Our veteran quandary

[duggieboy]

INXS when I saw those ages you've listed, first thought was 'have to get the Prem. this year'.
If we do, at least a couple might naturally hang up the boots.

[npalm]

You're right INXS. Equally concerning is the lack of quality in our under 23 group. There doesn't seem to be enough talent coming thru to replace those that will be retiring in the next year or two.

[RudeBoy]

It's definitely a worry. At the very least, I'd expect 3-4 of those to retire at the end of next season. If we win the flag this year, it may well encourage a couple more to do so as well.

At the end of 2024, perhaps Mitchell, Adams, Sidey and Howe.
The following year perhaps Pendles, Checkers and Cox.
Hopefully we get a couple more years from Elliott and Crisp.

Time will tell, but we certainly don't want to lose half a dozen of our most experienced players at once.
As others have said, it means we need to win this year's flag.

[WhyPhilWhy?]

Just because they're 30?

Mitchell and Crisp are fit and could (could) play another 5 years, like Pendles. Jamie's always a worry, but Coxy will stay tall for a very long time, and started in the game late. Checkers is pretty much indestructible.

I'd much rather it was a managed process over 3-4 years.

[LaurieHolden]

Let's not panic, it's a natural list evolution.
We've had 1 year of Graham Wright / Derek Hine list management combo, and I'm confident they will mould this list and introduce players that we haven't even considered to date.
Additonally, the new ALFPA CBA is yet to be set down, so our salary cap will balloon again.

Generational talent in Pendles and Sidey will cause the most obvious impact. They were our only high draft picks.
Let's all take a moment and thank the AFL Gods for father sons.
Elliott also a generational talent was part of that confusing 2011 pre-draft period.

What I don't know is how much of those contracts are back ended. If they are Dusty like contracts, that's what might hurt us.
If natural attrition occurs to these Tier 1 players, we'll have approx. $5m in salary cap space that will be freed up over the next two seasons.
Now most that will have been allocated to the Dacai, Moore and JDG. That quartet will round out our highest paid players by season end 2024.

Our next generation Tier 1 players in Maynard (2025) & Quaynor (2025) will need to be secured.

Everyone else in the below list we traded in. The same will happen again.

2024* Pendles: 36* (pick 5)
2024* Steele: 33* (pick 11)
2025* Cox: 33* (rookie)
2024* Howe: 33* (trade)
2025* Elliott: 31* (pre draft)
2025* Mihocek: 31* (rookie)
2024* Adams: 30* (trade)
2025* Mitchell: 30* (trade)
2026* Crisp: 30* (trade)

[Ronnie McKeowns boots]

McInnes was supposed to be our young inside bull, but gets played up forward for some reason....

You will always miss players of Sideys and Pendles class, they are generational players and there loss will hurt.

Everyone else imminently replaceable

[Take_a_Screamer]

I would replace Graham Wright / Derek Hine too 'cause they're over 30

[Pies2016]

Very good O P.
I think most Collingwood supporters are aware of our ageing list but when you table them all in order, it actually struck me as a bigger issue than what I originally thought. There’s a lot of serious talent on that list and a couple of them in particular, are generational players.
On the surface, most of the above look like having the capabilities to continue a similar output in 2024 ( given that Pendles and Sidey may have adjusted roles to accomodate maximising their output over an entire season ) Having said that, anyone on that list who currently has a contract for 2025 does become a must watch through the 2024 season. A lot can change with two more off seasons to go before the 2025 season.

What we need to add into this topic, is that clubs have become so much better at manipulating contracts to fit in with the salary cap and list management, so there are an increased number of ways to skin a cat these days. No last contract can wind back the age of these guys but contracts can now be structured in such a way that players can be eased into an earlier exits if both parties agree. In this case, any final year payout would be designed to benefit both the player ( something for nothing ) and club ( a bit of cap relief )

[Pies2016]

[inxs88]

The irony is that Reef has grown 2-3cm since being drafted and is a unique commodity in that he has blistering pace off the mark when leading and now nearly 6 foot five in height to compete aerially. Given the amount of bags he has kicked this year and predominantly being played (full forward), a third tall spot this weekend allowing Howe to go back makes sense.

Could be a finals wildcard.

[Pies2016]

[Geek]

[stui magpie]

[inxs88]

Think the Howe negativity is a tad unfair. Suffered a couple of impact injuries vs muscle degradation and his recent versatility show his worth. He still kicks it great, runs well and has his leap. Attributes necessary for his retention.

[swoop42]

We are trying to replicate Geelong of last season who showed you're never to old until the moment you realise you are.
That Geelong Premiership side had an average age of 28yr 7mth and 167.6 games. The Geelong side who played last week had an average age of 27yr 2mth and 139.9 games.
It was 11 years between flags for Selwood while it's now 13 for the likes of Pendlebury and Sidebottom. Selwood retired at 34. Pendlebury will be 36 next year.
You don't have to be a genius to know time is running out for these two greats and while some people might find it sacrilege this might well be the last roll of the dice for some of the veterans in our side.

Our side against Brisbane had an average age of 27yr 9mth and 138.3 games so mere spring chickens in comparison to the 2022 Premiers.

So yes we are capable of winning this years flag with all our over 30's but Geelong should serve as a warning that's there is a fine line between being in contention for a flag and simply being out of contention.

If you're prepared to have a mature conversation about it, we haven't been able to produce a flag over the last 12 years while the likes of Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Swan (prior to retirement) and eventually Adams were still in their prime and prowling our midfield.
However what we have achieved this season to date is a testament to the longevity and quality of our veterans.
Still it seems like plain old common sense to believe that players beyond a certain age will begin to show signs of decline and it's probably unrealistic to expect all our veterans to be playing at the same level in 12 months time.

If we go on to win this years flag all those within the club will be rightfully lauded, our strategy endorsed but even in victory I would hope Fly is smart enough to understand the importance renewal could play in making sure we don't become stagnant as a team.
Should we not win the Premiership I would hope Fly is both smart enough to embrace rejuvenation but also confident enough in his position to tap some of our greats on the shoulder should their form no longer be evidently better than younger options next season.