"Young Talent"

[WhyAlwaysMe]

With all this talk on young talent I want to know what people think is that age to be considered young. Some people say under 24, some under 21 but its really hard to gauge when a player can be called a young talent or just a talent. Personally I would say under 23 is a young talent but after reading BigFooty the last couple of days that doesn't necessarily make it so.

 

[rick James]

I'd say 22 and under.

Players are pretty much fully developed by 22 - of course there's still room for improvement, and in some cases drastic improvement (T.Johnstone for example) but by 22 I think in most cases you can tell if someone's going to be a real player or not by 22.

 

[mark73]

I think there are too many variables to take into account to be able to determine one way or the other. The problem also is that after a superdraft people get carried away with the bar being supposedly raised and the new look 6'8 HFF is the way to go while forgetting that these players have existed in most drafts and super drafts and not so super drafts have existed since the concept was brought in. It's not a new phenomenon. Ruckman take longer, and players get injured. Having said that, regardless of the reasons if players picked up with good picks aren't established by the time they're 24 then it's time to move them on. It's never good to see talented players succumb to injuries being moved on but thats all part of it and something they'd be made aware of when they decide to take the plunge into a life of AFL football.

 

[Hawkk]

Under 21

 

[lids2004roar]

I say under 23 (22 years old or less)

This includes our young talent in Graham Polak

21 year olds have generally had 3 years in the system so they should have a good year, but several players take that extra year before setting the world on fire.

Take Kayne Pettifer for example.

 

[Richo83]

U-23 is a good number. U-25 doesn't mean anything, even u-24 is too old, some 23 yo have played for seven years. u-21 is a bit too young, a 21 yo might have only played 2 seasons, that's a fine line. About u-22, u-23 is a much better measurement, u-23 being probably the best measurement.

 

[grantyc77]

Its u21 these days, three yrs in the AFL system ur considered a veteran, accepted for ruckman that is.

 

[parrot]

I say under 23 (22 years old or less)

This includes our young talent in Graham Polak ..

That trade for a top-10 superdraft pick by Terry, already looks like being a terrible decision.

 

[lids2004roar]

That trade for a top-10 superdraft pick by Terry, already looks like being a terrible decision.

lol

I know you would have said that anyway, but I'd like you to know some facts (you won't acknowledge them in public but you will understand them).

The biggest issue about this decision was the risk of Polly turning around his off-field attitude and to improve his work ethic. Natural ability (as you'll agree) is massive.

Off-field he has gone through what he needed to go through and all reports are that he has been very well behaved. Half the battle is a success already.

In turn, his worth ethic during training has improved dramatically. I don't know the exact Nab 15 list this week but last week he was number 14 and was the #1 big man at our club. Spending all summer playing on Richo (best contested mark since Carey) and beating him several times (kept him to just ONE GOAL in the intra club game!) means already he has made a huge turn around.

One of our best on grounds in our full scale intra club game, even the Tiger supporters who were screaming bloody murder when we got him are generally happy with how he is going.

I won't mention TW's good reports because of course, "it's just spin"

 

[parrot]

l.. but I'd like you to know some facts...

OK, some facts. Firstly he's been in the system for 4 years, and struggled to get a game with Freo for much of that time. Secondly his attitude has always been poor - I guess you could hope for a turnaround. And finally he has terrible speed off the mark, which causes him to get exposed by fast leading forwards. Freo fans will tell you all about it. Is he a useful addition to the Tiges lineup - Yes. Is he worth trading away a top-10 superdraft pick - Absoultely not. Maybe a downgrading of a 3rd or 4th round pick.

 

[juddy_Like]

OK, some facts. Firstly he's been in the system for 4 years, and struggled to get a game with Freo for much of that time.

Get your facts right mate. Hes been struggling to get a game for 1 yr. Remember he was injured quite alot and hes 2nd year was quite outstanding.

Secondly his attitude has always been poor - I guess you could hope for a turnaround. And finally he has terrible speed off the mark, which causes him to get exposed by fast leading forwards. Freo fans will tell you all about it.

So 2 flaws in ones game. 1 of which you'll admit he can change. WOuld you fall off your chair if i said hes Top 15 players in the comp for contested marking??

Is he a useful addition to the Tiges lineup - Yes. Is he worth trading away a top-10 superdraft pick - Absoultely not. Maybe a downgrading of a 3rd or 4th round pick.

You really are a Tool. Tigers desperatly need KP Backmen. Tigers desperatly wanted Polak. Freo wanted a 1st round draft pick. GO FIGURE!! If you desperatly want something, your going to have to give something that quite oftenly is of greater worth. But now under your trading methods, Polak would either be Carlton via the PSD (im pretty sure he had a year to run on hes contract anyway) or still be at Freo, which would still be a lose-lose situation for both parties.

But back on topic. U/21 is when their still twigs and lacking in endurance.

 

[Drummond]

Under 23.