The debate about developing our draftees is all a bit of a mystery, probably the hardest thing to get a handle on from our vantage point. Every time delistings come around I get surprised by some of the names on other clubs' lists, having expected those kids to kick on. No different with our mob. No question Brewis is rated as one of the best in the business so we have done well with drafting, but the question of whether their development path is a good one is hard to judge. The fact that it is our middle gen (Cunners, Spitta, Goldy, JZ, LT, JMac, Ats, Black, Basti, Pig (sigh), Lachie, Mullett) that have been driving our push into contention as the support crew to our senior crew shows that we have a big pool of players who have developed pretty well to get us to this point (i.e.. preliminary final). Could and should they be more advanced that they are? Maybe, who knows. That we have 5 new kids on the block (LMac, Turner, Brown, Wood, Dumont) who look the goods suggests we aren't about to fall off the cliff and the fact that when given their chances in the seniors all have done well, suggesting that the transition to AFL level is pretty well managed. But there are still question marks over players like BMac, Garner, Harper, Jacobs, Daw who could and should make it, but the jury is still out. And then the question whether they would make it at another club. Moot point really. I think the club bringing Rowdy on board and giving Dyer a stronger hand shows they felt there is room for improvement in this area. The challenge in the coming years will be developing the kids in the VFL (ie. Dumont, Wood) rather than the AFL (i.e.. Atley, Harper) although with LMac and Turner it is clear that there is no one-pathway-fits-all policy.