dogwatch
Premium Platinum
Case by case is right. Not only the individual's age and physical abilities but also his role and how much physical contact he endures.I don't understand this thinking that we have to give our young kids a break.
Yes, younger guys don't have a fitness base like those that have done 7+ pre-seasons and may drop off as the season goes by, but they should have less of an issue with week to week recovery.
This was one individual perspective and was with soccer rather than footy, but at 19/20 I could play 90 minutes on a Saturday and back it up with 90 minutes on a Sunday and not have a single ache on Monday. Have coached many young blokes that have done the same.
Yet by the time I was 30, playing 60 minutes in one game over the weekend would see me feeling like I'd been put through a meat grinder until Tuesday/Wednesday. I think we take everyone on a case by case rather than assume anybody "has to" have a rest because of their age.
Personally think some of the older guys may be the ones that need to be managed thru this more.
I don't have the stats but I reckon the midfielders (incl English) would have done a heck of a lot more Kms than someone like Keath or Cordy. And even within that group English and Macrae have probably done a lot more distance than Bont or Libba.





