Nathan Bock will be 27 at the start of this season after being drafted in 2001 and didn't have a proper break out year and full season until he was 24 years old in his 7th year (and he bashes his girlfriend)
Luke McGuane had a comparable season to Bock's 7th year in 2009, he had his first year of 22 games, got just as much of the ball and he was only in his 5th year as a 22 years old.
He was also in a far weaker team with far less help down back from team mates, yet was 2 years younger and had less years in the system.
I understand Bock has had some injury, yet McGuane's first year was pretty much a write off after breaking his upper arm in a match which finished his season.
Stop comparing our kids to mature players from top sides when they are still kids. You do this consistently. I understand that this is the level we want them to get to, however we can't expect them to be there instantly, it doesn't work that way.
hmm interesting take. why do we always have to gloss over things in favour of our players.
in 2001 he was busy representing sa at the u18 champs. bock was promoted from the rookie list to the list proper for 2003 at age 20.
he spent the 03 season at woodville where he established himself at chb against men.
he made his senior debut rnd 5 2004. and stayed for the remainder of the yr.
his 05 season was outstanding holding down chb and played a big role in their rise to finals. all this in just his 3rd yr on the list proper starting the season with just 18 games to his credit and at age 22.
his 06 was ruined with stress fractures to his lower back he managed just 7 games taking his games tally to 41. but when he came back late in the yr he showed his versatility by kicking goals up forward.
07 he played mainly forward kicking 29 goals had a very consistant yr.
08 outstanding won their b/f and passed the 50 game mark. AA at age 25.
09 sheesh and you say mcguane had a comparable yr now that is laughable. while i will concede mcguane had some good games in the 22 he played the comparison between the two is typical over rating our own stuff.
i believe Bock missed 8 games thru injury or suspension and the two finals. even in missing 8 games bock would have it all over mcguane stats wise. and this holding down a kp.
mcguane is no baby its laughable to lump him in the kid category sheesh he enters his 6th yr after being mostly mediocre in his first 5. his record is ordinary and hes always been a class level below bock.i know which one i would take at any stage of their respective careers.
As I said, he was drafted in 2001, not sure what the fact he was playing U18s for SA has to do with anything
Didn't break into the Crows senior side for 2 years, 2002 & 2003
Got the call up in 2004 as a forward under Gary Ayres and played 10 games for 8 goals until Neil Craig took over and send him into defence
2005 he missed the first 3rd of the season, however his year was solid, however it helps when you have that year's AA full back in Ben Rutten to help you out, something McGuane doesn't have and never has
2006 was pretty much a write off due to injury
So as I said, Rutten didn't have a full and proper break out season until 2007, as a 24 year old. His 2005 was good, however he didn't play the whole year and had a lot of help
McGuane is still only 22 and doesn't have a full back like Ben Rutten to help him out
Which gets me back to the point of comparing a 22 year old who you don't believe is a kpd who has been playing as a kpd with little assistance from team mates and doing a pretty decent job of doing it considering what he has to work with, to a 27 year old from a team who has been playing finals every year since 2005 along side an AA full back, a Brownlow medalist and a future AA back pocket.
Give me a break, your bias is just off the scale on this one
