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Every couple of years I have a thread that looks at the number of players that are in the prime of their careers as a possible portent of how the team will go that year. From 2013: http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?/topic/32853-optimist-prime/?hl=prime 22+ years of age with about 70 games of experience is the approximate measure with exceptions of course. In 2013, we had Rodan, Jones, and Sylvia as the only midfielders in the prime of their careers. We have had a regrettable period since 2007, not least because of how few midfielders we have had in the prime of their careers... In 2015, we have N Jones, Lumumba, McKenzie, Cross, Vince, Trengove, M Jones, and Bail as players that will run through the midfield that are also in, or extending, their prime years. The numbers are healthier, but 3 of the 8 are peripheral players, another is injured for the season, and another is close to retirement... But it is how they compare to other clubs - even middling ones - that I believe will determine how we go this season. Note: We can absolutely include Tyson but he has only played 35 games, and his equivalent at other teams are not expected to deliver so early.

A few years ago, before we headed on the road that was 2011 and a(nother) annus horribilis, I wrote about the fact that our number and level of players in the prime of their career is far inferior to even middling sides. I have a 70 games/23 year of age threshold but will make exceptions in the case of Grimes, Hannebery, et al. Melbourne (13): Davey, Jamar, Rodan*, Byrnes*, MacDonald, Sylvia, Dunn, Clark, Jones, Garland*, Dawes*, Frawley, and Grimes*. For comparisons sake... NM (12): Harvey, Petrie, Firrito, Wells, Thompson, McMahon, Swallow, Thomas, Anthony*, Goldstein*, Hansen*, and Ziebell*. Richmond (20): Tuck, Newman, Edwards*, King, Foley, Maric, Chaplin*, Jackson, Knights*, McGuane, Lonergan*, White, Deledio, Nahas*, Grigg*, Houli*, Edwards, Riewoldt, Rance*, and Cotchin. Hawthorn (16): Lake*, Guerra, Osborne, Mitchell, Burgoyne, Sewell, Gibson, Hale, Hodge, Lewis, Roughhead, Franklin, Birchall, Ellis, Rioli, and Whitecross*. St Kilda (17): Hayes, Milne, Blake, Fisher, Kozzie, Riewoldt, Montagna, Dempster, Jones, Dal Santo, Schneider, Ray, Gwilt, Gilbert, Armitage*, Geary*, and McEvoy*. Sydney (20): Goodes, Bolton, O'Keefe, Shaw, Mattner, Richards, LRT, Grundy, Malceski, McVeigh, McGlynn, Mumford, Morton, Tippett*, Jack, Smith*, Kennedy, Bird*, Jetta*, and Hannebery*. * New to team or new to prime of their careers. Bolded players are midfielders or players that run through the midfield at times. Analysis: It is quite startling to see 4 players in their 'prime' that happen to run through the middle and Rodan is definitely on his last legs (touchwood he doesn't ruin his legs again). NM have only 12 players that meet the criteria but half of those run through the middle. Tigers, Hawks, and Saints have 9, and the Swans have 11. It should be a humbling thing to read for all of us and remind us that this will take time. And that is with 5 of the 13 being from other clubs. North have zero recycled players in their prime, the Tigers have 8, the Hawks have 5, the Saints have 4, and Sydney has 9. We need to be patient but we also need to bring in players from other clubs to have an immediate impact. 2013 is going to be a struggle at times.