- Oct 16, 2015
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- AFL Club
- Adelaide
"It would involve things like tasters for young players fractionally before they are ready (Gollant, Cook, Soligo, Pedlar this year, McAsey in 2019) strategic rests for younger players while they are still developing physically (Rachelle this week, Cook last week) ignoring the odd form flat spot (, occasionally not picking a reasonably performing B/C Grader in order to maintain your long term objective (Rowe, Crouch this year).We should identify the players we think will be the best ones and plan their development over a number of years. What is best for them personally?
Then stick to those plans rather than make week-by-week calls on form.
It would involve things like tasters for young players fractionally before they are ready, strategic rests for younger players while they are still developing physically, ignoring the odd form flat spot, occasionally not picking a reasonably performing B/C Grader in order to maintain your long term objective.
We don't do any of these things.
Pedlar for instance coming off not a lot of football the last few years and a shoulder operation at the end of 2021. What would a sensible approach to developing him this season be?
A block of games in the SANFL. Build fitness, build touch. Increase midfield minutes as the season wears on. Aim for him to play half a dozen AFL games in the back end of this season, ready to hit preseason ready to go and to be a regular from Round 1 2023 onwards. Upward trajectory, building.
Instead he's been bounced in and out of the team, sub twice, travelling emergency once. Just utter bullshit. We need to do better with our most talented players.
We don't do any of these things."