Overloading the seniors with kids

[PieLebo87]

Yep. It is not got that we have that many alternatives. Either we play the whipping boys, most of them on the outer, or we give the youth a go. Said it a few times, this is where the suspension of the 2 druggies and their experience is hurting.

I never looked it at from that point of view. In saying that, and being a little off topic, I think that Clinton Young is unfairly maligned, and I'm wondering where he is at, I would love to see him in the seniors. Age isn't ideal, but his run and carry, experience and foot skills would be more than handy at the moment, especially with an under siege, young backline lacking real rebound and run through the middle.

Losing Keeffe and Thomas has had its impact on the side. It is unbelievable that going into the pre-season, injuries aside, we were looking at Macaffer, Thomas, Pendlebury, Sidebottom and Greenwood as our midfield team. Caff obviously had the ACL last season, Thomas got banned, Sidebottom broke his thumb for 6 weeks and Greenwood broke his ankle. All that was left was Pendles for a handful of games. We were very lucky that Crisp and Adams stepped up.

 

[PicaBoo]

I never looked it at from that point of view. In saying that, and being a little off topic, I think that Clinton Young is unfairly maligned, and I'm wondering where he is at, I would love to see him in the seniors. Age isn't ideal, but his run and carry, experience and foot skills would be more than handy at the moment, especially with an under siege, young backline lacking real rebound and run through the middle.

Losing Keeffe and Thomas has had its impact on the side. It is unbelievable that going into the pre-season, injuries aside, we were looking at Macaffer, Thomas, Pendlebury, Sidebottom and Greenwood as our midfield team. Caff obviously had the ACL last season, Thomas got banned, Sidebottom broke his thumb for 6 weeks and Greenwood broke his ankle. All that was left was Pendles for a handful of games. We were very lucky that Crisp and Adams stepped up.

Even Pendles was carrying something halfway.
Young is not tearing it up in the VFL from what I gather. Knightmare still rates him high, maybe he would come good in the AFL. But unless he has the gift of eternal youth like his fellow Hawks, you would think he is at the end of his career.
Too bad we never got the most out of him. Another long-term injury casualty struggling to get to his former best.

 

[jackcass]

All I can say on the topic is that I'd rather guys like Moore, De Goey, Marsh, Maynard and Scharenberg be rewarded with games, than put up with second rate efforts from guys like Seedsman, Blair, Fasolo (frequently, not last week), White, Witts and even Toovey.

Can understand the displeasure with Blair and White and Toovey as they're all 100+ game senior players. I don't agree but that's a different discussion. I am a little worried that Seedsman (49 games), Fasolo (64) and Witts (38) are judged along side 100+ gamers.

 

[PieLebo87]

Even Pendles was carrying something halfway.
Young is not tearing it up in the VFL from what I gather. Knightmare still rates him high, maybe he would come good in the AFL. But unless he has the gift of eternal youth like his fellow Hawks, you would think he is at the end of his career.
Too bad we never got the most out of him. Another long-term injury casualty struggling to get to his former best.

He's only 29 though, that's hardly over the hill though. With a few games under him, he'd still be able to produce his best. We'll see what he can produce next season with a proper pre-season, don't think he'll be a casualty this off-season.

 

[Vicky Park]

Interesting article by Jake Niall in today's Sunday Age, on playing the kids:

'Collingwood have been gaining the most, in terms of output from their kids, averaging about 78 Champion Data points per (21-and-under) youngster in the relevant rounds.'

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...winds-down-20150808-giur6k.html#ixzz3iGMb6uJS

 

[PieNSauce]

Interesting article by Jake Niall in today's Sunday Age, on playing the kids:

'Collingwood have been gaining the most, in terms of output from their kids, averaging about 78 Champion Data points per (21-and-under) youngster in the relevant rounds.'

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-ne...winds-down-20150808-giur6k.html#ixzz3iGMb6uJS

Interesting article but that paragraph you quoted part of is just plain confusing. How can you say that Collingwood has been gaining the most and then in the very same paragraph say that GWS and the Bulldogs have done even better? I'm seriously confused!

 

[Vicky Park]

Interesting article but that paragraph you quoted part of is just plain confusing. How can you say that Collingwood has been gaining the most and then in the very same paragraph say that GWS and the Bulldogs have done even better? I'm seriously confused!

I agree! The quote is out of context (but I like it).

 

[The Royal Sampler]

It actually makes perfect sense. Our average output from youngsters picked is the best, however we are playing fewer youngsters per game than the Bulldogs and GWS.

GWS and the Bulldogs are getting only a slightly lesser return on average, but they are playing more youngsters, and you would expect more of a drop-off in performance by the time you get to your seventh (Bulldogs) or eighth (GWS) youngster in the side. They are getting games into those kids without the drop-off, and that's why "in real terms" Niall thinks those two teams are doing better than us.