- Nov 23, 2015
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- #276
I'd agree that would be a desired increase, but I'm not sure that we'll get there quickly & certainly need to be careful that we don't damage our list in growing home-state players too rapidly (i.e. for fear of losing too many). The last couple of years we've actually turned over NSW/ACT players (such as Steele & Kennedy) to be replaced by newer NSW/ACT players (Jack Buckley, Shipley), muting the overall growth. Effectively, we can retain the top class who make the best 22 & get appropriately remunerated (Davis, Hopper), those further back who wouldn't get a shot elsewhere most likely (Jack Buckley, Sproule) & for the moment retain some on the verge who see a positive way forward (Himmelberg, Perryman & Setterfield) but lose others in that second string who can't see a positive way forward or go elsewhere for opportunity. (The risk being to lose Setterfield etc if they don't crack a regular first grade spot in the next 1 to 2 years.) That's actually a negative - because we lose the equivalent status Victorian kids to Melbourne teams from the 'go home for opportunity' factor. i.e. we've actually gotten little benefit from the 'home state' status of Steele & Kennedy.