True. Haven't done the stats but I think with a few changes* our list will rate fairly 'young' again after the D&T period. Whatever 'young' means, the shape and 'direction' of the list means more than an average. Clubs use 1-2 rookie spots on "break-glass-in-case-of-emergency" types so I'd compare the ages of clubs' "first 25" or so, ie include a few usually called on depth players or a few kids on the cusp of breaking into the 22 to get an idea of where we really are with this age thing. Crap, raw, maturing, peak or past it's peak are a few arbitrary categories I just made up. We're no Essendon or North, past any peak and in panic-ed and delusional top-up mode respectively, we're no Melbourne or Carlton whew but we're no Bullies or even St Kilda ATM either
My guess is our F22-F25 age is middle of the road relative to this year's ladder position, and most of our changes will be at the middle or top end of the age bracket (ages 25 and over during next season) so we're heading the right way. With a couple of exceptions our 25-29 year old senior players have underperformed or been missing/hampered by injury. That hasn't given the likes of Amon, Ah Chee, Clurey, Harvey, the Hoon safety to learn and shine like in the Hawthorn system or in Geelong of old. There is upside in our senior players and kids, some middle-agers may have hit a ceiling - thinking Mitchell, Moore, Krak and Jonas (contracted) and Young and O'Shea a bit younger but haven't progressed but overall it's not like we've missed the 'window' in terms of age profile. Big calls on Schulz** and Redden this year but barring two stunning trading coups (unlikely but for a younger KPF and/or younger or similar age ruck if they were to happen) I think both must get 1 more year each - not 2. And this won't be popular but IMO our offer to Krak should be: stay on the rookie list, fix the bloody fitness, we upgrade you before/during the season.
So hopefully next year we're heading well up the bloody ladder while not getting significantly 'older'. Whatever 'older' means
*In decreasing order of certainty:
- Kane retired
- Logan, Sam Russell, Sam Gray delisted
- PStew moved to the rookie list
- Butcher traded, moved to the rookie list or delisted
- Mitchell delisted (or at best left on the rookie list)
- 1-2 of Moore, O'Shea, Young traded
** BTW Schulz would be the only 30+-er in our first 25 next year. Even GWS, GC and Melbourne will have 2 players in that bracket.