Dees benchmark for developing sides

[e25 5]

Interesting read in the age comparing our list to Essendon's to assess where their list is in terms of challenging for a premiership around 2012.

Will Brodie refers to our club as the 'current benchmark'.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/where-will-essendon-be-in-two-years-20100715-10cch.html

Obviously it involves a bit of crystal ball gazing, and in my opinion Watts and Jurrah are dead certainties to be A-graders by 2012 (or

at least very close to).

When they say the game is won in the midfield these days and you need 12 or 14 decent mids to be a top side, I think it shows what trouble Essendon may be in.

I understand a good spine is important, but I think we have a much better balance.

Mind you, just being better placed than Essendon at this stage isn't much to brag about.

[RalphiusMaximus 6,102]

Interesting that he doesn't even mention our forwards aside from listing their games played. Maybe it would mess up his comparison if he admitted that we have a very potent forward line forming.

[armstrong35 262]

good article

thanks for that

[DeezMan 4]

Hrmmm I see what the article is getting at... but it does seem a little pointless (as my Essendon-supporting bro just said as I showed him the article). Who knows what will happen to any of those players by the end of 2012!! Injuries, trades, new players via draft... and expectations of the likes of Blease, Tapscott ,Gawn, Fitzpatrick and those of similar ilk at Bomberland are ridiculous given they haven't yet played AFL footy!! And even Gysberts is bold simply because he was taken at pick 11 in the draft - he's played a mere 2 games!!!

Adding to all this, the likes of Green (who I reckon still has 4-5 years left in him!!) isn't even there!! He'll make a big impact. He is 29 years old and could well play until he's 34 the way he's travelling.

But I do see the point of the article... the list is fairly refreshing and youthful with quite a bit of depth there which will come in handy no doubt. Bring on the next couple of seasons and lets get some games into these younger blokes!!! :D

[Grandson of a gun 276]

A realtively inept article as it doesn't really give any hard facts or delve into any earth shattering theories.

We all know potentially Melbourne has a very good list and we now just need those key position posts to come along.

Likewise it is common knowledge that Essendon has a very good batch of young talls and now needs midfielders.

Calling us the "benchmark" is far fetched because we have yet to prove anything.

Geelong, Hawthorn and St Kilda are the benchmarks of building a club from the ground up.

Melbourne, Essendon and Richmond are all aiming to emulate and surpass these three teams.

Perhaps by 2013 we WILL be the benchmark on how to build a list but until then i don't see much in an article like this.