Experience - 2009 and beyond

[Bartram_Class]

Robbo, Whelan and Junior will be gone by the end of next season, I think that is a given.

My only question is who steps up to lead as the experienced players when that occurs?

The next oldest, in terms of age are - Bruce(29), Green(28), Wheatley(27), Miller and Davey(25).

In the next band of players after that we have - Moloney, Warnock, PJ, Rivers(24), Sylvia and Bell(23).

The rest of our list is under 22. (I didn't count Carroll or Jamar).

That is where the improvement needs to come from next year, teams that win premierships do it with players in the 26-29 age bracket playing consistently good football.

Having a look at that 2nd band of players, there isn't one player there who I would deem a consistent performer (apart from Rivers, but it doesn't count if hes never out there).

The onus is really on those 11 in 2009 to step up.

 

[Beats]

Re: Experience - 2009 and beyond.

Robbo, Whelan and Junior will be gone by the end of next season, I think that is a given.

My only question is who steps up to lead as the experienced players when that occurs?

The next oldest, in terms of age are - Bruce(29), Green(28), Wheatley(27), Miller and Davey(25).

In the next band of players after that we have - Moloney, Warnock, PJ, Rivers(24), Sylvia and Bell(23).

The rest of our list is under 22. (I didn't count Carroll or Jamar).

That is where the improvement needs to come from next year, teams that win premierships do it with players in the 26-29 age bracket playing consistently good football.

Having a look at that 2nd band of players, there isn't one player there who I would deem a consistent performer (apart from Rivers, but it doesn't count if hes never out there).

The onus is really on those 11 in 2009 to step up.

Why havn't you counted Jamar? Sure he's terrible, but he's set to play every game next year.

I also think that saying Warnock + PJ aren't consistent is a little bit harsh, how do you judge Warnock's consistency, by the amount of goals he gets kicked on him? his possession count? or just in your opinion? Because in mine he played consistently all year, bar the game on Lloyd. As for PJ he has been consistently in our bests, does that not make him a consistent player?

 

[Dez!]

Re: Experience - 2009 and beyond.

Warnock was consistently good throughout the year and in some games was exceptional (eg his decapatation job of Matthew Richardson in Round 22)

 

[Bartram_Class]

Re: Experience - 2009 and beyond.

Missing the point of my post to be honest guys.

Warnock was consistent, but not necessarily consistently great. If he wants to keep his spot in that backline, he needs to keep improving. He's not as young as many seem to think.

 

[master bate]

Re: Experience - 2009 and beyond.

What we need is a group of young players who become the next leadership group on field and off. Green and Bruce will be the leaders for the next 1-3 years but I'd like to see the following players take up the mantle.

Miller, Rivers, Moloney, Davey, McLean (who isn't 23 but has as much experience). All of those guys have enough talent to be consist performers (Miller and Moloney might never be superstars but can be very good). I'd love to see them become the leadership of this club. Miller, Moloney and McLean have already shown good leadership and I think the other 2 make sense as they are experienced and quality players.

Hopefully PJ and Jamar step up a bit in the ruck, and I hope Sylvia still has his best to come and I'm confident Bell will be back to 07 form. Those 4 would be good playing with the other 5 I named, but it's the other 5 who I expect to see take responsibility for winning games in the future, with the younger players coming through.

 

[McLean_4_Captain]

Re: Experience - 2009 and beyond.

Croad, Guerra, Bateman, Osbourne, Campbell & Dew. Maybe i'm missing your point, because those listed are the only 6 of Hawthorn's 22 premiership players aged 26-29. Lets see where Hawthorn got some of those guys from, Croad - trades. Guerra - PSD. Dew - Draft. So that's 3 players that they drafted and only Croad who was on their list prior to '06.

You can't try pigeon hole teams into set moulds.

Our next really premiership crack could be in 5 years and it could be being lead by a core of McLean (age 27) - Bateman, Sylvia (28) - Osbourne, Rivers (29) - Croad, Miller (30), Green (33) - Crawford, PJ (29) - Campbell, Moloney (28) - Dew. Not saying that will happen, but those guys are good enough if we get the right young players

 

[saj_21]

There is a huge hole on our list of quality players between 24-28, due to failed drafts, failed trades to attempt premerishop glory. Look at Geelong they probably have the highest percentage of players in this age bracket for their best 22 in the AFL. Hawthorn recruited the likes of Dew and Guerra to fill this void.

This is a major factor as to why we are sitting on the bottom of the AFL ladder. We have plenty of youth in our team Mclean has shown the way, it is now up to others to follow his lead.

Moloney has stepped up off field this year but needs to get fit, Rivers never seen him as a strong leader but the type of player whose actions speak louder than words but also needs to get fit. Davey i can see him leading the way but needs to find consistent form and fitness. Miller needs to replicate his form this year. Jamar and Johnson continue their improvement as a combination around the ground and take the lead as they are the ruckman and need the smaller blokes to follow them.

The players are the ones the need to step up on and off field in the coming years and to set the example for the likes of Jones, Grimes, Morton. By setting a stong foundation for the future we can become a force to be rekond with.