by Trader » Tue Jul 08, 2025 4:49 pm
I understand where LM is coming from. Well, at least I agree with what I think his point is.
In a similar, but slightly different way, for mine, i feel the club has made a decision that having all your eggs in the top 23 is the best method. Having a balanced list is handy when you get injuries, but if you get injuries, you aint winning the flag anyway. So it feels to me, the club has had a strategy of attempting to get the strongest 23, and not really worrying about what that leaves on the list from 24-40.
This has meant, we've had a lack of development of kids who aren't already in the playing 23, and we've also looked to bring in guys who fit a gap in the starting team, even if that's meant moving on some depth from other areas on the field. This is the dreaded "missing puzzle piece" rolling joke we had for years.
These two strategies have meant we haven't had a lot of top end draft talent, other than the 2018 draft, and it has also meant we run out of depth when mid-season injuries hit.
I think our recycled players have been fairly average over this period:
Joe Richards
Jordan Sweet
Zerk-Thatcher
Ivan Soldo
Ratugolea
Rory Atkins
Quinton Narkle
Trent Dumont
Fantasia
Cam Sutcliff
Jack Trengove
Lindsey Thomas
Jack Watts
Sam Mayes
Steve Motlop
Toumpas
Don't get me wrong, there were a few winners:
Paddy Ryder, Lycett, Rockliff, Horne-Francis, Lukosius, Rioli and say McKenzie
But for the most part, I'd say 2/3s of those we've brought in in the last 10 years, have either failed, or clogged the list before being delisted within say 4 seasons.
Danny Southern telling Plugga he's fat, I'd like to see that!