- Apr 30, 2016
- 2,041
- 6,571
- AFL Club
- Richmond
This may be a surprise to you, but I don't really disagree with any of this except for one thing.
While our younger players should be and are getting opportunities and role players like Graham should be phased out, we shouldn't be doing what the likes of North & Hawthorn did and clearing out all our older experienced players at once as it will leave us exposed when the inevitable injuries hit in 2025.
If we were to lose Martin Grimes Prestia McIntosh & Baker at seasons end then keeping around the likes of Graham for a year or 2 as a bit of depth we can lean on if needed. The last thing we want to become is uncompetitive which then leads to other players starting to think about moving to greener pastures when their contracts are up, which could then lead to a never ending spiral where we take 2 steps forward and then 3 steps back.
Losing Rance in his prime absolutely hurts, losing Astbury when the club was hoping he had 1 more year hurts. Losing old players who's bodies cooked, game past them by or aren't any good doesn't hurt one iota.
Grimes is past it period, Prestias body is past it, McIntosh is no loss whatsoever. Losing all 3 is inevitable and no real loss as their contribution is minimal (if Prestia was fit he'd be a nassive loss but there's 3 certainties in life: death, taxes and Prestia getting a soft tissue injury) I hope Baker goes but no certainty and I'll put money on Dusty staying because I don't fall for clickbait from try hard wannabe shock jock Cornes and head like a ruptured sphinctter McClure.