This weekend Fremantle will become the first club since 2006 to hand AFL debuts to ten players or more in the one season, representing their concerted youth policy.
Incredibly, nine of those ten Fremantle debutants have been in their first year of AFL footy, with youngster Tim Ruffles the latest addition.
In comparison, Richmond and North Melbourne are the nearest clubs to this title this season offering debuts to 7 youngsters, whilst Melbourne has blooded 6 new players.
Fremantle coach Mark Harvey professed this week, “It’s only a matter of time before the whole list grows, gets more mature, gets more experience and then things will start to turn.”
Indeed, it seems this policy of youth first has been encouraged and is becoming widely accepted in the AFL on the back of Hawthorn’s 2008 premiership success after adopting such an approach during their years wallowing down towards the bottom of the ladder.
But is such a policy of blooding youth simply blind faith or is there a science to it?
Fremantle’s newest debutant-to-be, Tim Ruffles, admitted he wasn’t expecting his AFL call-up, saying this week, “He (Harvey) just announced it…I had no idea it was coming.
“I think I’ve been playing consistent footy in the WAFL and the coaches have been pretty happy with that.”
Indeed in some ways, Ruffles’ reaction makes you question the wisdom of handing a debut to a first-year player without really testing their desire to push hard and earn a place in the team.
On the other hand, you could argue the experience he’ll get from playing at AFL level will challenge him to improve himself, so why not throw him in at the deep end.
In saying all that, it is worth examining the example of the Brisbane Lions, the last club to blood 10 debutants in one season.
Before introducing the ten youngsters in 2006, the Lions actually gave debuts to 11 players in 2005, on the back of their successful period from 2001 to 2004 when they played in four consecutive Grand Finals and won three premierships.
Right now the Lions are certainly in the mix for the finals and perhaps the top four, but they are not realistically a premiership contender.
But more importantly, it’s interesting to note that of those 21 debutants the Lions had in 2005 and 2006, only 11 remain currently on the club’s list.
Indeed, Brisbane’s ratio of just over 50% suggests the youth policy route is a hit-and-miss game and is a lot harder than just recklessly blooding rookies into the big-time and hoping they’ll make it.
But with the imminent introduction of a team on the Gold Coast, perhaps the youth direction is the right way to go. I guess only time will tell.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Thoughts, Crows fans?
Poor Luke had best get used to this!
A bit lucky for the Lion?
Bayley Fritsch should become an even more important player from a structural perspective, given key forward Jacob van Rooyen will be unavailable due to concussion.
Tom Hawkins returns to familiar surroundings of Geelong - but is it the tonic he needs to regain some of his confidence back after a goalless four games.
Following in the lead of competitions like the NRL, NFL and NBA, the Australian Football League is considering introducing a radical plan to present…
