Tiges 2-3 years away based on training age window?

[one-eyed]

RFC's Matt Hornsby's comments in the Weekend Australian today:

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They [Eagles] are also the lowest rated team [of the remaining finalists] in terms of training age, a theory that assesses the maturity of sides based on the number of years athletes have trained at an elite level.

Richmond's elite performance manager Matt Hornsby, an expert on the theory, said footballers tended to mature after spending three years in the AFL system.

Players generally produce their best football during the five- to eight-year window, although there are obvious exceptions to the rule.

Eagles champion Ben Cousins, who should be on the wrong end of a bell-shaped curve, is arguably playing his best football with a training age of 10 and appears to be running harder than ever to shake tags.

"It is hard to know exactly (when the peak) is because there are so many individual variables to take into account, but probably around a seven-year training age is a good mark," Hornsby said.

"Basically, what that says is that the teams that have that sort of a blend up near the seven have probably got a fairly good mix. It is a fairly good indicator."

The fives sides left this season all have average ratings within the key window, but the Eagles' average of 5.7 is one full year below Fremantle, their closest rival both in training age and proximity. Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs are right on the target mark, while Sydney and the Crows have started to move past the optimum training age.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20419625-36035,00.html

[one-eyed]

Comparing us to the Eagles we are only a year behind them in average training age however our unbalanced list skews our average thanks to Geisch and Spud's recruiting efforts. Even given that we are still 2 years plus behind Freo, Swans and Crows.

Richmond

(14) 1993 - Richo
(13) 1994 - Gas
(11) 1996 - Joel, Johnson
(10) 1997 - Browny
(9) 1998 - Tivs
( 1999 - Hall, Knobel, Simmo
(7) 2000 - Paddy
(6) 2001 - Pettifer, Cogs, Hyde, Krak, Newman, Humm
(5) 2002 - Rodan
(4) 2003 - Schulz
(3) 2004 - Roach, Jackson, Hartigan, Raines, Tuck, Moore
(2) 2005 - Lids, Tambo, Meyer, Patto, Polo, McGuane, Limbach, Foley, Thursfield
(1) 2006 - JON, Hughes, Casserly, White, Howat

Average: 185/38 = 4.9

With Staff, Chaffey and Chubba it was 5.3.

[Rodgerramjet]

All alot of crap actually.

[mightytiges]

All alot of crap actually.

LOL

Given how far ahead of the rest the top 4 sides are you're probably right RR. Daylight b/w them and us  .