Here's a list of our 22 'young' players with their game tally (top 10 underlined):
And for interest's sake - Foley misses this list by 3 months - he has 84 games under his belt.
IMHO there is a fair bit of talent in that list going forward and that's not allowing for any of this year's picks or the complete change in coaching personnel and the new attitude/direction they are taking. We aren't at rock bottom and we will improve this year - those that want to back us to finish last would be well advised not to waste their hard-earned.
Now I'm not saying I think our list is going nowhere or I enjoy seeing us finishing last
but out of those names there's still too many unproven young players smokey and structurally we are still weak in the spine and midfield depth not to see us as wooden spoon favourites. Most sides improve each year so to move up the ladder you need to improve at a far greater rate than those teams above us. I can't see that happening in 2010. A 22 round season is a marathon as well. Young bodies get tired and sore as the season goes along compared to battle-hardened footballers in their mid-20s with 6 to 7 preseasons under their belt.
We needed to clean out the decks as we've done but in doing so we'll cop more short-term pain before we go forward and up. The list is too young and inexperienced to see us not finishing in the bottom 3. Moreso we need to add more class to the names on that U23 list including the newbies we've picked up this year. A bottom 2 finish in 2010 and a top 6 pick wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen. On the other hand a 9th-11th finish with a first pick in the mid-teens would be a disaster. The club needs to plan for 2012-14; not 2010. 2010 should be all about mental and physical development as individuals and as a team. The win/loss tally will be irrelevant.
Deledio 106 - tick
Tambling 95 - tick (although he could still become ten times the player he is now).
Jackson 69 - if Jacko ended up as our 18th-22nd player then okay but we can't have him in our top 10 players.
McGuane 54 - see Jacko
White 54 - big year for Whitey to prove himself at AFL level
Thursfield 53 - I like Thursty although he had an ordinary first half of 2009 due to off-field issues apparently.
Polo 52 - see White
Edwards 47 - see White
Riewoldt 46 - tick (practice goalkicking though Jack!)
Morton 38 - tick
Cotchin 25 - tick
Nahas 19 - needs to back up first year.
Graham 18 - still needs time to prove himself. I still think he is improving although some of our fans think he is a spud.
Rance 15 - still needs time to prove himself
Hislop 12 - don't think he'll survive
Collins 10 - showing promise but still a fair way to go.
Connors 10 - see White. Has the natural talent though to make it. Needs a preseason and get his brain into gear.
Vickery 9 - tick even at this young age IMO. Touchwood he gets no injuries.
Post 7 - too early to call but showed lots of promise in his debut year.
Farmer 3 - see White
Thomson 2 - don't think he'll survive. Never a fan before we traded for him as you know.
Browne 1 - very raw still.
6 ticks at best means we are still too young and unproven IMV.