I would like to start this post/review with congratulating the boys on an amazing effort. It was a sour end, though I have enjoyed the ride and couldn’t be happier with the direction we are heading in. Also sorry for the length.
The main reason why I am making this post, is to put things into perspective and stop some melts in this trade thread. The midfield was the area where we were convincingly beaten on the day, but imo we still don’t need any major overhauls. Not sure many notice this but it is an extremely young midfield, approaching the zone of becoming experienced AFL players.
1st onball contingent
Shuey – Our best and most influential player (imo). He only just played 100 games, and that GF will only make him better. So young and so much more to look forward too.
Priddis – Oldest and most experienced of the group, is a rock though has his weaknesses. Don’t see much changing until 2 seasons, will need a replacement soon.
Yeo – When he wasn’t needed down back, he was usually in the starting mix at the bounce. Hasn’t played 100 yet, let alone 15 games in the midfield. So much improvement in him, and it can happen over the preseason if he concentrates on only midfield.
2nd onball
Sheed – less experience then Yeo, although a touch more in the midfield in comparison, and showed a lot of good things. With another preseason, more improvement will come from him. Sounds like I am just repeating here.
Hutchings – underrated on this board, he is behind many other players, though he has a position in this side and is ahead of Selwood, McGinnity, Waterman and Duggan (onball only) etc.
Rotated Player – the likes of Cripps, LeCras or one of the wingers is sometimes here.
I am going to compare them to other midfielder groups game experience, since I feel this is a better gauge on a players experience rather then age. In this example I will be using Gaff as our rotated player.
Hawthorn – Mitchell/Lewis/Hodge & Shiels/Burgoyne/Rioli
Fremantle – Fyfe/Mundy/Neale & Barlow/Hill/de Boer
Sydney – Kennedy/Parker/Jack & Hannebery/Mitchell/McVeigh
Richmond – Cotchin/Martin/Miles & Deledio/Grigg/Edwards
WB – Wallis/Bont/Libba & Macrae/Dahlhaus/Picken
Port – Boak/Gray/Wines & Ebert/Wingard/Ah Chee
Avg Exp.
HAW – 266 & 192
SYD – 148 & 150
RICH –110 & 183
FRE – 139 & 133
PORT – 125 & 90
WC – 124 & 61
WB – 64 & 100
Tried my best to guess the 6, I'm sure there are more that get rotated, and I could also add more teams, but I think you get the gist. I think the point I'm trying to make is we actually don't need to add anything to this mix, since essentially this next season they should be approaching an experienced player status. If we can get Redden and Jetta to this mix with picks then sure I'm happy, almost no changes need to be made, only more games into these players are needed.