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Agreed I was playing in an Under 17 comp at 14 years old playing full forward or centre half forward getting smacked around by bigger bodies. Any chance of going further was finished between losing enthusiasm for the game and a really shit coach.I feel you, played my junior footy as a ruckman and i'm 5'10. One of the cruelest days of my life was the orthodontist x-raying my wrist and telling me I was in my last 1-2% of growth at 13.
I also think starting tall isn't perfect preparation for an elite athlete. You want to start shorter, build up the skills of a smaller player then shoot up late in your teens, aka the Warren Tredrea method, U18 AA on the wing before growing to KPF size.
At the time it was expected that I would be 6'8 like a few of my relatives.