When do players peak?

[leave it to deever 17,517]

Imho, I reckon Dusty Martin played his best footy about five years ago. Not saying hes now a bad player but at 25 his stats and club votes indicate his best year.

So has Trac peaked at 25? Even if he has it's not to say he can't keep playing at the same level for for the next five years.

Oliver is 24.

And we have a great deal of good players under 25.

Obviously it's not just age ...its also the number of games but all things being equal is 25 the consensus for a players best year?

Should we be looking for another young tall forward?

 

Edited December 5, 2021 by leave it to deever

[Fritta and Turner 4,522]

I would have thought 25-27.

Depending on your strength, even longer.  For example Robert Harvey could run all day and no one could keep up with him.

Trac missed a year with a knee and i dont think has peaked yet and Oliver hasn't (I hope).

As our goal to goal line is almost old enough to play for Geelong then yes another tall is required.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,510]

It’s completely subjective - many players peak at 19, others aren’t even considered by recruiters until they’re 22.

Its seemed over the years, the general consensus is 26 - 29 is the sweet spot for age, strength, durability and experience.  
 

Looking at recent Brownlow winners, though an imperfect metric, gives us some idea…

Dangerfield 26yo

Martin 26yo

Mitchell 25yo

Fyfe 27yo

Neale 27yo

Wines 26yo

 

 

[adonski 12,410]

Mid 20s for midfielders

Late 20s for talls

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,932]

25-29 would be the sweet spot as a general rule, I would’ve thought.

[leave it to deever 17,517]

11 minutes ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

25-29 would be the sweet spot as a general rule, I would’ve thought.

Yep given Oliver@ 24

Salem, Trac, Gus and Langdon @ 25

 

[FlashInThePan 1,893]

This is a really interesting question. I would definitely agree that players reach their peak for accumulating stats in their mid twenties or so. I think that is also pretty much what the Brownlow measures.

 Many players start to have more impact with fewer possessions as they head toward their late twenties though. Dusty is a great example of that, Burgoyne another. 

[chook fowler 19,519]

Simultaneously 

[Garbo 1,542]

Physical peak 25-26, game knowledge and how to put it together 30+
 

For most the culmination of the 2 will be around 28-29 but if they can keep there physical condition up it’s almost indefinite these days, just look at messi or ronaldo in soccer or Brady in nfl or djokovic in tennis arguably they got better post 30

 

Edited December 5, 2021 by Garbo

[Cranky Franky 2,089]

Think its more about games.  Tom Hafey & Allan Jeans reckoned as a rule players had to play 85  games before they peaked.

[leave it to deever 17,517]

46 minutes ago, FlashInThePan said:

This is a really interesting question. I would definitely agree that players reach their peak for accumulating stats in their mid twenties or so. I think that is also pretty much what the Brownlow measures.

 Many players start to have more impact with fewer possessions as they head toward their late twenties though. Dusty is a great example of that, Burgoyne another. 

Thanks Fitp.

I was thinking about the age of our mid players and others who starred this year like Lever and Salem.

If 25 is the consensus...it partially explains our success this year.

 

Edited December 5, 2021 by leave it to deever

[KingDingAling 3,758]

25-27

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, KingDingAling said:

25-27

Bloody Norah. That would kill an elephant!

[Bang Bang Bang 5,839]

Depends on the player really. Franklin and Judd played their best footy at 21, where as Hawkins reached new heights at 32-33 and is showing no signs of slowing down. 

I'd also say that modern players are generally more durable than they used to be. I remember when 30 was generally the age you'd expect a player to bow out. It's more like 32-35 now. May and Gawn are both turning 30 very soon but have fresh AA blazers in the wardrobe and should be at their peak a while yet.

Trac and Clarry  honestly have an eternity of good footy left in them.

[leave it to deever 17,517]

I think I was wondering age wise how we will fare in the future.

I think we will be relevant with this current list for at least the next five to seven years and win at least one more cup. Hopefully two.

[Biffen 12,944]

About 1am is when I do my best work.

 

[bush demon 2,061]

9 hours ago, leave it to deever said:

Imho, I reckon Dusty Martin played his best footy about five years ago. Not saying hes now a bad player but at 25 his stats and club votes indicate his best year.

So has Trac peaked at 25? Even if he has it's not to say he can't keep playing at the same level for for the next five years.

Oliver is 24.

And we have a great deal of good players under 25.

Obviously it's not just age ...its also the number of games but all things being equal is 25 the consensus for a players best year?

Should we be looking for another young tall forward?

 

Is DM  a one-trick pony? Just asking.

[DeeSpencer 26,069]

I'm paraphrasing but I'm pretty sure in the Last Dance, Michael Jordan describes his physical peak in the late 80's when he was mid 20's but his mental peak didn't come until the 90's and only got stronger through that period of winning championships. He won his first championship at 28 and I think that's about the time when physical ability and mental capacity in both understanding your own game and team work combine.

But it's different for all players and particular sports.

I think there's a lot of AFL footballers who excel at about 23-27 and after that probably start to lose a bit of step given the physical nature and the extreme athletic demands. Repeat injuries can cause a toll too.

Other players who rely more on skills and smarts and have the appetite for slowly but steadily improving sections of their game can get stronger and stronger through their 20's and even in to their 30's.

 

[whatwhat say what 22,896]

i think the athletic demands of 'modern footy' has meant that players are hitting their peaks later, once they have the incredible fitness base that is required to compete against experienced, hardened opposition

[adonski 12,410]

Salem will play til he's 38. Skills persist. 

[John Crow Batty 8,878]

When do players peak? How long is a piece of string? What’s more relevant is how long does it take a team peak? in our case I would say the string is about as long as four premierships. 

Edited December 5, 2021 by John Crow Batty

[leave it to deever 17,517]

The consensus seems to be mid 20s.

I was thinking about this because I was thinking how many key players had a great year.

Fritta 24

Oliver24

Trac 25

Lever 25

Langdon 25

Gus 25

So I think next year we should go even better.

We seem to have the perfect mix of players ages. 

[Nasher 33,617]

11 hours ago, adonski said:

Salem will play til he's 38. Skills persist. 

I’m 38 and while I’ve obviously never been an athlete, it’s really stark how much more easily I get sore, and how much harder it is to maintain condition even compared to my early 30s, and that’s without decades of punishment of elite contact sport.

There’s a very good reason why few players can sustain the training required for that long and it’s got little to do with skill.

[leave it to deever 17,517]

15 minutes ago, Nasher said:

I’m 38 and while I’ve obviously never been an athlete, it’s really stark how much more easily I get sore, and how much harder it is to maintain condition even compared to my early 30s, and that’s without decades of punishment of elite contact sport.

There’s a very good reason why few players can sustain the training required for that long and it’s got little to do with skill.

I'm a good deal older than you Nasher but I remember thinking how Fletcher was still playing for the Don's past your age. I have no idea how he did it. Its probably easier for a fullback who probably doesnt run as much as other positions but he was still a freak of nature.

Edited December 5, 2021 by leave it to deever

[leave it to deever 17,517]

14 hours ago, bush demon said:

Is DM  a one-trick pony? Just asking.

Nup. You dont win a Norm Smith and Brownlow with only one trick in your kit.