Dogs youngest team in average games played - Round 19

[Bornadog]

On the weekend we were the youngest team to play in regards to average games played. At just 61.7 average, we were younger than GWS and GC as well as Melbourne, Carlton etc.

Hawks were the oldest with over 140 average games. Average age wise were still in the bottom 3. This is skewed due to Redpath and Dickson being mature age recruits.

All season we have been in the bottom three for average games, but this week without Murphy, Minson the average was very low.

[jazzadogs]

Re: Dogs youngest team in average games played - Round 19

Amazing stuff, and something that I still don't think is really being recognised amongst the AFL community. People are starting to catch on, but it's still a lot of 'Bulldogs have an easy draw' etc rather than 'what an amazing effort from the most inexperienced side in the ENTIRE COMPETITION to be sitting fourth after 20 rounds'.

On a sidenote, where do you get the stats for average age/games played? I've been looking but not able to find it.

[Bornadog]

Re: Dogs youngest team in average games played - Round 19

Amazing stuff, and something that I still don't think is really being recognised amongst the AFL community. People are starting to catch on, but it's still a lot of 'Bulldogs have an easy draw' etc rather than 'what an amazing effort from the most inexperienced side in the ENTIRE COMPETITION to be sitting fourth after 20 rounds'.

On a sidenote, where do you get the stats for average age/games played? I've been looking but not able to find it.

Footywire.com, click on game stats and then scroll down and check the right hand side of the page.

http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/ft_match_statistics?mid=6119

[Greystache]

Re: Dogs youngest team in average games played - Round 19

James Hird says this is just propaganda.

[azabob]

Re: Dogs youngest team in average games played - Round 19

James Hird says this is just propaganda.

And he is flabbergasted by it all - all of it...

[Greystache]

Re: Dogs youngest team in average games played - Round 19

And he is flabbergasted by it all - all of it...

To be honest he just didn't see it coming

Sorry don't mean to derail. It just makes a mockery of the suggestion you can't win with more than 6 players with less than 50 games. If you have effort, system, and total buy in then it's very possible.

[azabob]

Re: Dogs youngest team in average games played - Round 19

To be honest he just didn't see it coming

Sorry don't mean to derail. It just makes a mockery of the suggestion you can't win with more than 6 players with less than 50 games. If you have effort, system, and total buy in then it's very possible.

Your not derailing it, your adding context. McCartney also offered the youth excuse last year and I'm sure Roos had trotted it out also.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Dogs youngest team in average games played - Round 19

I am sure other clubs, particularly those "rebuilding", will be studying our performance closely. It really is remarkable.

When a new coach comes in, and you have a strong younger group, a brutal list prune really is the only way.

If we had've retained Griffen, Higgins, Cooney etc this year, they would've taken a lot of games off our youngsters and our development would have only slowed. These changes were not entirely our choice but they have been a blessing in disguise.

Even for this year, I can't imagine we would be getting any better results, let alone the positioning for the future.

It's a great lesson. Once you have confidence in a crop of 19-23 year olds, hand pick a few older leaders and clear the rest out. The more responsibility you put into your kids, the quicker they can deliver.

[always right]

Re: Dogs youngest team in average games played - Round 19

As supporters many of us we have a habit of loving our players to the point we are totally opposed to offloading them or even consider that it could be a positive. We desparately want them to be successful and think that it's only a matter of time before they come good.

Jones and Tutt are a case in point where it's hard to believe a number of us wanted them to stay. Even now I hate seeing Cooney struggle so much at the bombers yet he would have held us back if he had remained with us.

I don't know if it's general amongst supporters of all clubs or particular to clubs like ours where in the absence of team success, we latch onto individual players.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Dogs youngest team in average games played - Round 19

As supporters many of us we have a habit of loving our players to the point we are totally opposed to offloading them or even consider that it could be a positive. We desparately want them to be successful and think that it's only a matter of time before they come good.

Jones and Tutt are a case in point where it's hard to believe a number of us wanted them to stay. Even now I hate seeing Cooney struggle so much at the bombers yet he would have held us back if he had remained with us.

I don't know if it's general amongst supporters of all clubs or particular to clubs like ours where in the absence of team success, we latch onto individual players.

A few years ago, it was said that at Footscray/WB there was a culture of celebrating champion players. Can't remember who said it, but we had more than our share of 300 gamers. And it was a BAD thing for winning premierships.

At the time I thought "bullshit", but he was right. Every player every season has to make his case based on his performance, not reputation.

[Missing Dog]

Re: Dogs youngest team in average games played - Round 19

After winning the unwinnable Grand Final against Geelong, Clarkson was asked if he believed this team would win a Grand Final. He said: "No. Its come 2 years earlier than I thought it would"

[LostDoggy]

Re: Dogs youngest team in average games played - Round 19

I am sure other clubs, particularly those "rebuilding", will be studying our performance closely. It really is remarkable.

When a new coach comes in, and you have a strong younger group, a brutal list prune really is the only way.

If we had've retained Griffen, Higgins, Cooney etc this year, they would've taken a lot of games off our youngsters and our development would have only slowed. These changes were not entirely our choice but they have been a blessing in disguise.

Even for this year, I can't imagine we would be getting any better results, let alone the positioning for the future.

It's a great lesson. Once you have confidence in a crop of 19-23 year olds, hand pick a few older leaders and clear the rest out. The more responsibility you put into your kids, the quicker they can deliver.

A brutal list prune can be done by all clubs when rebuilding but if they think copying our model will automatically bring results they will probably end up dissapointed more than not. We have drafted and traded in some serious talent in the last three or so years if any club trying to copy fails at the draft table they are in trouble. We really have nailed our picks and if we can back it up again this year it will really top us off.

Like you said it is remarkable so far. Just imagine if we had Libba and Clay fit.

[chef]

Re: Dogs youngest team in average games played - Round 19

A few years ago, it was said that at Footscray/WB there was a culture of celebrating champion players. Can't remember who said it, but we had more than our share of 300 gamers. And it was a BAD thing for winning premierships.

At the time I thought "bullshit", but he was right. Every player every season has to make his case based on his performance, not reputation.

The great Chris Grant.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Dogs youngest team in average games played - Round 19

As supporters many of us we have a habit of loving our players to the point we are totally opposed to offloading them or even consider that it could be a positive. We desparately want them to be successful and think that it's only a matter of time before they come good.

Jones and Tutt are a case in point where it's hard to believe a number of us wanted them to stay. Even now I hate seeing Cooney struggle so much at the bombers yet he would have held us back if he had remained with us.

I don't know if it's general amongst supporters of all clubs or particular to clubs like ours where in the absence of team success, we latch onto individual players.

Yep I'm guilty of it. Totally didn't want Cooney leaving.

[Bornadog]

Re: Dogs youngest team in average games played - Round 19

Yep I'm guilty of it. Totally didn't want Cooney leaving.

Me too, but after what happened last year, no player is safe in my eyes. Minson goodbye.