StCicatriz
Brownlow Medallist
- Aug 3, 2016
- 28,907
- 63,252
- AFL Club
- St Kilda
But we clearly don’t have the cattle to contend.
We didn’t last year. We don’t this year. We have missed the free agents and there isn’t anything on offer that moves us from what we are into a contender for next year.
So why does it matter?
That doesn’t mean writing off 2025. It means that there is a difference in making the 8 and being good enough to win the the thing.
We may achieve one but not the other.
So these kids have time. They don’t need to be guns immediately- would be preferable
it matters because although we probably don't give the flag a shake, being competitive and playing finals keeps the development going and players engaged.
i think if you're looking at 2025 and 2026 out of finals you're going to pay overs to retain what we have and i think you lose some players to requesting trades. i think it stunts player development for those in the 21-26 age bracket too.
if we change the close losses where does that put us? i'm guessing top 6.
we have the list to be far better than bottom 6. i don't think its top 4 but its definitely a top 6 list.
my worry is if we arent playing finals guys like pou, owens, nas, windhager, wilson, king, henry wont get the development they need to give us an opportunity to run at a flag when the list improves over the next 3 years. thats before you look at player retention. they need to experience finals and test themselves at the elite end of the comp.