It's not just up to the 2004 draft crop. The 2003 lot (now 5th year players) need to full the finger out - Foley, Jackson, Raines are all arugably in our best 22. You could throw Schultz into that age group
As for 2004, that is going to make or brake the club for the next 10 years. We need to get a fair bit of a future core from it. I think it's looking ok. Deledio/Morton/Tambling/Polo is a little midfeild contribution. Pattison is a good #2 ruckman/workhorse. McGaune and Thursty have shown enough. Anything Meyer does it a bonus really at this stage.
2005 is looking suss at this stage but Hughes comes from high stock (AA junior) and showed enough against the like of WCE and Geelong (when we got raped) for a 2nd year KPP. JON is always going to take time and Casserly needs a injury free season before we write him off.
2006/7 have given us mids in Cotchin/Connors/Edwards + Reiwoldt/Goudis/Rance etc.
We are still prolly too fair away but all you need is a couple things going right. If Polak can turn into a AA CHB or/and Brown can refind his best touch then they are likly to pull some of the kids into good form with them.
You say the scum are overrated, but I don't much rate North or Hawks as all that good.
Do you really think we are that fair behind Collingwood/North/Hawthorn?
Schultz !?! Now you are making me laugh. The lad is lucky to still be on the list. Foley, Jackson, Raines. Of that group only Foley has really shown he belongs. Raines had 1 good year and one crap. Jackson ended last year a star ... in the VFL. Still got lots to prove. I have no idea about Morton or McMahon, we'll have to see I suppose.
Your making me sound very negative and really I am not. Look we are definitely on par if not ahead of Collingwood/North/Hawthorn in terms of youngsters. There's just a huge amount that needs to go right and experience tells me that these things never happen at the same time. The process will take a while, at least 5 years (2004 - 2009) and there will be things that don't go to plan along the way.
The problem we have is our senior group, we have some ok players but we don't have the out and out leaders that some of these other teams have. Brown could be but he's got his own problems. Richo is Richo, best to let him worry about himself. Bowden is a good speaker and no doubt talks well to the kids. Jonno is quiet and never really strikes me as inspirational though reports are he is good with the kids. All the really good teams have a strong core of senior players, we don't have that IMO. Our core of senior players that I am talking about are all still younger than 22. It's there, I can see it, but it's not ready yet.
As much as I like Simmonds, Pettifer, Jackson, Raines they are not the leaders I am referring to. Cogs maybe if he can get himself right and I have high hopes for Foley this year.
I appreciate people being excited. I'm excited. I just want to be realistic about it. This year (2007) I watched us go into the season with huge expectations only to see it come crashing down around our ears. There are reasons for this but there are a certain element in the supporter group that went absolutely feral. I personally did not enjoy having to read the BS from people who got way ahead of themselves this year.
I think we are on the right track. I think it IS possible that we will be successful in 2008 playing finals and the like. I hope it happens, but I think it is more likely we will make a small improvement next year accelerating into 2009, 2010 and beyond. However we achieve success I hope we build a strong foundation that will serve us for the next 10 or 15 years making us a force to be reckoned with.
Look, I'm not trying to force my opinion on you, you support anyway you like. I just wanted to say what I have said. I'll keep my peace now because I don't want to sound like a broken record and I will only start repeating myself.
Just my 2 cents worth.
