I can certainly see your point, but I disagree that he's been given ample opportunity this year. It's been by a long, long way his best year at VFL level and he's been rewarded by a solitary AFL start. Yes, it was a very bad game, but others like Tutt have played stinkers in their first game back as well. For what it's worth I don't think he'll make it - his tank is too small and he doesn't seem to run to the right spots - but you have to admit that, if he could make it, it would make our side look much more balanced. He has one of the biggest and most penetrating kicks at the Dogs, along with some of the best burst speed. He should be given another opportunity before being delisted for that reason.
I do agree, however, that he shouldn't be handed games in favour of the youngsters who we know will be around next year. Given how quickly our injury list is growing, though, we're likely to gather a couple more injuries before the end of the year. Right now we haven't got many 'guarantees' that we need to get games into sitting in the reserves since we're pushing our depth with Smith, Williams, Higgins, JJ, Goodes etc all having been out for extended periods. These are the sorts of opportunities I believe we should be using to give players like Pearce, Vez, Howard and the like some opportunities before it's all over.
Just as an example, many people here had Grant delisted months and months and months ago, and I can guarantee that, had they been coaching, he wouldn't have been given games this year. Now he's in the side and we look much better with him in it. If Vez, Howard or Pearce click, for example, we'll be much better for their inclusion. We can't afford to just throw them away without a reasonable trial in what could be their final year, especially since they could offer exactly what we need.