Players who have actually got better in their early 30s

[Seeds]

Tom hawkins just won the coleman at 32. In the last 3 years he has been a top 3 key foward in the comp in each year. Before that he was more like a 4-8 top key foward. Clearly improved in his thirties.

what other players have oddly got better after they hit 30?

 

[Rusty Brookes]

Didn't Kevin Murray win the Brownlow at 31?

I'd argue Shaun Burgoyne has had more impact as a player in his 30s but don't know if that necessarily makes him better,

 

[Seeds]

Didn't Kevin Murray win the Brownlow at 31?

I'd argue Shaun Burgoyne has had more impact as a player in his 30s but don't know if that necessarily makes him better,

Burgoyne is a weired one. He peaked around 2006-07. But theN was an average mid for many years before getting much better in his 30s again albeit in a pinch hitting role.

 

[_Mike_]

Arguably Matthew Boyd was as good in his later years than he was at his peak. Playing in a different position in his 30's not only did he snag an AA selection, 2016 averaged 28 disposals per game & picked up a premiership medal.

 

[Tzatziki_Man]

Shane and Michael Tuck

 

[FrankDrebin]

Travis Boak would be a candidate however i dont think this season he has been better than what he was in 2013 and 2014. he dropped away for a couple of years in 2017 & 18, then bounced back last year, although his drop in form was more to do with playing up forward for a couple of years than anything else.

 

[BF Tiger]

Ablett Sr won his three Colemans and four AAs after he turned 30.

 

[Seeds]

Ablett Sr won his three Colemans and four AAs after he turned 30.

True although ablett probably peaked around 27 in the 1989 season. His 1993 season at 31 was nearly as good. After that though he lost he pace and leap due to a knee injury that plagued him for the last four seasons of his career.

 

[Guardian Hawk]

Whilst he was good throughout and his best season came as a 29 year old, Sam Mitchell won his AAs at 29, 31 and 33. He won his Brownlow at 30.

 

[Breretonisahood]

Peter Hudson went down with a serious knee injury at 26 in 1972 then returned for a final valedictory season at 31 in 1977. He kicked 110 goals. I reckon VFL footy had improved considerably in that 5 years so his effort at 31 was pretty damn good.

 

[00Stinger]

Whilst he was good throughout and his best season came as a 29 year old, Sam Mitchell won his AAs at 29, 31 and 33. He won his Brownlow at 30.

tbf that was more symbolic of how under rated he was when he was younger

He should have had a couple of AA's in his mid 20's too

 

[Guardian Hawk]

tbf that was more symbolic of how under rated he was when he was younger

He should have had a couple of AA's in his mid 20's too

Couldn't agree more. The rationale used by selectors when he was overlooked to the surprise of most was ridiculous at times.

 

[PhatBoy]

Probably hard for me to judge non-Cats players as I don't pay THAT close attention to them.

Alistair Lynch is one from memory who had some of his best years at the back end.

Corey Enright for me was better after 30 than he was before it.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Fletch was just getting started

 

[SSSSSS]

Feel that this will become a more common occurrence with the advancements in sports science.

 

[Bulldog1954]

Whilst never a star, Liam Picken played his best football in the year he turned 30.

 

[RudyBlue]

Feel that this will become a more common occurrence with the advancements in sports science.

Seeing it in tennis

 

[Ron The Bear]

Minimum 50 games before and after 30yo. Improvement due in many cases to playing closer to goal.

Player	Gms < 30	Gms 30+	Gls < 30	Gls 30+	Diff
Quinlan, Bernie	251	115	1.56	3.70	+2.13
Blight, Malcolm	123	55	1.85	3.95	+2.10
Ablett senior, Gary	146	102	3.53	5.06	+1.53
Lynch, Alastair	183	123	1.54	2.85	+1.31
Harris, Dick D.	144	52	2.49	3.63	+1.14
Mueller, Jack	163	53	1.50	2.51	+1.01
Merrett, Roger	190	123	1.01	1.96	+0.95
Jarman, Darren	128	102	1.31	2.14	+0.82
Coventry, Gordon	198	108	3.96	4.77	+0.81
Bartlett, Kevin	247	156	1.64	2.38	+0.74
Waite, Jarrad	154	90	1.27	2.01	+0.74
Titus, Jack	187	107	3.06	3.71	+0.65
Vallence, Harry	140	64	3.34	3.97	+0.63
Matthews, Leigh	243	89	2.59	3.21	+0.63
Goodes, Adam	252	120	1.06	1.64	+0.58
Johnson, Brad	269	95	1.38	1.96	+0.57
Hall, Barry	204	85	2.43	2.95	+0.53
Petrie, Drew	222	110	1.18	1.66	+0.49
Olliver, Arthur	200	72	1.18	1.65	+0.48
Giansiracusa, Daniel	213	52	1.18	1.52	+0.34
Neitz, David	247	59	2.00	2.31	+0.30
Pavlich, Matthew	256	97	1.91	2.18	+0.27
Kickett, Derek	66	86	1.03	1.29	+0.26
Milne, Stephen	188	87	2.01	2.26	+0.26
Akermanis, Jason	248	77	1.24	1.48	+0.24
Kernahan, Stephen	173	78	2.88	3.08	+0.20
Whitten senior, Ted	211	110	1.07	1.23	+0.16
Schimmelbusch, Wayne	234	72	1.12	1.26	+0.14
Lee, Dick	174	56	3.04	3.18	+0.14
Harvey, Brent	248	184	1.15	1.27	+0.12
O'Loughlin, Michael	247	56	1.70	1.79	+0.08
Chapman, Paul	222	58	1.30	1.34	+0.05
Moriarty, Jack	118	52	3.88	3.92	+0.04

 

[Macpotata]

Drew Brees
LBJ
Tom Brady
RF Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic
Floyd Mayweather Jnr

 

[Royce Hafey]

Richo's best year as a footballer in my opinion was in 2008 when he nearly won the Brownlow playing as a 6' 3 wingman for the second half of the year. It rends to be forgotten because a few games into 2009 Wallace put him back on the field after he'd done a hammy and he tore it off the bone.

 

[Du_key]

This is Daniel Rich's best year right on 30.

 

[StonesThrow]

Boak has been playing his best footy post 30 imo.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Nic Nat turned 30 in May and this year has been his best footy, so I guess you can add him too.

Shannon Hurn’s 2 AA Gongs came at 31 and 32.

I reckon 30 is the new 28 - especially for the best players.

Someone like Fyfe will play until he’s 38.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Shaun Higgins has been fantastic in his later years

 

[HairyO]

Ricky Henderson's 2019 was by far his best year.

Shaun Burgoyne's 2013 season ended rather well. Particularly in the Prelim where he dragged us across the line.