Which clubs are in the most trouble age profile wise? - 2025 edition

Which clubs are in the most trouble age profile wise?


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Feb 28, 2007
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Back by popular demand (well one person a month ago) here is the annual thread to discuss which clubs are in the most trouble from an age profile perspective, not just which clubs are the oldest, but also which clubs seemingly have the least youth coming through to replace those older players.

Here is last years thread if anyone wants to have a look

Same rules as previous seasons, where the players included in these lists must have played a minimum of 5 games, just so we have a bit of body of work to discuss rather than going off draft reports and supporter hope.

Every person can vote for 3 clubs. I have also put the clubs in order of their finishing positions in the Home and Away season for 2024 since their finishing positions should definitely be taken into account when it comes to the health of their list.

I also included players each club lost from the 32+ category in 2024 and which will need replacing

Also feel very free to point out any mistakes I have made, which I am sure I have made more than a few. Any mistakes will be corrected as soon as I can.

1. Sydney - 7 - Reid
32+ - Rampe
29-32 – Hamling, Fox, Adams, Lloyd, Cunningham, Grundy

27-29 – Heeney, Papley, Melican, Mills, Francis, Ladhams
25-27 – Florent, Paton, Hayward, McLean, Amartey, Wicks, McCartin
23-25 – Blakey, McInerney, Rowbottom, Jordon, Ch.Warner
21-23 – Campbell, McDonald, Gulden, Roberts, Co.Warner, Sheldrick
Under 21 – Cleary


2. Port Adelaide - 6 - Dixon
32+ - Boak
29-32 – Atkins, Aliir, Wines, Rioli, Byrne-Jones

27-29 – Finlayson, Soldo, Burton
25-27 – Powell-Pepper, Sweet, Ratugolea, Zerk-Thatcher, Drew, Marshall, Farrell, Richards
23-25 – Rozzee, Lukosius, Butters, McEntee, Williams, Georgiades, Mead, Burgman, Lord
21-23 – Jones, Sinn, Visentini, Horne-Francis, Burgoyne
Under 21 – Evans


3. Geelong - 11 - Hawkins, Tuohy
32+ - Dangerfield, Stanley, Blicavs, Duncan, C.Guthrie
29-32 – Stewart, Cameron, Bews, Martin, Kolodjashnij, Atkins

27-29 – O'Connor, Mannagh
25-27 – Bowes, Z.Guthrie, Close, Henry, Stengle, Miers
23-25 – Mullin, Smith, De Koning
21-23 – Bruhn, Neale, Henry, Holmes, Dempsey, Knevitt, Humphries, Conway
Under 21 – Clarke


4. GWS - 8
32+ - Ward, Keefee
29-32 – Greene, Coniglio, Stringer, Whitfield, Kelly, Hogan

27-29 – Himmelberg, Buckley
25-27 – Wehr, Daniels, Taylor, Briggs, Riccardi
23-25 – Bedford, O'Halloran, Idu, Brown, Green, Ash, Leek
21-23 – Stone, Angwin, Callaghan, Fahey
Under 21 – Cadman, Jones, McMullin, Rowston, Thomas


5. Brisbane - 9
32+ - Zorko, Lester, Day
29-32 – Neale, Fort, McCarthy, Cameron, McInerney, Gardiner

27-29 – McKenna, Andrews, Dunkley, Doedee, Joyce, Hipwood, Ah Chee
25-27 – Berry, McCluggage, Stercevich, Answerth, Bailey, Payne, Rayner
23-25 – Coleman, Reville, Robertson
21-23 – Lohmann, Tunstill, Wilmot
Under 21 – Brain, Flecher, W.Ashcroft, Morris


6. Western Bulldogs - 9
32+ - Jones, Duryea, Liberatore, Johannisen
29-32 – Lobb, Treloar, Scott, Harmes, Bontempelli

27-29 – Dale, Kennedy, Gardner, English, Williams
25-27 – Bramble, Baker, Vandermeer, Richards, Coffield, Naughton
23-25 – Khamis, West, Weightman, Garcia, McNeill
21-23 – Cleary, Ugle-Hagan, O'Donnell, Poulter, Jones, Darcy, Gallagher
Under 21 – Sanders, Freijah


7. Hawthorn - 7
32+ - Breust, Gunston
29-32 – Frost, Sicily, Impey, Amon, Barrass

27-29 – Chol, Hardwick
25-27 – Meek, Nash, Battle, Scrimshaw, Lewis, Reeves, Morrison
23-25 – Worpel, Jiath, Moore, Blanck, Stephens, Maginness, Day, Newcombe
21-23 – Mitchell, Ginnivan, MacDonald, Butler, Serong, Ramsden, D'Ambrosio, Ward
Under 21 – Mackenzie, Weddle, Hustwaite, Watson, Dear


8. Carlton - 10
32+ - Haynes, Newman
29-32 – Docherty, Saad, Williams, McGovern, Cripps, Fantasia, Acres, Hewett

27-29 – Pittonet, Cincotta, C.Curnow, Weitering, Silvagni, McKay
25-27 – Boyd, Yong, Fogarty, De Koning, Cerra
23-25 – Cottrell, Walsh, Kemp
21-23 – Durdin, Hollands, Motlop, Hollands
Under 21 – Cowan


9. Collingwood - 12
32+ - Pendlebury, Howe, Sidebottom, Cox, Elliot
29-32 – Mihocek, Mitchell, Hoskin-Elliot, Crisp, Membrey, McStay, Cameron

27-29 – Moore, De Goey, Markov, Maynard, Frampton, Houston, Sullivan, Johnson, Schultz
25-27 – Lipinski, J.Daicos, Perryman, Quaynor
23-25 – Hill, McCreery, Dean
21-23 – Macrae, Parker, McInnes, N.Daicos, Long, Harrison
Under 21 –


10. Fremantle - 5
32+ - Walters, Fyfe
29-32 – O'Meara, Pearce, Aish

27-29 – Ryan, McDonald, Switkowski, Wagner, Narkle
25-27 – Banfield, Darcy, Cox, Brodie, Bolton, Brayshaw
23-25 – Sturt, Frederick, Clark, Serong, Young, Sharp, Jackson
21-23 – Champman, O'Driscoll, Worner, Treacy, Walker, Johnson, Voss, Amiss, Erasmus
Under 21 – Draper


11. Essendon - 3
32+ - Goldstein
29-32 – Shiel, Merrett

27-29 – Larverde, Wright, Langfordm Parish, Guelfi, Gresham, Redman, McKay
25-27 – Setterfield, McGrath, Draper, Ridley
23-25 – Duursma, Caldwell, Jones, Martin, Prior, Durham, Bryan, Cox
21-23 – Reid, Perkins, Menzie, Hobbs
Under 21 – Davey, Tsatas, Caddy


12. St Kilda - 8 - Campbell
32+ -
29-32 – Webster, Hill, Wood, Macrae, Sinclair, Jones, Marshall, Steele

27-29 – Wilkie, Howard, Butler, Cordy
25-27 – Higgins, Clarke, Dow
23-25 – Stocker, King, Sharman, Byrnes, Henry
21-23 – Carroll, Wanganeen-Milera, Windhager, Owens, Caminiti
Under 21 – Phillopou, Garcia, Wilson, Hastie


13. Gold Coast - 6 - Casboult
32+ - Witts, Swallow
29-32 – Sexton, Collins, Lemmens, Holman

27-29 – Miller, Weller, Farrar, Noble, Rioli, Long, Fiorini
25-27 – Ainsworth, Himmelberg, Ballard, Powell
23-25 – Berry, King, Graham, Anderson, Budarick, Rosas, Rowell, Flanders
21-23 – Moyle, Jeffrey, Davies, Clohesy, Uwland, Andrew
Under 21 – Hymphrey, Johnson, Rogers, Walter, Graham


14. Melbourne - 10
32+ - Melksham, Campbell, Gawn, May, McDonald
29-32 – Viney, McAdam, Salem, Billings, Petracca

27-29 – Langdon, Hore, Lever, Fritsch, Oliver
25-27 – Fullerton, Petty, Spargo, Chandler
23-25 – Sparrow, Pickett, Rivers
21-23 – Turner, Laurie, Bowey, Sharp, Woewodin, Howes, Van Rooyen, McVee, Moniz-Wakefield
Under 21 – Windsor, Tholstrup


15. Adelaide - 8 - Sloane
32+ - Walker, Smith
29-32 – Laird, Crouch, O'Brien, Strachan, Burgess, Neal-Bullen

27-29 – Keays, Dawson, Milera
25-27 – Hinge, Cumming, Murphy, Fogarty, Butts, Jones
23-25 – Sholl, Keane, Rankine, Peatling, Murray, Schoenberg, Worrell
21-23 – Berry, Pedlar, Thilthorpe, Cook, Borlase, Soligo, Taylor, Rachele, Nankervis
Under 21 – Michalanney, Dowling, Bond, Curtin


16. West Coast - 6
32+ - McGovern, Cripps
29-32 – Yeo, Kelly, Hunt, Sheed

27-29 – Ryan, Duggan, Owies, Cole, Flynn
25-27 – Baker, Graham, Waterman, Allen, Petruccelle
23-25 – Williams, Jamieson, Edwards, Hutchinson
21-23 – Brockman, Hough, Chesser, Bazzo, Williams
Under 21 – Dewar, Hewett, Long, Maric, Ginbey, Reid, Johnston


17. North Melbourne - 4 - Shiels
32+ - Darling, Parker
29-32 – Corr, McDonald

27-29 – Daniel, Tucker
25-27 – Simpkin, Logue, Zurhaar, Larkey, Disher, Dawson, Pink, Xerri, Davies-Uniacke, COleman-Jones, Teakle
23-25 – Scott, Stephens, Comben
21-23 – Powell, Phillips, Ford, Archer, Bergman, Curtis, Goater
Under 21 – Hansen, Wardlaw, Sheezel, McKercher, Duursma


18. Richmond - 6
32+ - Prestia, Lynch
29-32 – Broad, McIntosh, Vlastuin, Nankervis

27-29 – Short, Hopper
25-27 – Taranto, Lefau, Young, Miller, Balta
23-25 – Mansell, Koschizke, Ross, Ryan, Dow, Ralphsmith
21-23 – Bauer, Rioli, Sonsie, Banks, Gibcus, Brown, Clarke, Green
Under 21 – Campbell, McAuliffe
 
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The stack of veterans makes Geelong remain a tempting answer.

However one thing to note about the Cats is that their 29+ year old cohort only contains 4 or 5 certain starters now. Cameron, Stewart, Dangerfield, Kolo and probably Blicavs. 3 of them crucial.

The other veterans? Duncan didn't start in the 2024 prelim. Bews played 5 games last year. Atkins may get squeezed out of midfield. We're not sure what we'll get out of the half broken versions of Cam Guthrie and Jack Martin. Then Stanley won't play when Conway is fit/available.

Much more important than the veterans listed in the previous paragraph are Holmes, Smith, Stengle, Miers, J.Henry, Close, Dempsey, Humphries, Bruhn, SDK, Mannagh and Neale. So I guess how "in trouble" we are depends on how those players sustain performance or improve over the next 5+ years. As well as, of course, which big fish (if any) can be landed when Dangerfield, Stewart and Cameron retire.
 
The stack of veterans makes Geelong remain a tempting answer.

However one thing to note about the Cats is that their 29+ year old cohort only contains 4 or 5 certain starters now. Cameron, Stewart, Dangerfield, Kolo and probably Blicavs. 3 of them crucial.

The other veterans? Duncan didn't start in the 2024 prelim. Bews played 5 games last year. Atkins may get squeezed out of midfield. We're not sure what we'll get out of the half broken versions of Cam Guthrie and Jack Martin. Then Stanley won't play when Conway is fit/available.

Much more important than the veterans listed in the previous paragraph are Holmes, Smith, Stengle, Miers, J.Henry, Close, Dempsey, Humphries, Bruhn, SDK, Mannagh and Neale. So I guess how "in trouble" we are depends on how those players sustain performance or improve over the next 5+ years.

One thing I noticed in 2024, and I could be wrong, is that Dangerfield is still so important for you guys. He provides a lot of spark and power in the midfield and without him being there, when he was injured and such, Geelong's midfield just didn't look or feel as threatening.

I know he was not a big factor in 2024 either but Hawkins is a big loss. Geelong's forward line will miss him a lot.
 
One thing I noticed in 2024, and I could be wrong, is that Dangerfield is still so important for you guys. He provides a lot of spark and power in the midfield and without him being there, when he was injured and such, Geelong's midfield just didn't look or feel as threatening.

I know he was not a big factor in 2024 either but Hawkins is a big loss. Geelong's forward line will miss him a lot.
Yep Dangerfield remains very important and is defying gravity, because a player of his type (explosive) should have fallen off a cliff by now.

When he inevitably has an injury or is rested, we do struggle. 2024 we basically looked like a top 4 team with him in, and bottom 4 when he was missing. Although there were other factors at the same time (we tried playing 4 tall forwards for a while, kept playing a cooked Cam Guthrie, and refused to play Mannagh or Humphries).

They pulled the trigger on Holmes to midfield for finals and he was easily our best player in both games until he got injured. So I expect that move will be close to permanent, and Smith will add a fair bit because even his floor is above some of our midfielders ceilings.

For a while Stewart helped patch up our midfield, but if Holmes is in there then surely Stewart has to return to permanent defending.

We definitely miss even what 2023 Hawkins could give us. Neale showed some good signs in 2024 but he has a lot to work on. Henry rounding out his game would make a tall forward trio of Cameron, Neale and Henry dangerous enough. But not dominant like Cameron/Hawkins of 2022.
 
Sydney have the biggest Cox, maybe that will help them on grand final day next time.

We had a coach named Horse and then a coach named Cox. We clearrly have an unusual strategy in selecting our coach since there only seems to be one criteria in what they need to become the coach for the Swans.
 

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Carlton. They have the list profile of a team that has been top 4 and contenting for a flag for 4 or so years.

10 players over 30 next year. A large bundle in the 28-29 bracket.

2025 and 2026 is really make or break with this build. If they get injuries to the wrong players poor old vossy won’t be coaching the blues in 2026.
 
Context is important. Pies being where they are is a consequence of pushing for a flag in 2023. Whereas if you have a list that hasn’t achieved anything but is getting on in age then they’re in more trouble imo.
 
Not too concerned with the Blues. Some senior players like Newman, Docherty, McGovern etc will be missed in coming years but the core of our team is still in a good spot. Should have 3-5 years of good footy from most of this group. Losing TDK would change the outlook significantly but from all reports he should sign on long term soon.

Cripps - 29
Curnow - 27
Mckay - 27
Weitering -27
Cerra - 25
TDK - 25
Walsh - 24
E.Hollands - 22
 
Not too concerned with the Blues. Some senior players like Newman, Docherty, McGovern etc will be missed in coming years but the core of our team is still in a good spot. Should have 3-5 years of good footy from most of this group. Losing TDK would change the outlook significantly but from all reports he should sign on long term soon.

Cripps - 29
Curnow - 27
Mckay - 27
Weitering -27
Cerra - 25
TDK - 25
Walsh - 24
E.Hollands - 22
It's not bad but you really need a few to come on quickly in the 18-23 year old cohort.

Geelong were helped by a bunch in that bracket 2022 (Holmes, SDK, Stengle, Miers, J.Henry, Close, Zuthrie) or else the window may have closed earlier.
 
It's not bad but you really need a few to come on quickly in the 18-23 year old cohort.

Geelong were helped by a bunch in that bracket 2022 (Holmes, SDK, Stengle, Miers, J.Henry, Close, Zuthrie) or else the window may have closed earlier.
I agree, and personally I think many oppo fans will be impressed with some of the Blues lesser names this year re the kids... But have to wait and see how the season plays out before making any big claims. It's one thing to be dominating training, it's another to perform against opposition teams going full tilt with the spotlight and scrutiny they face.
 
I agree, and personally I think many oppo fans will be impressed with some of the Blues lesser names this year re the kids... But have to wait and see how the season plays out before making any big claims. It's one thing to be dominating training, it's another to perform against opposition teams going full tilt under with the spotlight and scrutiny they face.
It's probably more of an issue 2027 onwards anyway. The list profile is perfect for contending the next 2-3 years and a lot can change with the 23 and unders in that amount of time, which could extend it.
 

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Which clubs are in the most trouble age profile wise? - 2025 edition

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