Jarred Moore was based on his pace, or lack thereof, not his fitness. He was a pretty good player but supposedly not quick enough. Seeing him leave was a shame but thems the breaks....

Do I recall Vespa having some sort of breathing difficulties like asthma or something? Or was he just often out of breath due to this lack of fitness?

[ernie koala]

Jono is right here....

These are 2 different situations.

Moore's problem, was a total lack of pace.

Vezpremi 's problem was lack of fitness , he suffered asthma which certainly wouldn't of helped.

My problem with Vezpremi was his....it's all about me approach. He came across as being a bit full of himself.

[caj23]

A minority play regularly before they are 20.

That may be so, but even if you exclude the GWS selections, 15 of the top 30 2012 draftees made their debut this season. Those numbers don't support the need to raise the draft age.

Had he been able to, Melbourne's mini draft selection Jesse Martin would also have made his debut this year.

I'm interested to hear what age you think it should be raised to and what you think draftees should be doing with themselves after high school while they wait to be drafted?

I think there is a significant risk that a number of them would drop out of the system without having the support of an AFL club and incentive of being on an AFL list