The old ones .

[mat073]

Kids have been fantastic.

But a shout out to our leaders who have had a fantastic start to the year .

Nank , Hopper , TT , Broad and Vlastuin have all been terrific.  K Mac also been solid . Lynchy playing an important role.

It’s clear the injection of elite youth has reinvigorated the senior core .

[Damo]

The fun hobby for many on here known as “Hopper bashing” has slowed down

Haven’t heard boo from any of them

If the body holds up , he will rightfully win the best and fairest

[Diocletian]

No Shortsteps yesterday to drag them all down.

[WilliamPowell]

The fun hobby for many on here known as “Hopper bashing” has slowed down

Haven’t heard boo from any of them

If the body holds up , he will rightfully win the best and fairest

Would be close to leading the B&F. If not leading definitely top 3

[JP Tiger]

It's true that our kids are getting the headlines so far this year, but there's no doubt that the older brigade are doing the serious heavy lifting.  If our older blokes dropped out our kids couldn't take the weight right now. 
The old & the young are doing it well, what we really need is for our middle tier players to really join in.  I'm looking at players like Balta, Sonsie & Hugo, even Taranto & Hopper need to keep pushing hard & start leading the young blokes on.   

[Damo]

even Taranto & Hopper need to keep pushing hard & start leading the young blokes on.

Wow

Not exactly sure what else Hopper could have been doing this year to lead the young blokes on

I’d suggest he has been doing that fantastically well

[JP Tiger]

even Taranto & Hopper need to keep pushing hard & start leading the young blokes on.

Wow

Not exactly sure what else Hopper could have been doing this year to lead the young blokes on

I’d suggest he has been doing that fantastically well

Yes, Hopper is doing it all now, this year.  But my post was aimed to go beyond just this year, exactly like the contract he signed.  Maybe I didn't make that clear enough but he didn't sign a one year contract ...   
Both Hopper & Taranto need to become team leaders that will take us to the top.  They are both doing pretty well (there are always ups & downs in any player's career) but the real hard work is still way in front of them. 
These blokes need to go up into the elite bracket of leaders - like Cotchin & Martin before them, like  Hart & Bourke before that.  That's what we are paying them to do & I would love to see them do it too, but they have a way to go yet. 
We aren't paying for them to be one year heroes ... right?
When the old ones pull out, these two need to replace them & lead the team to the top!         

[Hard Roar Tiger]

JP, that’s not going to happen and it isn’t what we want from them. They, and Tom Lynch are there to support the younger players while being a presence to keep us competitive against the lower and middle tier sides. In addition, they would be invaluable on field coaches which will hopefully fast track the development of these kids. Lynch in my mind is a stand out in this role and I would say is having a direct impact of Faull, Armstrong and now Sims.

In my mind, if we win a flag in 7 or 8 years time, it will be a much their flag as the kids who are starting out today. Adding Broad, Floss and Nank, it’s invaluable and currently unappreciated (and selfless) leadership.