Just thought this was a good time for a reminder that we ARE on the right track, and that all we really require is a little bit of patience.

For a second, just focus on the physical maturity of our players compared to the top teams.

If you look at the best 22s of the top 5 teams this year- Collingwood, Geelong, Hawthorn, Carlton and Sydney- I count AT LEAST 18 players from each of those teams' best 22 that have reached physical maturity (i.e. are already at a level where they have strong bodies and won't get much bigger from more pre-seasons). Also looking at StKilda and Bulldogs, who have beaten us this season, who have been up the top for a few years, they also have 18+ of their best 22 fully physically mature.

Now a look at the demons...

In the 22 that players tonight (which is really only 2-3 players of our best 22), I count 11 players that are not physically mature and who will change their body shapes dramatically over the course of the next 12-24 months. That list includes: Watts, Morton, Jurrah, Mckenzie, Strauss, Scully, Trengove, Gysberts, Bennel, Howe and Blease. All those players have been drafted in the past 3 seasons (bar Morton who was drafted 4 seasons ago with anorexia), showing just how many of our best 22 is 20 years old or younger. It proves that this year we are still in development mode.

Now for the good news!

As our players physically mature (and with that comes 1-2 more pre-seasons and 20-40 more senior games players together as a group), our team will naturally improve 10-fold. In particular, guys like Watts, Gysberts, Scully, McKenzie and Morton will all naturally become much better players once they reach physical maturity.

Now for the best news of all!

Because of the path we've taken over the past 3 seasons, we've fast tracked the development of many of our players, getting games into them very early. We are NOT at the beginning of our rebuild, rather we are nearly at the end of it!

How do I know this? Because at the start of the 2013 season, of those 11 players I mentioned above, ALL should be pretty much physically mature. The only players that could foreseeably be in our best 22 in 2013 who are not physically mature by the start of 2013, would be Lucas Cook (who should well on his way to physical maturity by then) and any drafted picks over the next year or 2. And apparently Jack Viney in physically mature at 16 years old. .

We definitely have the talent on the list- our high draft picks have given us an easy ride in this regard. All we require to be a top 8 team is games experience together as a group and physical development.

Luckily, both these things are relatively easy to achieve. 1-2 more preseasons and 20-40 games.

I agree.

I was always worried about this game, becuase we still have a small midfield with Scully, McKenzie, Gysberts, Trengove still growing...

And the doggies actually have a very strong mature midfield core when up & running - Cross, Boyd, Cooney, Griffin.

Something worth remembering.

I think that you are pretty much on the ball there -- it is bloody frustrating and disappointing to see our inconsistency resurface, but we are a young physically and emotionally / mentally inexperienced side and it is important not to throw away the babies with the bathwater.

They need time together -- mass droppings are just that, droppings!

What perhaps disappoints far more is the inconsistency of our more senior players, the likes of Green, Sylvia, Rivers.

If the leaders stand up regularly, the babies will learn quicker and enjoy some more consistent success, which in turn will increase their self confidence.

All that said, a win a Docklands this season is a must - unfortunately that means beating a resurgent WCE.....big challenge, leaders!!!!

We have played three under-performing teams into form there, time we did it ourselves.

The doggies midfield is A Grade when you look at Boyd, Griffen, Cooney and the lesser extent Cross. They out thought and out muscled our younger boys all night.

I think our hard bodied mid fielders are just to up and down. I love Jones' efforts at times but he needs to tackle and not bump as much. The difference between Moloney's best and worst is huge (although you cannot doubt his endeavour) and he has become to reliant on the russsian.

Our potential future elite midfield of Scully, Trenners & Gysberts could match it with the Lions and Cats at the best, right now they just get steam rolled against the hard bodies. They can hold on for a quarter or 2 but then there samller bodies just give. Cooney didnt even bother running around players last night, just at them knowing he could break through (ala Queens bithday again)

I don't understand why Col was not given a crack in the midfield more? Was he injured? He has the strength and class in there to match it with the best. People are so quick to give him stick noting his first quiet game for a while but its hard to make an impact when the forward 50 cant get the pill.

The Dogs were clearly bigger and stronger, more experienced, better drilled. Our less battle hardened team were always going to be pushing the proverbial uphill last night if the Dogs got their act together. The Dogs' crisp ball use around the clearances was particularly instructive. They got quick hands straight to teammates who were then able to break tackles with strong hipped running. Cooney & Griffen in particular. Compare that to the Dees, who continually gave namby pamby hand passes to teammates who were then unable to beat the pressure.

I agree , tho' I'm disappointed we were again thumped on Primetime TV the Dogs are far more experienced .

Problem with them is they should be top4 but they disappoint their supporters as much as ours do.

Typically we were the side to play them into some form , but I feel the clubs above us try to make a point of clobbering the up and coming Demons .

I agree that in 50 games time or less we wont have an issue against bigger bodies but until then we need to keep the 25-28 year olds in the middle and the Skilled Striplings on the wings or flanks . Even Col Garland still looks underweight .

The simple recipe is Food plus weights and then repeat .

Morton should wear long sleeves next time he plays.

It's actually boring how slow he is to develop .

I agree.

I was always worried about this game, becuase we still have a small midfield with Scully, McKenzie, Gysberts, Trengove still growing...

And the doggies actually have a very strong mature midfield core when up & running - Cross, Boyd, Cooney, Griffin.

Something worth remembering.

Trengrove is ready ,even though he can still grow .

The rest need a good steak or twenty .

Just a little concerned that we don't delude ourselves into thinking that all we need is physical maturity and 50 games and everything will be OK.

The will to win helps.

Just thought this was a good time for a reminder that we ARE on the right track, and that all we really require is a little bit of patience.

For a second, just focus on the physical maturity of our players compared to the top teams.

If you look at the best 22s of the top 5 teams this year- Collingwood, Geelong, Hawthorn, Carlton and Sydney- I count AT LEAST 18 players from each of those teams' best 22 that have reached physical maturity (i.e. are already at a level where they have strong bodies and won't get much bigger from more pre-seasons). Also looking at StKilda and Bulldogs, who have beaten us this season, who have been up the top for a few years, they also have 18+ of their best 22 fully physically mature.

Now a look at the demons...

In the 22 that players tonight (which is really only 2-3 players of our best 22), I count 11 players that are not physically mature and who will change their body shapes dramatically over the course of the next 12-24 months. That list includes: Watts, Morton, Jurrah, Mckenzie, Strauss, Scully, Trengove, Gysberts, Bennel, Howe and Blease. All those players have been drafted in the past 3 seasons (bar Morton who was drafted 4 seasons ago with anorexia), showing just how many of our best 22 is 20 years old or younger. It proves that this year we are still in development mode.

Now for the good news!

As our players physically mature (and with that comes 1-2 more pre-seasons and 20-40 more senior games players together as a group), our team will naturally improve 10-fold. In particular, guys like Watts, Gysberts, Scully, McKenzie and Morton will all naturally become much better players once they reach physical maturity.

Now for the best news of all!

Because of the path we've taken over the past 3 seasons, we've fast tracked the development of many of our players, getting games into them very early. We are NOT at the beginning of our rebuild, rather we are nearly at the end of it!

How do I know this? Because at the start of the 2013 season, of those 11 players I mentioned above, ALL should be pretty much physically mature. The only players that could foreseeably be in our best 22 in 2013 who are not physically mature by the start of 2013, would be Lucas Cook (who should well on his way to physical maturity by then) and any drafted picks over the next year or 2. And apparently Jack Viney in physically mature at 16 years old. .

We definitely have the talent on the list- our high draft picks have given us an easy ride in this regard. All we require to be a top 8 team is games experience together as a group and physical development.

Luckily, both these things are relatively easy to achieve. 1-2 more preseasons and 20-40 games.

Great post.

Just a little concerned that we don't delude ourselves into thinking that all we need is physical maturity and 50 games and everything will be OK.

Why would that be deluded? It's spot on for mine.

So when is the beginning going to end ? Maybe when Geelong and Collingwood lose their most experienced players ? Ottens , Chapman ,Ling ,Scarlett ,Milburn and Corey for Geelong .

When will Collingwood lose Ball ,Jolly , Didak, Davis etc? They'll still have Thomas ,Pendleberry ,Sawn ,Shaw ,Weiilingham ,Sidearse ,Krackouer ,Blair .

Hawks could be good for a while yet also .

Is the window 2012 ,2013 0r 2014 ?

Pies ,Hawks ,Suns ,Tiges ,North could all be Ok then too .

Pies ,Hawks ,Suns ,Tiges ,North could all be Ok then too .

This is nothing ground breaking, you're just saying that other clubs will be in their prime around the same time as us. This happens every year - clubs well within their window don't win flags because better sides are also in their prime: see Bulldogs and St. Kilda who now look as if their windows are closing. Two excellent sides look to be gunning for the flag this year in Geelong and Collingwood and both are clearly flag-worthy, but at least one of them is going to come away disappointed.

Our list will be in its prime 2013-2016, but obviously we'll still need to be at the absolute top of our game if we're to win the flag through there.

Why would that be deluded? It's spot on for mine.

You're kidding aren't you?

Sure, let's get stronger and more experienced. But how in hell is that going to mask poor coaching, no leadership, and mental fragility?

It will keep us in contests, sure, and it will help us make more contests, but it won't fix the bigger issues.

You're kidding aren't you?

Sure, let's get stronger and more experienced. But how in hell is that going to mask poor coaching, no leadership, and mental fragility?

It will keep us in contests, sure, and it will help us make more contests, but it won't fix the bigger issues.

You're kidding aren't you? (Look at me, I can be a patronising knob too!)

No leadership and mental fragility are a symptom of the lack of maturity. I don't think those two items are "bigger issues" than our lack of maturity. I think it sits front and centre.

As for poor coaching - I note that this never comes up when we win. Was Bailey a hero last week and a chump this week? I'm no expert (neither are you) but I just don't believe we're in a position to judge the coaching when the team's form is on such a rollercoaster.

The rebuild has been done, we are just waiting for the concrete to harden.

The rebuild has been done, we are just waiting for the concrete to harden.

Lets hope it is not made with sea water!

You're kidding aren't you? (Look at me, I can be a patronising [censored] too!)

No leadership and mental fragility are a symptom of the lack of maturity. I don't think those two items are "bigger issues" than our lack of maturity. I think it sits front and centre.

As for poor coaching - I note that this never comes up when we win. Was Bailey a hero last week and a chump this week? I'm no expert (neither are you) but I just don't believe we're in a position to judge the coaching when the team's form is on such a rollercoaster.

Calm down, I wasn't trying to patronise you (also, you of all people should recognise the irony of that bracketed statement).

I just think it's far too simple to say that once we bulk up, our problems will go away. Or even that the physical maturity issue is the biggest one we have.

Also, would it not be fair to say that our rollercoaster form is potentially a by-product of the bad coaching? That is, better coaching may be able to get our players to play more consistently? I think that's fair.

The fact that last night was our 4th game since the QB(18 days) was also a telling factor on the young bodies. IMO even older sides would have struggled with that kind of scheduling.

The fact that last night was our 4th game since the QB(18 days) was also a telling factor on the young bodies. IMO even older sides would have struggled with that kind of scheduling.

Was sitting near the bench last night and second half some of our young players particularly Gysberts, McKenzie and Strauss could barely get out of a walk, and that was when they were coming back onto the ground...

Calm down, I wasn't trying to patronise you (also, you of all people should recognise the irony of that bracketed statement).

I just think it's far too simple to say that once we bulk up, our problems will go away. Or even that the physical maturity issue is the biggest one we have.

Also, would it not be fair to say that our rollercoaster form is potentially a by-product of the bad coaching? That is, better coaching may be able to get our players to play more consistently? I think that's fair.

I know you know better than to draw conclusions based on outcomes alone. Unless you have hard evidence coaching is the issue it is only one a many potential factors. I know many people have pointed to Harwick and Hird crediting them when they win of being great 'game day coaches' compared to Bailey. Well I think that point has been well and truly made redundant. Let's face it you want our coaches gone and you blame them entirely for our performance. Reality is you are emotionally stuck looking at the smaller picture and not looking at the big one...

Titan up and keep your eye on the ball...

Calm down, I wasn't trying to patronise you (also, you of all people should recognise the irony of that bracketed statement).

I just think it's far too simple to say that once we bulk up, our problems will go away. Or even that the physical maturity issue is the biggest one we have.

Also, would it not be fair to say that our rollercoaster form is potentially a by-product of the bad coaching? That is, better coaching may be able to get our players to play more consistently? I think that's fair.

The problems are always multi faceted and need to be approached from several angles. I have no doubt that our system needs a lot of work.

It would be much easier to coach physically and mentally match hardened footballers. It isn't an excuse it's a reality.

I know you know better than to draw conclusions based on outcomes alone. Unless you have hard evidence coaching is the issue it is only one a many potential factors. I know many people have pointed to Harwick and Hird crediting them when they win of being great 'game day coaches' compared to Bailey. Well I think that point has been well and truly made redundant. Let's face it you want our coaches gone and you blame them entirely for our performance. Reality is you are emotionally stuck looking at the smaller picture and not looking at the big one...

Titan up and keep your eye on the ball...

That's what I was saying, it's too simplistic to say our physical maturity (or lack thereof) is causing our problems. I think there are more issues than just that, such as coaching and leadership, which won't change with physical maturity, and which can be addressed this year despite our midfield still being weaker than most.

Agree sylvinator and Artie.

Looking at the sides on paper, I was concerned. Sure the Dogs have been out of form most of the season, but when going they still have a quality experienced midfield. A midfield good enough to get them into the prelim three years in a row.

We only had Moloney, Sylvia and Jones as mature bodies up against them, with the rest of our midfield comprised of youngsters. Beamer was tagged out of it and was poor after half time, Sylvia didn't play midfield and Jones just went.

I didn't expect us to lose that badly and I thought we would play a lot better than we did, and there's no doubt at all that we made the Dogs look a lot better than they are. But I did see a loss coming.