Grahaml wrote:stan wrote:Booney wrote:Dutchy wrote:Gone backwards?
You won't finish top 4 this year, you've got at least 3 over 30's to retire and perhaps another 3-4 next year. 2nd oldest list in the league.
No Rising Start nominee since Luke McDonald in 2014. Only 2 debutants this year, Wagner ( last years pick 43 ) and Ryan Clarke ( pick 31 ).
Brought in Waite (33), Dal Santo (31) Higgins (29 in March ) into the side in the last 3 years. Your last two first round draftees haven't played yet.
That's not going forwards.
You seem to have a point boon. However North haven't given away draft picks for those guysm they have still had there first round picks in the last few years. You guys have paid plenty for Dixon and Ryder.
Big difference between picking up blokes in their late 20s/early 30s and picking up blokes in their mid 20s. Especially when you're talking about key forwards or ruckmen. If things went awry and Port needed to rebuild their list a bit, Dixon in particular could still be a part of that. Bringing in blokes like Waite et all are a one shot deal. They either make the difference or hurt your next push.
FWIW I don't blame North at all. Prelims 2 years running gives you every right to feel close to a flag and you take that while you can. But the reality is it looks to have failed and so there's little choice but to run a line through some of those guys unless something changes in the next couple of months.
Ryder is 27 or 28. But Dixon maybe a bit younger I guess. Fair point young Grahaml.