Turnover/Depth

[bulldogtragic]

Thought i'd throw forward possible retirees over the next 3 years and see how the depth is:

2007:

Grant - Williams/Everitt
Monty - Higgins/Addison

2008:

Darcy - ? No-one for his rucking atm. As a forward target, Doogs, Tiller, Walsh etc ???
West - General Depth to cover him, maybe not his class, but Cross can take it head on and perhaps Boydy stepping, perhaps Missy/Griff in there and Power pinch hitting.

2009/2010:

Johnson: Again general depth, perhaps some of this years pups.
Aker: As above.
Robbins: As above.


While some forcast our demise when these guys retire over the next 4 years, i dont think so. While the edge of class might not be as sharp, if either of Williams or Everitt reach their potential it would be a decent cover for Chris and the names next to Monty are class. Also our depth of Missy, Griff, Addison etc should cover quite well for the Wests etc
. And Robbins should be covered quite eaily. Darcy and rucking for me is a weakness unless Skip or Doogs can really show something in the ruck.

While the critics look at the skill of the players going and it is massive, Cooney, Higgins, Griffen, Cross, Boyd, Addison etc all still have massive improvement left. So in the years to come their skills and talents should be peaking, so for me, I dont think the retirements will hurt us too much. Any class like this going is not ideal, but we've seen with Bubba retiring a spot has opened up for Higgins. With respect to Bubba's service, 22 games of Higgins in 2007 would be worth more than 22 games of Smith in 2006. So that means we've actually gone forward. Call it wishful thinking, but if our kids reach their potentials, when taking over a spot the next year, we could actually go forward and become even better. Now that is scary.

[Dry Rot]

Does it depend how you define depth?

Not only will many fine players be retiring, but also lots of wise old heads.

[bulldogtragic]

Does it depend how you define depth?

Not only will many fine players be retiring, but also lots of wise old heads.
At the same time wont the Gilbees, Giasiracuas, Murphys and Hahn be wise heads with another few years, around 150 to 200 games.

[Dry Rot]

Closer to 150?

I'd be happier if there some talls among those names.

Don't get me wrong, there's some great talent coming through but IIRC premiership teams usually have a rump of old wise heads.

[bulldogtragic]

premiership teams usually have a rump of old wise heads.


Grant, Aker, West, Johnson, Darcy.

[Dry Rot]

Grant, Aker, West, Johnson, Darcy.

Yes, the flag's in the bag this year, but how will we get 4 in a row? ;)

[bulldogtragic]

Yes, the flag's in the bag this year, but how will we get 4 in a row? ;)
Get them to all have sons. In 18 years time, we'll win 10 in a row. :)

[Griffen#16]

Once Darcy, etc have all retired, the next tier of players like Eagleton, Hahn, Murhpy, Giansiracusa, Harris, etc will all be between 26-32 which is a good spread. Lists are getting generally younger these days, and the class and experience that these guys can give us - combined with an envious middle-age bracket, should ensure that we don't fall too far off the pace when all the retirements happen.