Luke hasn't played an AFL game and would likely get eaten alive by the likes of Hawthorn, Sydney, Fremantle and Collingwood's midfielders. Atley has spent three years building the core of an AFL player and only now looks ready to play midfield.
There is more to playing midfield than just having core strength. Atley hasn't been playing midfield because he is better down back and that is his preferred position. It seems to be a little known fact that he only ever actually played a handful of midfield games in his junior career.
I don't see Atley moving to the middle any time soon, and I'm not sure I want him to. I love him in defence.
Don't really want to get into an Atley vs McDonald debate. I just disagreed with your original point that he will be competing with Atley, Mullett, and MacMillan for a spot. He is more of a midfielder than those guys.
This isn't 2010, we aren't in a position where we need to play 18 year olds anymore because they're high draft picks.
Not sure what you mean by this. Luke will not be playing because he's a high draft pick. By the end of the year he was dominating VFL finals.
If & when Luke demonstrates he will contribute more than someone in the 22 he will play.
From what I've seen he's capable of contributing more than several other players who finished the year in the 22.
You can never predict how a kid will step up, but I rate him as our most talented draftee since Wells and probably our most ready-made ever. Time will tell.