Opinion Late Developers

[GhostofJimJess]

Dusty?

Would've (should've?) won the Rising Star in his first year had he not copped a reprimand that oddly made him ineligible.

Not to mention over 50 Brownlow votes in his first 100 games, and then another 100+ votes in his next 100 games.

So probably not that late.

 

[Footy Smarts]

Surely Garry Ablett Jnr is the number 1 example?

No. People just forget that he was already a really good player before he became arguably the best of all time.

He finished 4th in the B&F in his second season as a 19 year old. Then went 8th, 3rd and 3rd in the B&F in decent teams from 2004-2006 before exploding in 2007. He was one of the best small forwards in the comp before his break out.