It's up to the kids

[barrydiggs]

Age range for top 24 players at each of the contenders

Youth -23yrs Mature 23yrs - 27yrs Veterans +28yrs

St Kilda: 3 - 15 - 6

Geelong: 4 - 13 - 7

Bulldogs: 5 - 12 - 7

Adelaide: 7 - 12 - 5

Magpies: 12 - 7 - 5

 

[GolDSack]

just goes to show how good and young our team really is... With more experience/years under there belts just imagine how good the boys will be. I'm proud of our boys in 2009 whatever happens from here is a bonus. Well Done Boys

 

[loki04]

Reinforces that this team will play its best footy under Buckley.

Exciting times ahead for all pie fans me thinks.

 

[swiftdog]

Yes, we have a lot of kids and for the future we're looking pretty good. Hwever, there's no doubt that if we're going to win it in 2009 it's going to come from the likes of Swan, Davis, Didak, Presti, Maxwell and Shaw playing major roles (as it has been for most of this year), with solid contributions from the likes of Medhurst, Johnson, Lockyer etc. We'll need the older players to fire if we're going to win it.

 

[Snag Breac]

With so few in the prime player age-slot, it's a miracle we've made it thus far.

 

[pongo_3931]

That look great to me. We'll be doing the merry jig come the depleted drafts.

 

[Ekunga]

The optimum age for a footballer is 26, the more people you have around 26 the better your team will perform.

Under 26 they don't have experience, dodgy umpire decisions, rough conduct from the other team or even a dodgy bounce can put you off your game.

At 26 they are stronger and less fragile.

Over 26 they start to slow down yes they have the experience and can stand up to the heat but cannot change a game like a 26 year old.

We still have about 3 or 4 years before we reach our peak.

Geelong went from nothing to peak in one year they are now on the way down hill.
StKilda are doing the same thing now.

Our biggest hurdle when we peak will be Carlton as they have a guys around the same age as us but topped up with a few older people.

 

[mattys123]

With so few in the prime player age-slot, it's a miracle we've made it thus far.

My thoughts exactly, all the stats show that most sides, well almost every side that has won a flag recently have had more then 10 players in the middle aged category.

Doesn't mean anything when the ball is bounced on Sunday though.

 

[Histrionics]

With so few in the prime player age-slot, it's a miracle we've made it thus far.

It shows how good our club is.

It starts with Mick and the coaching staff to devolop these players into what they are now and to get the best out of them from such a young age.

Mick has done that so well over the years.

 

[Bloben]

I believe that children are the future.

Treat them well and let them lead the way

 

[Snag Breac]

I believe that children are the future.

Treat them well and let them lead the way

Yeah, and I think to myself - what a wonderful team. Oh yeah!

 

[Dawson]

With so few in the prime player age-slot, it's a miracle we've made it thus far.

Its amazing, and yet some even expect much more from this group.
No matter what we do this year, next year is the year.

 

[Snag Breac]

Its amazing, and yet some even expect much more from this group.
No matter what we do this year, next year is the year.

.....as well.

 

[pongo_3931]

Its amazing, and yet some even expect much more from this group.
No matter what we do this year, next year is the year.

To secure our back to back premiership

 

[AFaiL]

Age range for top 24 players at each of the contenders

Youth -23yrs Mature 23yrs - 27yrs Veterans +28yrs

St Kilda: 3 - 15 - 6

Geelong: 4 - 13 - 7

Bulldogs: 5 - 12 - 7

Adelaide: 7 - 12 - 5

Magpies: 12 - 7 - 5

Anyone got a list of these actualy players who are considered in the best 24? This kinda only tells half the story. I assume our 3 are Eddy, Geary and Armitage @ a guess.

 

[barrydiggs]

Anyone got a list of these actualy players who are considered in the best 24? This kinda only tells half the story. I assume our 3 are Eddy, Geary and Armitage @ a guess.

Purely based on games played this year, your 3 were Gwilt, Geary and McEvoy.

Eddy and Armitage have not played enough games this year to be considered in your top 24.. at the other end Hudghton missed out making the veterans for the same reason.

 

[Lebneni]

barry you've posted this thread three times now, each disguised with a different subject title

i get you're excited about the kids haha

 

[barrydiggs]

barry you've posted this thread three times now, each disguised with a different subject title

i get you're excited about the kids haha

One was exclusively rising star nominated kids over the last 3 years

Another was which teams have the most under 23yr olds getting a game

And this one is the 3 different age groups from youth to vets and where we sit in the sweet spot for mature aged players

So while they've all had the underlying theme of youth this one in particular deals with our immediate finals campaign and the other two are more about the future

 

[Two Eyes]

One was exclusively rising star nominated kids over the last 3 years

Another was which teams have the most under 23yr olds getting a game

And this one is the 3 different age groups from youth to vets and where we sit in the sweet spot for mature aged players

So while they've all had the underlying theme of youth this one in particular deals with our immediate finals campaign and the other two are more about the future

Don't think the stats are too relevant. What was Hawthorn's break down for last year? They beat a team that had way more players in the ideal bracket.

 

[barrydiggs]

Don't think the stats are too relevant. What was Hawthorn's break down for last year? They beat a team that had way more players in the ideal bracket.

2008

Geelong: 5 - 13 - 6

Hawthorn: 9 - 12 - 3

Hawthorn certainly had more kids than the 4 contenders we'll have to beat this year.. but they still had a dozen in the all important sweet spot for mature aged players and matched Geelong pretty well in that department

2009

St Kilda: 3 - 15 - 6

Geelong: 4 - 13 - 7

Bulldogs: 5 - 12 - 7

Adelaide: 7 - 12 - 5

Magpies: 12 - 7 - 5

 

[Shellz]

Reinforces that this team will play its best footy under Buckley.

Exciting times ahead for all pie fans me thinks.

That kind of sucks for MM. He built the team, yet Bucks will ultimately get the chocolates.

 

[Two Eyes]

That kind of sucks for MM. He built the team, yet Bucks will ultimately get the chocolates.

MM has this year, next year and the one after to win a flag with a great list. I reckon that is more than enough time. I feel more sorry for Buckley, who even if he coaches a flag in his first year will be dismissed as merely having inherited an awesome list that auto piloted itself to a flag

 

[Snag Breac]

MM has this year, next year and the one after to win a flag with a great list. I reckon that is more than enough time. I feel more sorry for Buckley, who even if he coaches a flag in his first year will be dismissed as merely having inherited an awesome list that auto piloted itself to a flag

Look, when we win 4 or 5 flags in a row, who's going to split hairs?

 

[barrydiggs]

If Rusling comes up next year we'll have 11 in the mature age group (not counting Cox) and if we trade for a mature age player we'll have the dozen and be ready for an almighty crack