Opinion Late Developers

[Hydatina Physis]

Name some players that were/are regarded as good to great footballers, who only reached those heights later in their career. Preferably players that weren't that well regarded prior.

Trying to think of some names but I'm coming up blank for some reason.

 

[kane249]

James Podsiadly? Although he wasn't given a go until he was 29

 

[Hydatina Physis]

James Podsiadly? Although he wasn't given a go until he was 29

Really? Shit I thought he started way earlier.

 

[kane249]

Really? Shit I thought he started way earlier.

Was on AFL lists, but never got a go until Geelong debuted him

 

[NetworkNerd]

Name some players that were/are regarded as good to great footballers, who only reached those heights later in their career. Preferably players that weren't that well regarded prior.

Trying to think of some names but I'm coming up blank for some reason.

Brad Johnson was a good player but later on kicked 50 goals in a season at ages 30-32.. nearly achieving the '20 and 3'

 

[bungalow_bill]

Ryan Lester- from VFL player/whipping boy to essential cog in the lions premiership machine.

 

[Atomboy]

Troy Wilson.

Drafted by the Eagles at 28 and kicked 83 goals from 37 games.

His first game he kicked 7 goals and got 3 Brownlow votes.

 

[The Feeder Club]

Chris Tarrant was the first one I thought of. Played some good footy in his youth but his best years were late and as a backman. Spider Everitt another one that was good young but played some of his better footy towards the end. I think talls will make up a good proportion of the list

 

[Sttew]

Was on AFL lists, but never got a go until Geelong debuted him

Same with Shaun Mannagh. Debuted R1 in 2024 at age 26

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Not sure how old Adrian McAdam was. But he went berserk early on. A one season wonder.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

He wasn't old but I thought Darren Glass was a spud early on at West Coast. Ended up a club champion and the best full back in the comp. All Australian 3 or 4 times.

 

[Sentinel]

Brad Johnson was a good player but later on kicked 50 goals in a season at ages 30-32.. nearly achieving the '20 and 3'

Don't think Johnson really qualifies here. He was AA and a B&F winner in 1999 at the age of 23, and again in 5 of the next 8 seasons. Was always exceptional.

 

[Sentinel]

Josh Gibson comes to mind. A decent player at North without being exceptional, before being traded to Hawthorn and winning 3 flags, 2 B&Fs (in premiership seasons) and an All Australian, all of which came after turning 29.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Josh Gibson comes to mind. A decent player at North without being exceptional, before being traded to Hawthorn and winning 3 flags, 2 B&Fs (in premiership seasons) and an All Australian, all of which came after turning 29.

Brian Lake? Does he count. Good 2015 Grand Final. Not sure about the season etc.

 

[Gavin Excell]

I thought Mihocek was a dud but kept improving and delivering his role

 

[Sentinel]

Brian Lake? Does he count. Good 2015 Grand Final. Not sure about the season etc.

Lake already had the accolades at the Bulldogs (B&F, 2x AA) so I wouldn't put him in the same light as Gibson despite the late career team success (and a Norm).

 

[Purple Suit]

Ed Richards took a while to get going and is now an A grade midfielder.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Adam Hunter took a while to develop. Think he used to get destroyed in the back line. He became a good forward too when switched later on by Worsfold.

God bless him.

 

[piesaregreat]

Rhyce Shaw drafted 1999 didnt come good till 2005
Due to injuries

 

[Robroy22]

Micky Gayfer

 

[TiggyTig]

Name some players that were/are regarded as good to great footballers, who only reached those heights later in their career. Preferably players that weren't that well regarded prior.

Trying to think of some names but I'm coming up blank for some reason.

Jobe Watson

 

[crowman2]

Barlow was drafted soo late in his career

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Barlow was drafted soo late in his career

Not sure if he broke his leg in his first season when he was on fire.

 

[GhostofJimJess]

Brendan Gale was a frustration for the first half of his career, failing to establish himself as a key forward, and managing only about 160 goals in a fairly forgettable first 7 seasons of AFL.

But when transformed into a ruckman for the latter handful of years of his career, he became one of the most valued and loved players in that era by Tiger supporters.

The sight of Benny dropping back and taking mark after mark in "the hole" became what we all most remembered him for ... until he became CEO, that is

 

[Meteoric Rise]

Tigers actually had a few who came good at advanced ages coinciding with their flag run. Houli, Grimes, Edwards all AA selected in the Tigers dynasty years, all had their doubters for different reasons in earlier seasons. Lambert was probably another similar level player but came into the AFL system late. Astbury possibly another example, missed a load of footy in his first 6 seasons then came good in his late 20's.

Most successful teams probably have these type of players. Quality players who for different reasons are under-valued, causing them to be low salary cap pressure propositions in their clubs' flag years.