We've only ever promoted young players if a hole gets created not of our choosing. Either injury or players walking out.
Milera can only play half back if Smith does his ACL
Talia only plays if Scott Stevens is forced into retirement by concussion and Phil Davis leaves to GWS
Doedee needs Lever to disappear
There is rarely any long term thinking or foresight. We just react to the immediate circumstances and luckily our recruiters/developers usually have a stockpile of decent options waiting. Enough to keep us where we are anyway.
At times it's depressing to follow us. It would be even more depressing to play there which is why so many players leave.
It's pretty crazy to go back and see exactly where our players debuted and in what circumstances. Since 2010:
Brodie Smith - Round 1, 2011. Immediately plays due to a lack of running players and starts as the sub
Daniel Talia - Round 15, 2011. Plays an entire year in the SANFL, then comes in after Bock leaves for Gold Coast, and Scott Stevens retirement. Plays almost exactly a month before Phil Davis announces he is leaving for GWS
Luke Brown - Round 16, 2012. Becomes clear that Michael Doughty would retire at the end of 2012 so gets a debut but plays only 3 games that season. Actually replaces Doughty who gets injured.
Brad Crouch - Round 2, 2013. Despite being an elite talent, we play Brad in the SANFL to start 2013! He had 31 touches in the SANFL, so we bring him in for BRODIE MARTIN. Yep, we played Brodie Martin over Brad Crouch
Rory Laird - Round 4, 2013. Spends an entire year in the SANFL, and comes in to replace Nathan Van Berlo who gets injured.
Kyle Hartigan - Round 18, 2013. Comes in for Ben Rutten who gets injured.
Matt Crouch - Round 3, 2014. Despite being a massive ball winner, an early draftee ready to go and coming off a season where we finished 11th, Matt starts the year in the SANFL. Comes in for Brad Crouch who gets injured.
Cam Ellis-Yolmen - Round 12, 2014. Spends two and a half seasons in the SANFL. Brought in for Matthew Wright who gets dropped. But CEY only plays one game then is immediately dropped, and doesn't play again that year.
Jake Kelly - Round 3, 2015. Comes in for Cheney who gets injured
Riley Knight - Round 15, 2015. Spends a year and a half in the SANFL. Comes in for Sloane who gets injured.
Rory Atkins - Round 16, 2015. Spends two and a half years in the SANFL. Gets brought in for CEY after we get smashed by West Coast
Wayne Milera - Round 1, 2016. Spot opens up after we delist Matthew Wright and Dangerfield leaves
Reilly O'Brien - Round 20, 2016. Comes in for Jacobs who gets injured
Jordan Gallucci - Round 9, 2017. Elite talent, but only plays a single game in the entire year, this token one after we drop Mackay.
Hugh Greenwood - Round 9, 2017. Comes in for Menzel who gets injured.
Alex Keath - Round 18, 2017. Comes in for an injured Hartigan
Tom Doedee - Round 1, 2018. Lever departs so a spot opens up for him
Darcy Fogarty - Round 1, 2018. Comes in for Walker who is injured.
Lachie Murphy - Round 1, 2018. Cameron leaving opens up a spot for him
Myles Poholke - Round 5, 2018. Comes in for Sloane who is injured
Patrick Wilson - Round 13, 2018. Comes in for one of three omitted players!
Elliott Himmelberg - Round 23, 2018. Comes in to play a token final round match when we finish out of the finals, with Walker injured
Chayce Jones - Round 1, 2019. Possibly earns it, possibly comes in for an injured Seedsman or an empty forward line spot