Yes, said without heart. These guys don't speak or act with passion and feeling anymore. It's all professionalism and spin. This club, not the supporters has been soulless for a long time. I hope things have changed for the better now with Jimmy at the helm. If they don't do it for him they'll never do it for anyone else.

FCS, it was said by Neitz 11 years ago and people seem to forget that Neitz was in his first year as captain of a young side that outperformed itself that year and got belted in the GF. I dont think the professionalism and spin will be any less under Stynes/ Schwab. As I recall Schwab was also CEO at the time of the 2000 GF.

And other posters have shown you cant lay your bets on what players say. Of course Sylvia is going to say youth is no excuse for poor performance. The facts about our list suggest otherwise. Some posters may need chill on vaulting expectations from a young team.

It will Impact,,, BUT we cannot use it as an excuse from now on, as we chase a spot up the ladder.

Good then Scully should dominate in his 2nd year. Watts dominated up fwd in his 3rd year and Blease, Tapscott, Strauss, Trengove, Gysberts should be up to AFL tempo immediately. Really!!!

Bailey has talked ad nauseam about getting 50 games in each of the young players to get their apprenticeship in AFL.nothing has changed except the unrealistic expectations that surround these guys.

It's quite amazing that 2/3 of the list is under 23, with only Green and three others over 26.

There's still plenty of natural upside, and not much worry about the window closing any time soon.

Good then Scully should dominate in his 2nd year. Watts dominated up fwd in his 3rd year and Blease, Tapscott, Strauss, Trengove, Gysberts should be up to AFL tempo immediately. Really!!!

Bailey has talked ad nauseam about getting 50 games in each of the young players to get their apprenticeship in AFL.nothing has changed except the unrealistic expectations that surround these guys.

I'm struggling to see your point RR. What exactly are you trying to say? Do you think we have absolutely no chance at finals? You do realise that young teams have not only made finals but even won the big one before.

I think you're putting unrealistic limits on these kids. I'm not saying we must make finals or it's an unmitigated disaster, if we are thereabouts I'd be happy. If we aren't anywhere near the 8, the season will have been a falure and we will have gone backwards.

I'm struggling to see your point RR. What exactly are you trying to say? Do you think we have absolutely no chance at finals? You do realise that young teams have not only made finals but even won the big one before.

I think you're putting unrealistic limits on these kids. I'm not saying we must make finals or it's an unmitigated disaster, if we are thereabouts I'd be happy. If we aren't anywhere near the 8, the season will have been a falure and we will have gone backwards.

Your sarcasm meter is on the blink. B)

In regard to your last sentence about being nowhere we near the 8, there may be mitigating circumstances (eg critical LT injuries). I think are other equally appropriate measures that should also be considered assessing the season.