Just listening to Howe on Trade Radio and he confirms the general perspective people have of our club right now. He said he chose the Pies because they were younger and up and coming compared to the Roos.
We have some interesting choices to make on the main 22 next year balancing the age.
The problem isn't really the age, it is the age of the notable players.
Harvey 37, Petrie 33, Waite 32, Dal Santo 31, Wells 30, Thompson 29, Swallow 27, Goldstein 27 and we have Gibson 29 in the leadership group and Spud getting another gig about to turn 32.
Realistically the only old player that we can't replace is Harvey, everyone else between Harvey and Goldstein could fall over and I am not sure it would be a significant loss overall.
Older guys who could realistically have their role played by younger players have a secondary problem in that it is keeping about 5-7 potential development spots occupied and reduces the amount of game time in the next generation players.
The team we fielded in the PF averaged more than 27 years of age, that is an age demographic of a team on the slide, not a team on the rise. We are keeping guys who are serviceable, but nothing special, for too long.
Our age profile will change in a year or two, one way or another, but it may see us as a significantly weaker team if we do not plan for it.
That being said, Howe is the type of limited footballer we keep for too long. It is a blessing in disguise he chose Collingwood.