We are a young side

[Ryan Dixon Webb]

Don't give up on us. Ratten is a decent coach, he's instilling his gameplan on our team. We are currently struggling to side a best 22 each week, but we are young. We will improve, don't give up hope. Rock on tiny dancers.

 

[AlecDuncan]

**** that "we are a young side" shit. That excuse got worn out ages ago, and we shouldn't stand for it anymore.

Last night we addressed some failings, albeit only after the bottom side embarrassed us for a half. At last we made a point of getting to contests and putting our head over the ball.

However, it all means nothing if we go back to our bad habits next week. I don't expect to beat Collingwood even if we bring our A game, but by hell I expect us to make the Pies earn it. Anything less will show a lack of character.

 

[pickman]

"We are a young side"... No we are not, this team is at the stage where the inconsistency seen so far this year should no longer be accepted.

The young side excuse ended in 2008.

 

[mediumsizered]

"We are a young side"... No we are not, this team is at the stage where the inconsistency seen so far this year should no longer be accepted.

The young side excuse ended in 2008.

Rubbish. Are Yarran, Gibbs, Garlett, Henderson, Kreuzer, Hampson, Jacobs, Lucas, Grigg, Ellard, Robinson, Anderson, Browne, White, Joseph, all who are 22 or under, not young? You do realise that our team last night was on average only 6 months older than the Eagles & had only an average of 9 games more experience, yet we sit in 8th position & they sit on the bottom.

How many of the teams sitting above us on the ladder have played this many kids this season? I would suggest the answer to that would be none.

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

Rubbish. Are Yarran, Gibbs, Garlett, Henderson, Kreuzer, Hampson, Jacobs, Lucas, Grigg, Ellard, Robinson, Anderson, Browne, White, Joseph, all who are 22 or under, not young? You do realise that our team last night was on average only 6 months older than the Eagles & had only an average of 9 games more experience, yet we sit in 8th position & they sit on the bottom.

How many of the teams sitting above us on the ladder have played this many kids this season? I would suggest the answer to that would be none.

Only 8 of those named played last night though MS. That leaves a lot of experienced, older players.

Yes, they're young. Yes they're inexperienced, but it's not a good enough excuse when we have quite a few players in the team who ARE experienced.

 

[krayfesh]

Only because we use age as a guide.

Bower and Jamison have just reached 50 games.

Judd, Scotland, Carazzo, Waite, Simpson, Betts are the experienced ones.

Teams like Geelong, Bulldogs, Saints, Pies have their core players play a lot of games together before they start achieving success.

Their core was drafted years before they became Premiers.

Why are we expected to go from bottom of the ladder 2007 to contenders in 2010?

Media hype? Supporter hype?

It's incredible that we expect so much from such young players. I'd kill for some sort of college basketball equivalent league and not draft players until they're 20-21.

At least then, we can realistically expect them to slot into the team and make an impact like Barlow, etc.

Same with the coach. He's going through the same learning processes as our players, but nobody deserves time to mould a successful team.

We live for immediate success.

 

[AlphaBlue]

"We are a young side"... No we are not, this team is at the stage where the inconsistency seen so far this year should no longer be accepted.

The young side excuse ended in 2008.

this man speaks the truth

 

[Monkey King]

Only 8 of those named played last night though MS. That leaves a lot of experienced, older players.

Actually it leaves only five players 25yo+ and only six with more than 100 games.

Whether people like it or not; use it as an excuse or not; the reality is that Carlton have one of the younger and more inexperienced teams in the league.

 

[blues4flag]

Quit your whinging and look at the facts.

We ARE a young side. No ifs, no buts. Our average age on the weekend was 23 years 7 months, our average games played 63.

Conversely, the top 3 are
Pies: 24y 11m, 98 games
Cats: 27y 3m, 136 games
Saints: 26y 2m, 108 games

36 to 73 games less experienced than the top 3, 14 to 33 months younger.

 

[incog43]

Only because we use age as a guide.

Bower and Jamison have just reached 50 games.

Judd, Scotland, Carazzo, Waite, Simpson, Betts are the experienced ones.

Teams like Geelong, Bulldogs, Saints, Pies have their core players play a lot of games together before they start achieving success.

Their core was drafted years before they became Premiers.

Why are we expected to go from bottom of the ladder 2007 to contenders in 2010?

Media hype? Supporter hype?

It's incredible that we expect so much from such young players. I'd kill for some sort of college basketball equivalent league and not draft players until they're 20-21.

At least then, we can realistically expect them to slot into the team and make an impact like Barlow, etc.

Same with the coach. He's going through the same learning processes as our players, but nobody deserves time to mould a successful team.

We live for immediate success.

Good post Kray.

Just 1 question, where have you been the last 10 years?

 

[blueman91]

I acknowledge people's views on here for being a "young side" etc but where i dont excuse the players is for certain things that regardless of age should be done differently. One clear example would be things like getting on a player. You learn little, obvious things like that when you are 4. Seriously if you can't find your direct man, you just get on any1 for that moment and make it a 50/50 battle. You may win, you may lose but at least they are accountable that way.

I can excuse certain things, like lighter bodies, less mental capacity to deal with the big moments (possibly) but little basic things like staying close to a player so he can't run around with the ball on his own is inexcusable.

 

[TheHeatleyStand]

Rubbish. Are Yarran, Gibbs, Garlett, Henderson, Kreuzer, Hampson, Jacobs, Lucas, Grigg, Ellard, Robinson, Anderson, Browne, White, Joseph, all who are 22 or under, not young? You do realise that our team last night was on average only 6 months older than the Eagles & had only an average of 9 games more experience, yet we sit in 8th position & they sit on the bottom.

How many of the teams sitting above us on the ladder have played this many kids this season? I would suggest the answer to that would be none.

you named a number of players playing for the Bullants just there...

 

[Kaladin Stormblessed]

Rubbish. Are Yarran, Gibbs, Garlett, Henderson, Kreuzer, Hampson, Jacobs, Lucas, Grigg, Ellard, Robinson, Anderson, Browne, White, Joseph, all who are 22 or under, not young? You do realise that our team last night was on average only 6 months older than the Eagles & had only an average of 9 games more experience, yet we sit in 8th position & they sit on the bottom.

How many of the teams sitting above us on the ladder have played this many kids this season? I would suggest the answer to that would be none.

"Only 6 months?"

6 months is a huge difference per player when you are only 22/23 years old.

 

[krayfesh]

Good post Kray.

Just 1 question, where have you been the last 10 years?

There's this handy rock I use as a base and I have a nice hole in the sand I use as a summer home.

Seriously, no draft picks for a couple of years, along with our top up for the premiership pre-2000 strategy means that we're light on the 24-27 talent bracket.

Geelong did they're main drafting in 99 and 2001 and are reaping the rewards now.

Using the same time frame, we can expect our talent to reach their prime in about 2012-2013.

 

[AlecDuncan]

Using the same time frame, we can expect our talent to reach their prime in about 2012-2013.

As John Kennedy used to say, "It's later than you think".

 

[mediumsizered]

"Only 6 months?"

6 months is a huge difference per player when you are only 22/23 years old.

It is half a year, but more importantly, the 9 games difference in experience is less than half a season, yet I think it would be safe to say our list is more than half a season ahead of the Eagles in development.

 

[CrippsonBlue]

"Only 6 months?"

6 months is a huge difference per player when you are only 22/23 years old.

This a joke?

So stupid when people try and say that 4, 6, 8 months etc. makes a difference.

If players are born in the same year, then they all come through the system at the same stage, with the same time and opportunity to work on their skills, and the same time and opportunity to get their body in shape.

 

[mediumsizered]

you named a number of players playing for the Bullants just there...

Yet all of them have played in the seniors this season. Name the teams above us on the ladder who have played more younger players than us this season. You won't be able to, because they are at a stage in their development that they don't need to as their core players/most talented players are at the upper end of the experience/age ladder.

 

[serenityNow]

Age has nothing to do with effort. We are a young & inexperienced side....YES. But the efforts against the Dogs,Swans and half the Eagles game, was some of the worst football i've seen. I think the efforts of some of the more senior players were the issue......Setanta, T-Bird etc.


Its the supporters that bag out guys like Hendo that shit me, his a work in progress and will be the player we want in time.Just be patient.