I agree LAB - I went and did the Level 1 Talent ID course a few years back and was disgusted how the speakers (Kevin Sheehan etc) were proudly talking about the draft as some sort of panacea to all problems when in reality the average footy career last less than 5 years and the number of games played is around 80 I think. 5 years includes from draft year to kick out year so when you think about it, most guys will be lucky to get 3 decent years of footy in.
It makes no logical sense at all why clubs take players at age 18 with all the unknowns attached to players future capacity. Why you wouldn't look at more 20-22yr olds and have them play immediately from this age to get kicked out at age 27 or 28 is beyond me. You get the best years of a players career really. But it is a big case of monkey see, monkey do. Not sure Parker equates to Fyffe mind you athleticism wise - he is just a pure footballer imo.
I also reckon there would be less go home factor for a mature age recruit - obviously more mature, settled at 25 after 2-3yrs at a footy club, not pining for family or friends as much. This I think will be the biggest factor to footy clubs going forward. GWS is currently getting belted, the Lions have been, Suns to a certain degree and the rest of the AFL clubs to a lesser extent.
Lions should be looking closer to home for the older blokes, happy for Academy boys to be drafted interstate and realise they will come back more than likely at some stage once they are bona fide footballers!! Beams is a good example of this (if he can get fit!!).
It makes no logical sense at all why clubs take players at age 18 with all the unknowns attached to players future capacity. Why you wouldn't look at more 20-22yr olds and have them play immediately from this age to get kicked out at age 27 or 28 is beyond me. You get the best years of a players career really. But it is a big case of monkey see, monkey do. Not sure Parker equates to Fyffe mind you athleticism wise - he is just a pure footballer imo.
I also reckon there would be less go home factor for a mature age recruit - obviously more mature, settled at 25 after 2-3yrs at a footy club, not pining for family or friends as much. This I think will be the biggest factor to footy clubs going forward. GWS is currently getting belted, the Lions have been, Suns to a certain degree and the rest of the AFL clubs to a lesser extent.
Lions should be looking closer to home for the older blokes, happy for Academy boys to be drafted interstate and realise they will come back more than likely at some stage once they are bona fide footballers!! Beams is a good example of this (if he can get fit!!).