What was the alternative? Elevate rookies who had shown nothing and weren't ready and be stuck with them on the senior list for the rest of the year? By elevating the mature rookies we had some bigger bodies to throw in for senior games if required. Gourdis is the only unlucky one and he can get elevated in a few weeks even without a long term injury. Contin has only just made it into Coburg Seniors, Hicks is too light, O'Reilly is still learning how to play AFL.
Even with the benefit of hindsight, who should have been given the nod instead?
What was the alternative? Elevate a key position player that the match committee may have wanted to play - unlike Polak who they clearly don't want.
Elevate Rookies who have shown nothing? Unlike Polak who has shown what over three years and most pertinently this pre-season?
Be stuck with them for the rest of the year? Do you seriously think Polak is a better bet than Gourdis thru this year and INTO THE FUTURE?
Bigger bodies? Polak 193cm 93kg Gourdis 193cm 93kg
Elevated in a few weeks? After 11 rounds of competition we will have a player who could have replaced Thursfield and McGuane already, remember against Melbourne?
With or without the benefit of hindsight Gourdis was a better bet and has been on our list for two years already.