Yes good point and Scorpus provided something like this a few weeks ago which effectively did show SA stacked up well on total returning players divided by available clubs. The issues are perhaps:
(1) we get very few “early stage” returning players that are quality. JHF an absolute exception and even Rankine was relatively early at 4 years. Most seem to be later on or FA’s
(2) within the 10 VIC teams there seems to realistically be only half that get such players - Geelong who are massivley over represented for A grade and first round talent. Add Bailey Smith to Danger to JC and the 4 x first rounders they got the same year they won the flag 2 years ago, Pies, Blues, Tigers and Dons. Basically nothing decent to Kangas, limited scraps to Saints and Bullies and even Hawks when they are successful. Dees got May and Lever over 2 years and not much else in the last decade IIRC.
So its more comparing us to the really successful clubs - and seeing the net movement of quality youngsters that I feel we have been massively disadvantaged the last 10-15 years:
IN - Rankine and Dawson - both absolute quality and AA level
OUT - CC (best small forward since losing him), Gunston (best mid forward since losing him), Danger (Brownlow following year), Lever (best third tall in league), Bock (AA back), Davis (GWS captain), MM (quality but underperforming backman) plus lots more
OUTS>>>>>>>>IN
