gringo2011
Premium Platinum
Just some perspective on where we are sitting right now compared to the rest of the competition. Here is a table with the average age and games of all the teams that played this weekend, and the breakdown of the games played from the players in the side. The sides in yellow are the sides currently in the top eight.
View attachment 705257
Some observations from these numbers:
- we were the least experienced side this week and the second youngest (2 months older than GC)
- we have the least amount go players who have played 150 games or more (that will go up next week with Newnes hitting that mark and Hannebery back in)
- equal most players under 50 games with Sydney and GC
- all sides in the top 8 have an average age of over 25yr 2m.
- all sides in the top 8 have an average games of 95.9 or over
- all sides in the top 8, except GWS, have at least 5 players with over 150 games. GWS only have 3 but have more players in the 100+ game range.
- Brisbane is A LOT older and more experienced than advertised. Their rise shouldn't be a surprise when you look at their current demographic.
- Sydney are much younger than expected, also fielding a lot of younger players which explains their up and down form this year.
- Hawthorn is the only team with over 100 games average experience not in the top 8 which is worrying for them
We are in full development mode right now. We don't have the players or experience to compete with the top teams right now. Our demographics compare with Gold Coast right now, which shows how far from being completive we are right now. This doesn't excuse our poor effort too frequently in games but it does help explain why we look rushed with the ball and easily pushed around - we don't have the experience to handle the pressure well for four quarter and are physically smaller than our opposition.
The good news is our new coach will get a group which has already dropped and is ready to rise up since a lot of the leg work has already occurred.
Which backs up what I have been saying.