Boomer saying he'll be the last to play 400 games

[Brad Goodman]

Unlikely but not impossible.

Ron The Bear Average games played by retired players year-by-year?

 

[Lefthanded]

7*25 + 218 = 393.

Still doesn't make it, unless you make the GF the hard way every one of those years.

Or he could play the remaining 7 H&A games this year + finals.

OR he could play on after his contract?

 

[goodoldcats]

There is always a chance for soft outside players like him as it reduces injuries. It can certainly happen

 

[master bate]

Yeah Deledio would be my bet.

Nick Riewoldt is already having to have weekly needles for his knee. I cant see him going beyond next year to be honest.

If Deledio's achilles keeps giving him trouble he won't get close. He's struggled to get through the last 2 preseasons and whilst he probably doesn't have to do as much running to play half forward as on the ball he still needs to be in top condition (as Harvey has been).

 

[Glees]

Of the current crop, Deledio looks most likely to me. Has played 225 games and is only 28. Debuted just before his 18th birthday and played seniors from the start, and has been very consistent from the word go.

Another 9 seasons at 20 games a season = 405 games, and he'd still only be 36, same as Bartlett, a year younger than Harvey and Tuck (37) and lots younger than Fletcher (40).

He's had a couple of injury niggles this year (and I think last?) which have cost him 4 games each season, but there's no reason to assume that injuries at 27/28 will mean he'll suffer more injuries later on. He might or he might not.

If he stays pretty much injury free, stays keen and keeps playing anywhere like he is at the moment, I reckon he's a chance.

Yep, Deledio one of the better chances. I immediately thought of Cloke for us as he has been extremely durable since started (notwithstanding current calf injury). Drafted same year as Deledio and is also 28, currently on 231 games, old man played 333 so maybe it runs in the family. Obviously being a big guy at CHF makes it tougher but you never know.

If he gets to 235 this year that leaves 165 to go, 21 games a year gets him there in 8 seasons which would make him 36. His old man finished up at 33 so it would be a stretch.

Others from the pies:
Pendlebury 207 games, 27 y.o.
Sidebottom 136 games, 24 y.o.

 

[Power Raid]

Think Ablett might be a possibility to play 400, the shoulder might have hurt his chances though

But i honestly don't think their will be another, but in 20 years time i could be wrong. We'll just have to wait and see

barring injury, ablett could go on for 7 or 8 years as a forward pocket and kick 400 goals

 

[Belnakor]

Think Ablett might be a possibility to play 400, the shoulder might have hurt his chances though

his old man played until 36, GAJ is on 273 now at 31. He'll need more finals which are costing him a few games a year atm.

if you look at GAJ he started the youngest of the current players, he has only missed about 20 games during his career, played a heap of finals and he still will struggle to make 400.

 

[Jables]

On average players seem to be playing for longer and playing well at older ages, the 400 mark will always be hard to get to but I don't think it will ever be unreachable. None of our 30 year + stars are playing worse IMO. The increasing recruitment of older players also shows the line of thought is changing from the youth obsessed AFL that was years ago, Lake was a fantastic recruit for us in FA and his market value was dirt cheap.

With FA becoming increasingly prevalent, that's also a factor.

 

[CrowAboutIt]

Of course it will happen again. Every time a great achievement is done people say that I will never be done again. World records are always beaten. Games played in other sports are beaten. Tournaments won is beaten.

Perhaps if the AFL shuts down after the current players stop but that's not happening. Of course there will be another player with extreme longevity come along.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

Grant Birchall maybe?
Age: 27yr 5mth Games: 205

 

[King_Steele]

Grant Birchall maybe?
Age: 27yr 5mth Games: 205

A bit injury prone, isn't he?

 

[Ron The Bear]

Unlikely but not impossible.

Ron The Bear Average games played by retired players year-by-year?

Not sure what you're asking for.

Some players peter out and play here and there. Some are strong to the line and play most games. An average wouldn't mean much.

 

[Off Tap]

There will be others. With the science that is applied to the players now and with the improvements in recovery there will always be someone who will get close.

I remember when Dermie and Dunstall had retired and they were just starting out commentating, someone in 1996 (can't remember) was playing their 300th game and they were rabbiting on how nobody will ever get to 300 again due to the strain on the body.

Since then we have had 2 x 400's, another 3 or 4 x 350's and about a dozen 300's.

The only thing that will stop them in the future will be shorter seasons but I can't see that happening as the AFL love the $$$ to much to drop off games.

 

[Suntory Boss Coffee]

A bit injury prone, isn't he?

Fair point, has bung knees from memory.

 

[Ron The Bear]

These 2015 listed players are closest in age to the record-holders for their respective number of games:

Diff|Player|Age|Gms|Record|Record Age
\0.79|Harvey, Brent|37.19|399|Bartlett, Kevin|36.40
\0.94|Dal Santo, Nick|31.41|291|Burke, Nathan|30.48
\0.96|Cloke, Travis|28.38|231|Madden, Simon|27.42
\1.04|Deledio, Brett|28.26|225|Greene, Russell|27.22
\1.12|Pendlebury, Scott|27.54|207|Madden, Simon|26.42
\1.16|Birchall, Grant|27.48|205|Greene, Russell|26.32
\1.27|Pavlich, Matthew|33.56|328|Madden, Simon|32.29
\1.42|Selwood, Joel|27.16|197|Madden, Simon|25.73
\1.48|Stanton, Brent|29.23|241|Madden, Simon|27.75
\1.53|Goddard, Brendon|30.17|262|Madden, Simon|28.65
\1.62|Ablett junior, Gary|31.19|273|Madden, Simon|29.57
\1.74|McVeigh, Jarrad|30.29|258|Madden, Simon|28.55
\1.77|Roughead, Jarryd|28.50|220|Madden, Simon|26.73
\1.80|Franklin, Lance|28.48|218|Madden, Simon|26.67
\1.85|Judd, Chris|31.87|279|Greene, Russell|30.02
\1.89|Cornes, Kane|32.55|300|Madden, Simon|30.66
\1.93|Betts, Eddie|28.65|220|Madden, Simon|26.73
\1.95|Lewis, Jordan|29.25|229|Greene, Russell|27.30
\1.98|Goodes, Adam|35.54|364|Madden, Simon|33.55
\2.01|Bartel, Jimmy|31.63|276|Madden, Simon|29.62
\2.04|Murphy, Marc|28.01|199|Martello, Alan|25.97
\2.06|Wines, Oliver|20.79|60|Watson, Tim|18.73
\2.10|Monfries, Angus|28.51|206|Madden, Simon|26.40
\2.11|Lumumba, Heritier|28.68|213|Madden, Simon|26.58
\2.13|Atley, Shaun|22.86|99|Watson, Tim|20.72
\2.18|Wingard, Chad|21.98|82|Watson, Tim|19.80
\2.26|Gibbs, Bryce|26.36|187|Watson, Tim|24.10
\2.26|Ebert, Brad|25.31|162|Watson, Tim|23.04
\2.27|Riewoldt, Nick|32.76|292|Burke, Nathan|30.49
\2.31|Martin, Dustin|24.07|123|Watson, Tim|21.76
\2.33|Griffen, Ryan|28.99|217|Madden, Simon|26.66
\2.35|Gaff, Andrew|23.10|100|Watson, Tim|20.75
\2.42|Hannebery, Daniel|24.41|135|Watson, Tim|21.99
\2.46|Hodge, Luke|31.10|262|Madden, Simon|28.65
\2.47|Heppell, Dyson|23.19|99|Watson, Tim|20.72
\2.50|Kelly, James|31.56|267|Hart, Ben|29.07

 

[Brad Goodman]

Not sure what you're asking for.

Some players peter out and play here and there. Some are strong to the line and play most games. An average wouldn't mean much.

Average of those who played 10+ years then maybe, get a trend on how many games guys who go out largely on their own terms end up with.

 

[SloppyJoe]

Andrew Gaff would be a chance. Nearly fell off my chair when i saw it was his hundredth last week

Gaff has played 100 out of a possible 110 games since his debut year. Only played 5 finals in his 4 completed seasons, though.

After this season, he'd need just over another 12 seasons of 24 games (say 2 finals per year on average. Optimistic, perhaps.) to get to to 400. He would be 35 turning 36, and would have to have not missed a game. While he has played the last 94 games consecutively, he's not going to continue with another 300 on the trot. So realistically he's have to be playing at 37-38 at least. Shows how hard it is to get there. Also, the travel required of a WA side will hurt him quite a bit, you'd reckon. I've talked myself out of it happening.

But it would be funny if West Coast had no 300 gamers but Gaff as a 400 gamer.

 

[HBFlanker]

Gaff has played 100 out of a possible 110 games since his debut year. Only played 5 finals in his 4 completed seasons, though.

After this season, he'd need just over another 12 seasons of 24 games (say 2 finals per year on average. Optimistic, perhaps.) to get to to 400. He would be 35 turning 36, and would have to have not missed a game. While he has played the last 94 games consecutively, he's not going to continue with another 300 on the trot. So realistically he's have to be playing at 37-38 at least. Shows how hard it is to get there. Also, the travel required of a WA side will hurt him quite a bit, you'd reckon. I've talked myself out of it happening.

But it would be funny if West Coast had no 300 gamers but Gaff as a 400 gamer.

Will most likely end up at a Vic based club so travelling no where near as much

 

[juss]

Deledio won't get there, his Achilles will let him down. Should get to 300 though.

It will happen one day, someone will have the longevity to do it, it will probably just be another 10-20 years before we see it.

 

[Ron The Bear]

Average of those who played 10+ years then maybe, get a trend on how many games guys who go out largely on their own terms end up with.

2000-2014

Year|Gms
\1|8.3
\2|12.3
\3|14.5
\4|16.6
\5|17.2
\6|17.6
\7|17.8
\8|18.1
\9|18.8
\10|18.9
\11|18.8
\12|18.8
\13|18.6
\14|19.1
\15|19.5
\16|18.8
\17|22.0
\18|18.3
\19|21.3
\20|18.5
\21|13.0
\22|15.0

 

[didaksrightfoot]

Its not too long ago that if you asked people which AFL record would never be touched and Tucks games played would be the first thing that comes to mind.
Now we have one guy who could realistically get there and another who will probably retire not too far behind.

Just as there are increased demands on players with a faster paced game and more training requirements clubs and players are much more proffesional and should be much better suited to an AFL career at this level. Additionaly the sub rule may allow someone to prolong their career in the Gia role by finding a niche they can provide for 1-2 quarters a game.

I'm not sure if any of the current lot will be reach 400, but i have no problem beleiving that it will happen again.

 

[joy division]

If the hunger for the game is there then more players than ever could make 400. They have better medical teams, recovery and fitness than anything we've seen before (or we're lead to believe?). This could just be the beginning. The biggest obstacle I see is remaining first choice to play with the coach.

 

[Kram]

Obviously it will remain an exceptionally difficult and rare achievement but someone will eventually get there again.

 

[BloodRet]

Surely Franklin will get to 400? 218 games now, 7 years left on his contract.....

Irony of this is he probably will...

 

[Augustine]

Irony of this is he probably will...

I don't think so sadly. Big guys often fall off a cliff. If he did play out the 9 year contract it'd be awesome and hilarious.