I am just wondering what other peoples thoughts are as to what we are doing wrong in the development of our younger players?
We seem to have high draft picks which we use on genuine talent that shows glimpses in the big time every once in a while but we never seem to bring them along to the point where they are out and out guns or even good solid weekly contributors at the AFL level.
We seem to get no value for the kids we take on. We also don't really seem to pull any special kids out of the bag (apart from Foley from the rookie list) like other clubs do.
Are we aiming at the wrong types of personalities, playing attributes, attitudes, make-ups or skill sets?
Or are the kids fine until they get to Tigerland and then the plateau factor sets in and the mediocre metality sets in? None of them seem all that hungry or passionate and they sure as hell don't seem to feel like they are made to work for that spot in the senior team wearing the black and yellow.
I could roll off names and each player has their own story as to where things went wrong. Not many of them involve injuries so that would leave me to believe that they are not getting the assistance or guidance that they require to take them to the next level.
Just to name a few that I believe would have played very good football and gone on to have decent careers if they were drafted by another club:
Schulz, Hughes, Edwards, Tambling, Thursfield, Riewoldt, Polo and maybe even JON. Now I understand that some of these names are still young but if we all remember we have been using the age card with guys like Schulz and Pattison for years now and they are still treading water at best.
Surely something has to be shaken upon the development side of things? I am tired of the Tigerland curse...I don't want it to strike down the Cotchins of this world! It would break my heart.
We seem to have high draft picks which we use on genuine talent that shows glimpses in the big time every once in a while but we never seem to bring them along to the point where they are out and out guns or even good solid weekly contributors at the AFL level.
We seem to get no value for the kids we take on. We also don't really seem to pull any special kids out of the bag (apart from Foley from the rookie list) like other clubs do.
Are we aiming at the wrong types of personalities, playing attributes, attitudes, make-ups or skill sets?
Or are the kids fine until they get to Tigerland and then the plateau factor sets in and the mediocre metality sets in? None of them seem all that hungry or passionate and they sure as hell don't seem to feel like they are made to work for that spot in the senior team wearing the black and yellow.
I could roll off names and each player has their own story as to where things went wrong. Not many of them involve injuries so that would leave me to believe that they are not getting the assistance or guidance that they require to take them to the next level.
Just to name a few that I believe would have played very good football and gone on to have decent careers if they were drafted by another club:
Schulz, Hughes, Edwards, Tambling, Thursfield, Riewoldt, Polo and maybe even JON. Now I understand that some of these names are still young but if we all remember we have been using the age card with guys like Schulz and Pattison for years now and they are still treading water at best.
Surely something has to be shaken upon the development side of things? I am tired of the Tigerland curse...I don't want it to strike down the Cotchins of this world! It would break my heart.