400 game players?

[Supreme_Demon 3,899]

Hello all,

Just wondering if the Demons will ever have a 400 game player at the club? It would be nice? I think it MIGHT be possible eventually?

At this stage it would just be enjoyable to have a few more 300 game players at the Demons.

So far David Neitz (deservedly) holds our most games played record at 306 I think?

Who will be the next?

Seeing Dustin Fletcher for the Bombers reach 400 games this week as well as Brent Harvey for the Kangaroos reach 400 in the same season is truly wonderful for the game of football.

They will join the current record holder Michael Tuck for the Hawks on 426 games and Kevin Bartlett for the Tigers on 403 games.

As for the next 400 gamer after them...who knows? Maybe our very own Nathan Jones??

Nevertheless, I certainly see Nathan Jones being able to at least play 300+ games for the Demons if he keeps himself fit enough?

In the end, we will just have to wait and see? All I know is that Paul Roos has had a number of 300 game players at the Swans in Jude Bolton and Adam Goodes (who is currently on 350+ games).

Overall, let's just hope in a few years time we see a Melbourne premiership or two before Nathan Jones can hopefully get to 300+ games.

Edited May 26, 2015 by Supreme_Demon

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

400 is a pretty amazing feat. I think you'd basically have to be best 22 from the age of 18 and play right through to twilight.

Jones won't get there. If I had to pick from the current crop it'd be Brayshaw, but I wouldn't be putting much on it.

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

Saw Nathan Jones line up down the forward line a bit on Sunday.

If the midfield gets too heated for him when he is in his 30s he could easily play a forward role and be very, very serviceable there. Maybe relieve Petracca from the midfield etc. every now and then too.He knows how to kick a goal, and has good hands/disposal etc.

Potentially plays his 200th this year (13 games away).THAT WILL BE HUGE!!! I expect a big crowd for him.

[old dee 23,872]

I doubt there will ever be another 400 gamer.

The way the game is played now it is too demanding on player bodies.

A return to no rotations might help but I doubt that will happen.

[Dr. Mubutu 866]

Given the professionalism, speed and impact of the modern game, there is almost zero chance of a player hitting 400 if they are not currently above 300, let alone any new players being durable enough to play 300.

To put it in perspective, playing EVERY game, including 3 finals, makes 300 games in 12 seasons. Every. Game.

It would require a massively superhuman effort to even get to 300, really.

Hell, we've only had one in ~150 years!

[Dr. Mubutu 866]

In saying that, we're yet to see the first generation of cyborg footballers, so never say never, I guess.

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

In saying that, we're yet to see the first generation of cyborg footballers, so never say never, I guess.

Not that we know of.

*cough* Hogan *cough*

[daisycutter 29,739]

Michael Tuck played 1972-1991 ( 20 years ) till age of 38 for 426 games

Interestingly he also played 50 games in the reserves and played 11 games for victoria (theoretically if he played on he could have had 500 games combined - just amazing)

He played well in his last year and wanted to play on. Hawthorn forced his retirement and he was really pizzed off

Tuck, Bartlett and Fletcher were all skinny wirey types

[DemonFrog 1,356]

We only just got a 300 game player in David Neitz.

[iv'a worn smith 1,979]

Back in the days when those guys started their careers, clubs had the luxury of having their players well established in what was then the reserves. Now VFL. You don't get that sort of grounding anymore. The ressies was a true nursery back then and allowed players to be well looked after before they were consistently faced with the more physical seniors. In the case of Tuck, he also had, not unlike Fletcher, a remarkably durable body.

Edited May 26, 2015 by iv'a worn smith

[Chook 15,022]

In saying that, we're yet to see the first generation of cyborg footballers, so never say never, I guess.

Or what about mutants? A race of atomic monsters, atomic supermen with octagonal shaped bodies that suck blood...

[ILLDieADemon 804]

I can't see a midfielder makeing that number of games in this day in age considering how much congestion is around the ball and considering how many times a mid would get tacked in a game I just can't see a mids body being able to take that type of beating for 20 years.

In The KB days there was a lot more space around the ground.

I would say maybe TMc or Hogen could make that number of games for us.

[old dee 23,872]

In saying that, we're yet to see the first generation of cyborg footballers, so never say never, I guess.

There may be a few drug induced ones running around out North

[Cranky Franky 2,091]

Thought Yze would get well over 300 games but he just lost his mojo. Also he was an outside player & the game evolving the other way didn't suit him.

[MadAsHell 4,215]

[quote name="The Song Formerly Known As" post="1097482"

Potentially plays his 200th this year (13 games away).THAT WILL BE HUGE!!! I expect a big crowd for him.

[Adzman 2,154]

Can't see future generations players getting to 400. A 250+ game career will be considered a great effort. The modern game is far too hard on the body to remain at the elite level for multiple decades,

[Moonshadow 17,677]

We only just got a 300 game player in David Neitz.

Very observant Toady. You should do trivia nights.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,909]

If the draft minimum age is raised, it will be even harder.

Playing regularly in finals helps. Tuck won 7 Premierships, which would mean a minimum of an additional 21 games if he played in all the finals matches of those years, which he probably did. Plus more any years Hawthorn played finals in which they weren't Premiers would have helped his tally. Likewise Richmond won five flags while Bartlett played and also lost a few, too, which would have helped his tally.

It would help our players to reach 300 if we started playing finals regularly. And we supporters wouldn't mind that, either.

[The Chazz 4,077]

Michael Tuck played 1972-1991 ( 20 years ) till age of 38 for 426 games

Interestingly he also played 50 games in the reserves and played 11 games for victoria (theoretically if he played on he could have had 500 games combined - just amazing)

He played well in his last year and wanted to play on. Hawthorn forced his retirement and he was really pizzed off

Tuck, Bartlett and Fletcher were all skinny wirey types

Should we expect Cale to be redrafted next year, on his way to playing over 500 games?

[daisycutter 29,739]

Should we expect Cale to be redrafted next year, on his way to playing over 500 games?

Cale was skinny but not the wirey type and that was only a comment on their durability, not their talent.