I was just thinking about how impressive every kid is who debuts for any club these days..

What has happened to turn kids into men so fast?

is it due to the speed of the game that every team is geting younger?

Will it soon be like the golden slipper where the kids come in run hot for two years then burn out??

or is it just the clubs are prepping players better these days??

Is it the salary cap is forcing clubs to get a few cheapies on the track?

or is it more injuries to older players?

has this contributed to a lowering of skills??

everyone says geelong skills are great and they are generally older..

Although the youth bring dash and flare to the game is it worth the sacrifice of skills? (besides the Kids with natural Ability)

I was just thinking about how impressive every kid is who debuts for any club these days..

What has happened to turn kids into men so fast?

is it due to the speed of the game that every team is geting younger?

Will it soon be like the golden slipper where the kids come in run hot for two years then burn out??

or is it just the clubs are prepping players better these days??

Is it the salary cap is forcing clubs to get a few cheapies on the track?

or is it more injuries to older players?

has this contributed to a lowering of skills??

everyone says geelong skills are great and they are generally older..

Although the youth bring dash and flare to the game is it worth the sacrifice of skills? (besides the Kids with natural Ability)

Its becoming a game for skillful athletes. As perfectly demonstrated by the young irishman Quinn who debuted for Essendon a few weeks ago after about 10 weeks training to play AFL his entire life.

Garry Lyon talked about this on footy confidential iirc, noting that if you can run, break the lines and find space, then there is room for you in the game today.

Reading the play is almost a long-forgotten quality and the thinking seems to be that this will come with experience, but you just can't teach size, speed and skill. Rightly so, imho.

It is also 24/7 professional now which means training & learning can be so much more intense. Who knows how far the boundries will be pushed. I am waiting for a player to literally explode on the paddock one day. The Brain to go "Kaboom" sounds silly i know. but the decision making is so fast these days someone will not make it.

It is also 24/7 professional now which means training & learning can be so much more intense. Who knows how far the boundries will be pushed. I am waiting for a player to literally explode on the paddock one day. The Brain to go "Kaboom" sounds silly i know. but the decision making is so fast these days someone will not make it.

Yeah, when you look at the filth's football academy and the time & effort, not to mention money that they put into the young players...

I remember reading about the club often paying a dozen or so suburban footballers to come down & play roles in game simulations just to teach one player how to act in certain game situations ... (that player being Marty Clarke in the article)

I was just thinking about how impressive every kid is who debuts for any club these days..

What has happened to turn kids into men so fast?

is it due to the speed of the game that every team is geting younger?

Will it soon be like the golden slipper where the kids come in run hot for two years then burn out??

or is it just the clubs are prepping players better these days??

Is it the salary cap is forcing clubs to get a few cheapies on the track?

or is it more injuries to older players?

has this contributed to a lowering of skills??

everyone says geelong skills are great and they are generally older..

Although the youth bring dash and flare to the game is it worth the sacrifice of skills? (besides the Kids with natural Ability)

I dont think a lot has changed really. Some kids take years to develop both physically and mentally and some kids can play senior footy straight away. Has always happenned that way. There are a handful of kids drafted every year that seem to adapt very quickly.

Wayne Carey, Tim Watson, Glen Jakovich, Rob Harvey and heaps more from memory all played young and showed something early. Can't see that there is a lot of differenece other than players and clubs are more inclined to prepare the kids better.

Yeah, when you look at the filth's football academy and the time & effort, not to mention money that they put into the young players...

I remember reading about the club often paying a dozen or so suburban footballers to come down & play roles in game simulations just to teach one player how to act in certain game situations ... (that player being Marty Clarke in the article)

Its also why sometimes a young player should be thrown right in the middle & see how they go. Some thrive on it, others don't. But the club has to find out.

Marty Clarke is a perfect example. Richmond did it with cotchin last year, but look like they played him too much. I would be happy with a 2 games on 3 games off regime for our players. This year anyway. Give them a taste so they all feel part of it.

The main resaon for the kids getting better is the Aus kick program.

Being involved in junior footy for over 30 years and the level that 10, 11, and 12yr olds show now in skills are far better than 18yo's years ago. If you have the time go and watch a kids game and you will see what i mean.

I was just thinking about how impressive every kid is who debuts for any club these days..

What has happened to turn kids into men so fast?

is it due to the speed of the game that every team is geting younger?

Will it soon be like the golden slipper where the kids come in run hot for two years then burn out??

or is it just the clubs are prepping players better these days??

Is it the salary cap is forcing clubs to get a few cheapies on the track?

or is it more injuries to older players?

has this contributed to a lowering of skills??

everyone says geelong skills are great and they are generally older..

Although the youth bring dash and flare to the game is it worth the sacrifice of skills? (besides the Kids with natural Ability)

There's less mongrel pressure & a bit more finesse.

The Brain to go "Kaboom" sounds silly i know.

Not so silly, I wonder if barry hall ices his head rather then his hammies after every game? (or has a bowl of fruit loops)

It is also 24/7 professional now which means training & learning can be so much more intense. Who knows how far the boundries will be pushed. I am waiting for a player to literally explode on the paddock one day. The Brain to go "Kaboom" sounds silly i know. but the decision making is so fast these days someone will not make it.

Would be good for ratings. lol

Its also why sometimes a young player should be thrown right in the middle & see how they go. Some thrive on it, others don't. But the club has to find out.

Marty Clarke is a perfect example. Richmond did it with cotchin last year, but look like they played him too much. I would be happy with a 2 games on 3 games off regime for our players. This year anyway. Give them a taste so they all feel part of it.

The problem with games off is they still play just a a lower level where they are just as likely to get an injury but the club doctors arent as good..