Age/Experience Worrying?

[Bentick's My Man.]

I'm not sure if there is anyone else feeling this but I find it is exciting that we will most likely have the youngest list in the comp next year (or one of) but I find it is worrying the loss of experience and the lack of it on our list.

We have no 200 game players.
Our most experienced players are Houlihan (182 games), Judd (178), Scotland (176).
We have no other players above 150 games. (Thornton 149)
We have 30 players with less than 100 games. (Carrazzo 99, Fisher 98, Betts 97, McLean 94)
We have 18 players with less than 50 games.
This list includes McLean and Henderson and minus Fevola and Stevens

I know this is exciting for our future, but i just find that the lack of experience could be really telling for us next season.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Undoubtedly, in terms of experience, we are the baby blues.

Just means our expectations have to be more realistic. We could do a 93 baby bombers or an 08 hairless hawks, but the odds are against us.

 

[gbatman]

who cares, our premiership window just got bigger.

 

[FRUMPY]

If you look at most premiership sides, they have around 15-18 players with more than 100 games experience. If you look at the opening statisitics, we have 4 over 100 games and 12 between 50 and 100. In 2 to 3 years, we will have around 15 with 100 games experience and therefor, 'experienced'.

I saw our premiership window opens in 2 years time.

2010 is rebuilding (gameplan and forward line), 2011 make top 8 and 2012 to make top 4

 

[Jimies]

If you look at most premiership sides, they have around 15-18 players with more than 100 games experience. If you look at the opening statisitics, we have 4 over 100 games and 12 between 50 and 100. In 2 to 3 years, we will have around 15 with 100 games experience and therefor, 'experienced'.

I saw our premiership window opens in 2 years time.

2010 is rebuilding (gameplan and forward line), 2011 make top 8 and 2012 to make top 4

you are right, our premiership window just expanded, not to mention Gibbs and Murphy are playing like thay have played a lot more games than they have.

i wouldnt be too worried, 2010 MUST be an experiment year, to once and for all decide who and who is not a part of the next Premiership (wiggans, fisher and co.) whilst still making the finals is a must, dont expect too much, 2011 and onwards we will reap the Fevola-Less rewards, getting rid of Fevola will prove to be the best move ever done since bringing down Judd

 

[Blueboys7]

I think the way our young kids carry themselves would suggest that this will not be a problem. Gibbs, Murphy and Kruezer look far more experienced than their ages would suggest.

The loss of Fevola and Stevens "leadership" will not be missed as they didn't provide much anyway (harsh but fair).

 

[Erko Blue]

I think this is a valid point, I also believe we have the list talent to finish top 8.

After round 22 will be where our experience (or lack thereof) will be tested.

I really look forward to see who will step up as true leaders next year and beyond.

Kade has impressed me with his ability to fire us up when things have looked a little lack-lustre in the past.

Houlihan surprised me against Brisbane in our only final in years showing grit.

We all know we have great leaders in Judd and Gibbs etc, but I wont get into that now

 

[Bentick's My Man.]

I think the lack of experience/leadership will show if we have as many close games in '10 as we did this year.

 

[Erko Blue]

I think the lack of experience/leadership will show if we have as many close games in '10 as we did this year.

Yeah, good point. We will expect alot from our mids in clearances and defensively if we are to stop this from happening.

Our back "2/3rds" looks reasonably strong (if fit) thus conceding less goals than in past years.
Is this to be offset by a lack of fire-power; resulting in many close games?

Let the midfield sort this out and not the boot of one forward!

 

[Bluebear]

If you look at most premiership sides, they have around 15-18 players with more than 100 games experience. If you look at the opening statisitics, we have 4 over 100 games and 12 between 50 and 100. In 2 to 3 years, we will have around 15 with 100 games experience and therefor, 'experienced'.

I saw our premiership window opens in 2 years time.

2010 is rebuilding (gameplan and forward line), 2011 make top 8 and 2012 to make top 4

Spot on.

I've been on about this for a while now. To look at it another way, next year the bulk of our best 26 players will be aged 21-24. Only a few will be older than that (Judd, Waite, Setanta, Hoops).

Players have commented in the past that they reach peak running capacity around 24 and tend to hold that for 3-4 years.

Hence what we see as the "premiership window" opens when the bulk of your group (esp midfield) is in that 24-28 age group.

So it will be 2 and maybe 3 years until that window opens.

Fev may well be in decline by then (once he loses half a yard of pace his game will drop considerably - check his form on FB's that match him for speed).....and the likes of Henderson, Kreuzer, Yarran, Betts (still very young).....and whoever else we pick up have 2-3 years to develop into a good forward line.

Not worried in the slightest, and this is why I'm wrapt we got deal B instead of deal A.

 

[The Toad]

I dont think we will be as bad a people are thinking. We have gained Brock and Henderson and lost Fev. If Henderson, the big irish and Cloke ??? can kick say 70-80 between them this year (and there is no reason why they cant), why cant we challenge for a top 4 position. If you throw in Yarran, who should step up a bit this year, Garllet who will be better for the experience of last year and Betts, why cant we kick a winning score most weeks?
I think we will do as good, if not better than last year.

 

[Kramer1]

I think its more about leadership than age, and many of the younger guys in our team offer a fair bit in terms of leadership.
The backs are now a fairly stable unit, and being under fire for much of this year has benefits in many ways.

Midfield tends to take care of itself with Judd, Murphy, Gibbs, Simpson and Hadley all doing their bit. McLean adds to this fairly significantly.

Bit of a leadership vacuum up forward is the only concern. Could be yet another reason to push Waite forward. Whilst I'm glad the first package offered last week fell through in many ways Bradshaw would have been a good get.

 

[gbatman]

I'm much happier we have such a young list, all around the same age, it means we will have most of our group hitting their peak around the same age, can see Houlihan and Scotland missing out but players like these are easily replaced and we already have the players to not only replace them but better them.

 

[Deep Blue]

If you look at most premiership sides, they have around 15-18 players with more than 100 games experience. If you look at the opening statisitics, we have 4 over 100 games and 12 between 50 and 100. In 2 to 3 years, we will have around 15 with 100 games experience and therefor, 'experienced'.

I saw our premiership window opens in 2 years time.

2010 is rebuilding (gameplan and forward line), 2011 make top 8 and 2012 to make top 4[/quote]

I expect us to push for top 4 next year (2010) - we won't fall back down the table as some have suggested. Would like to see one or two big-bodied, assured and aggressive (controlled aggression) types who will help our younger players stand tall - this is almost a prerequisite for any prospective premiership side.

 

[TOPBLUE_25]

We are inexperianced now but Gee I think this is going to be a scarily experianced unit in about 3 years. Lots of quality young guys with lots of games experiance.

If the players I expexct to improve do improve going into say the 2012-13 season we will have.

Austin,Anderson,Browne,Gibbs,Grigg,Kreuzer,Hampson and Robinson at about 23-24 years of age
with Austin,Browne,Anderson,Hampson and Robbo having between 50 and 100 games experiance.
and Kreuzer,Grigg and Gibbs having 100+


Murphy, Russell, Mclean, Betts and Bower 25-26 all with 150+ game experiance.

Jamo, Simpson, Judd, Thorton, Waite and Walker and maybe Carrots to be the Experianced guys with lots of game experiance.

with young guns like Yarran, Hendo, Buckley?(Dylan) etc coming through too with anything up to 50 games experiance, Could be very sweet.

 

[TOPBLUE_25]

By the way I may have left people of that rant that I think will be in the team at that time, I just got lazy towards the end.

 

[Ryan Dixon Webb]

I think blokes like Carrazzo, Hadley & McLean will be really important. Hard bodies a must in any successful side. We make up for pace with guys like Walker, Simpson, Betts, Judd, Murph etc. Just need to get the right balance.

 

[blueboy25]

I think the important thing over the last few years has been that the young guys like murph, gibbs, kruezer, bower and co have not been bit part players. Remember our 3 1's all finished top 5 in the B & F this year and some other young guys finished off very strongly.

Who we make vice captain this year will be vital especially with Juddy missing the first 3 rounds. Imagine gibbsy or murph leading the team out in front of 85k in rd 1.

 

[Dramoth]

I think blokes like Carrazzo, Hadley & McLean will be really important. Hard bodies a must in any successful side. We make up for pace with guys like Walker, Simpson, Betts, Judd, Murph etc. Just need to get the right balance.

Thats what 2010 is all about now...

We have removed a known target and opened up our forward line. It's time for the blues to have open lines in the forward line and finally get rid of Pagan's paddock for all times. It worked in the 90's and became predictible in the 00's.

Yes, our side is relatively in-experienced, but they are a lot more mature than their age suggests and they will just get better over the next 2 years.

 

[PeeKay]

I'm not sure if there is anyone else feeling this but I find it is exciting that we will most likely have the youngest list in the comp next year (or one of) but I find it is worrying the loss of experience and the lack of it on our list.

We have no 200 game players.
Our most experienced players are Houlihan (182 games), Judd (178), Scotland (176).
We have no other players above 150 games. (Thornton 149)
We have 30 players with less than 100 games. (Carrazzo 99, Fisher 98, Betts 97, McLean 94)
We have 18 players with less than 50 games.
This list includes McLean and Henderson and minus Fevola and Stevens

I know this is exciting for our future, but i just find that the lack of experience could be really telling for us next season.

I know the experience factor is significent in winning the close games and big games but the factor I think is as important is the lack of muscle in almost all our players.
We can get monstered by some clubs but as against my fear of that happening we have one of the most lethal midfields in the AFL. We nearly have the moscuitto fleet of the 80's.
We need to just make sure the ball is hit to ground and our speedie young nippers will get it away quickly.
I'm not sure how many games we will win or lose because of both these factors, but like a lot of the more sensible BF members, I am extremely happy we took the 2nd option trade than the first. I am quite happy to see Fev go even though there were days when I loved him. But not nearly enough.
The Blues have always one their flags with great CHF's and not FF's. Unforntunately it will take 2 to 3 years before we can repy on Henderson for much. I am just glad we have a 197cm guy who has the "potential" to play a KP either at CHF or CHB.
SO PLEASE LET'S BE PATIENT AND AVOID THE NORMAL TRAP IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR OF FORGETTING ALL THESE THINGS WE TALK ABOUT NOW WHEN THE HEATS NOT ON AND WE ARE NOT PLAYING. LET'S PUT BEHIND US ANY TALK OF SACKING COACHES ETC

 

[Pafloyul]

It is a bit of a bogus arguement when you think about it, you don't just look at each issue in isolation and react accordingly, that is a bit ham-fisted.

I don't want to be cynical but I hope we don't go too rigidly 'best available' with pick twelve and simply top-up afterward, that's the worst direction we could take with the way trade week turned out for us.

 

[Swishhh10]

Is the next season about to start soon? This off-season is driving me crazy already. Just bounce the ball...