Quote Originally Posted by FrediKanoute View Post
Yep. Its about getting rid of deadwood early. Small to mid-Draftees have 3 to 4 years to nail it - if they are not pressuring for spots in their 4th year then they are not likely to make it. Talls take a bit longer, but it is all about what they can show. They need 4 to 5, but again if they are not demanding a spot then the time to sell is then.
Looking at our list in recent years that's true. I can't think of a small-medium sized kid we took that didn't come good until 4-5 years in the system, then made the grade.

If you go back to Gilbee and Cross they took ~3 years and that was under a coaching panel that spelled 'football' with a 6 so hardly their fault. There is less opportunity for fringe types to show their stuff when you constantly nail your first round picks though (jury still out on Weightman).