24 - 28.

[gungho]

This is the list of guys between 24 and 28 years old next year: Acres, Darcy, Aish, Logue, Ryan, Hughes, Tucker, Blakely, Meek, Pearce, Schultz, Cox, Switta and Banfield.
Everyone goes on about our problems in the forward line but this is the biggest issue for me. There are only 2 A graders in Ryan and Darcy, and there just does not seem to be enough quality or durability in this age gap. Some of the guys, like Logue, Banfield, Switta, Meek and Schultz have not even played 50 games. (Pearce only barely).
I reckon the rebuild won't happen until we get enough good footballers in this age group.

 

[Docker82]

This is the list of guys between 24 and 28 years old next year: Acres, Darcy, Aish, Logue, Ryan, Hughes, Tucker, Blakely, Meek, Pearce, Schultz, Cox, Switta and Banfield.
Everyone goes on about our problems in the forward line but this is the biggest issue for me. There are only 2 A graders in Ryan and Darcy, and there just does not seem to be enough quality or durability in this age gap. Some of the guys, like Logue, Banfield, Switta, Meek and Schultz have not even played 50 games. (Pearce only barely).
I reckon the rebuild won't happen until we get enough good footballers in this age group.

This is pretty much how rebuilds work unfortunately.

 

[gungho]

This is pretty much how rebuilds work unfortunately.

And that's fair enough but it means we are 4-6 years away from bearing fruit rather than 2/3. No worries if that is what club/supporters/stakeholders realistic expectations are, but a bit of a let down considering we have been rebuilding since 2016.

 

[Docker82]

And that's fair enough but it means we are 4-6 years away from bearing fruit rather than 2/3. No worries if that is what club/supporters/stakeholders realistic expectations are, but a bit of a let down considering we have been rebuilding since 2016.

We started rebuilding in 2016. Since then our remaining draftees are now:

Logue - 23
Darcy - 23
Cox - 23
Ryan - 25
Brayshaw - 22
Crowden - 22
Meek - 23
Switta - 25
Banfield - 23
Sturt - 21
Valente - 21
Schultz - 24
Serong - 20
Young - 20
Henry - 20
Frederick - 21
Chapman - 19
NOD - 19
Walker - 19
Western - 19
Treacy - 19

Brodie - 23
Clark - 21

You've literally only given the mature agers enough time to reach 24. Players also develop at different rates but most need 2-3 years to become anywhere near their best.

 

[Pussinbootz]

And that's fair enough but it means we are 4-6 years away from bearing fruit rather than 2/3. No worries if that is what club/supporters/stakeholders realistic expectations are, but a bit of a let down considering we have been rebuilding since 2016.

2016 is when Darcy & Ryan were drafted. we botched many of the drafts prior to that, hence we why we have absolutely no depth in that age range and one of the main reasons why we went from minor premiers to 3rd last on the ladder in the space of the year. Unfortunately there’s no easy fix but to wait it out.

 

[Purple Suit]

2016 is when Darcy & Ryan were drafted. we botched many of the drafts prior to that, hence we why we have absolutely no depth in that age range and one of the main reasons why we went from minor premiers to 3rd last on the ladder in the space of the year. Unfortunately there’s no easy fix but to wait it out.

Except we are nearly through that period. Our young players are so good that they nearly got us into finals despite their size and experience. Fyfe and Walters had terrible seasons while Mundy had one of his best. If that trio can put together 3 good seasons, we are in a good spot to hit finals and have a decent stint at a flag rather than just a flash in the pan.

We're 2-3 years off being very competitive tops I recon.

 

[Docker82]

Except we are nearly through that period. Our young players are so good that they nearly got us into finals despite their size and experience. Fyfe and Walters had terrible seasons while Mundy had on of his best. If that trio can put together 3 good seasons, we are in a good spot to hit finals and have a decent stint at a flag rather than just a flash in the pan.

We're 2-3 years off being very competitive tops I recon.

I’m sorry but saying Fyfe had a terrible season is just inaccurate. He was in our top 3-4 players for the season before he stuffed up his shoulder.

 

[Purple Suit]

I’m sorry but saying Fyfe had a terrible season is just inaccurate. He was in our top 3-4 players for the season before he stuffed up his shoulder.

Is it? I'm calling his season terrible due to his output compared to a normal one. This is including his injury which he can't control and judging it on his normal standard which is top shelf. His kicking was woeful all year and was probably the worse accuracy in the AFL in front of goal when we needed our Captain to stand up.

 

[theGav56]

Is it? I'm calling his season terrible due to his output compared to a normal one. This is including his injury which he can't control and judging it on his normal standard which is top shelf. His kicking was woeful all year and was probably the worse accuracy in the AFL in front of goal when we needed our Captain to stand up.

Unreasonable to simply expect Fyfe to play forward though, or simply be a more accurate goal kicker. If we are wanting goals from him he needs to train in that role (which is what I would like to see happening).

 

[Superkoops]

This is the list of guys between 24 and 28 years old next year: Acres, Darcy, Aish, Logue, Ryan, Hughes, Tucker, Blakely, Meek, Pearce, Schultz, Cox, Switta and Banfield.
Everyone goes on about our problems in the forward line but this is the biggest issue for me. There are only 2 A graders in Ryan and Darcy, and there just does not seem to be enough quality or durability in this age gap. Some of the guys, like Logue, Banfield, Switta, Meek and Schultz have not even played 50 games. (Pearce only barely).
I reckon the rebuild won't happen until we get enough good footballers in this age group.

Interesting thread.

I think it’s why Freo heading to the draft again this year is a good outcome. I agree that we’re still a couple of years away from making a sustained competitive finals tilt. In saying that making the bottom end of the 8 would be top end goal. I expect our likely ladder position between 7-10 with 11-12 wins. Anything less than this would be a disappointing season.

 

[Johnny Dalmas]

Unreasonable to simply expect Fyfe to play forward though, or simply be a more accurate goal kicker. If we are wanting goals from him he needs to train in that role (which is what I would like to see happening).

It's perfectly reasonable. Other top flight mids like Dangerfield or Ablett Jnr cope.

 

[ignoramus]

It's perfectly reasonable. Other top flight mids like Dangerfield or Ablett Jnr cope.

It’s not a question of coping. It’s a question of giving yourself the best possible resources and making the best possible use of those resources. Of course Fyfe can cope being played forward and should be expected to cope with playing forward. The point isn’t that playing Fyfe forward might upset him. It’s that if the club is going to play him as part of the forward line, the sensible thing to do would be to have him _train_ as part of the forward line too.

 

[theGav56]

It's perfectly reasonable. Other top flight mids like Dangerfield or Ablett Jnr cope.

Can I get an insight about your knowledge regarding whether Dangerfield or Junior did/didn't train for time in the forward line thanks.

 

[Patty_Moz]

The trading/drafting between 2012-15 is our issue. That period has so far produced 749 games for Freo which currently make it the worst 4 seasons of trading/drafting for any club after 1992.

2016 is an excellent trading/drafting year for us. Clubs generally win their 1st premierships in the window of 8-11yrs after their 1st excellent offseason (Bulldogs are the exception - 6yrs). But they have to produce another 3 good to excellent offseasons within the following 5yr period. Do this and it almost guarantees a grand final spot in that 8-11yr window.

Looking at our offseasons since 2016 in terms of games played so far and predicting them based on >500 games - good, >650 games excellent:
2016 - 490 games will be excellent
2017 - 407 games will be at least good Cerra would have made it excellent, may still get there
2018 - 240 games won’t make good unless Sturt or Valente come good
2019 - 149 games early days but should be good to excellent
2020 - 35 games unlikely to be good to excellent as not enough players
2021 - ????

Nail this draft along with Clarke/Brodie and we should play in at least 1 gf between 2024-27 but patience is the key.