True, but Jackson was about 95 kegs not sky rocketing from 70 up to 80 kegs. Occasionally kids are ready to go from day one, but not very often. We've just seen Cholly n Cujo hovering around the mark for a few years without really being able to establish themselves and seen exactly what can happen to a tall youngster in Delilah who's nowhere near ready n chucked into a game situation that was totally unsuitable.
Reckon there might be one or two kids get to play a dozen or more games next year n probably around a dozen kids that will be lucky to eke out around one to six games for the season. They've had massive disruptions to their development the last two years and are going to need heaps of development work.
Most years the kids are a combination of N.A.B. school and local comp footy, playing usually a couple of games a week plus training sessions and some lunch time kick to kick with mates. They're usually non stop footy, but the last two years has smashed that scenario.
Spot on with the last 2 years scenario TM but CCJ at best can be described as a ruck that can play forward was never going to push 2 experienced premiership rucks aside in his first year or second for that matter.
Chol on the other hand was more of a forward / tall utility in my book and is why he found himself with games through his mobility.
Those 2 examples were trying to break into a premiership side which does skew the point a fair bit.
I would be the number 1 advocate for NOT drafting rucks due to the wasted years of development but Andrew IMO looks capable of playing as (very) tall utility and that would be a very handy option for our list atm .
Regardless of who ever gets him I'll still be watching his development with interest as I see real X factor with him.
Lastly your call on the amount of first year players and the amount of games they might play is a BIG call and one that I would not be putting my hard earned on.
I know as you say this year is different but last year close to 60% of first year players played 2 or more games.
Hell, we only took 2 players in the draft last year and both debuted in their first year.