There’s been a fair bit of talk recently in the forums about whether Carlton’s youth is all it has cracked up to be, following a less-than-inspiring start to the 2005 season after the Wizard Cup win. With this in mind, I decided to have a look at the lists of every club, concentrating on the youth of each club. For the purposes of the exercise, the cutoff point for ‘youth’ is born in 1983 or later. The list below is not the definitive list of every player born after 1983, rather the list of players who would likely get a role in any team at Rd 9, 2005.

Adelaide – 3 (Reilly, Rutten, Thompson)
Brisbane – 5 (J. Brennan, Hadley, J Macdonald, McGrath, Sherman)
Carlton – 5 (Carrazzo, Fisher, Thornton, Waite, Walker)
Collingwood – 0
Essendon* – 5 (Bradley, Dyson, Laycock, Stanton, Welsh)
Fremantle – 2 (Polak, Schammer) – In fairness to Freo, they have a lot of 1981/82 born players who would easily make the list.
Geelong – 7 (G Ablett, Bartel, Byrnes, S Johnson, Kelly, Playfair, Tenace)
Hawthorn – 4 (Brown, Franklin, Hodge, Williams)
Kangaroos – 2 (Hale, Wells)
Melbourne – 6 (Bell, Davey, McLean, Miller, Moloney, Rivers)
Port Adelaide – 4 – (K Cornes, Ebert, Salopek, White)
Richmond – 4 (Deledio, Hartigan, Jackson, Krakouer)
St Kilda – 4 (Ball, Dal Santo, Goddard, Maguire)
Sydney – 1 (Schneider)
West Coast – 7 (Hansen, Judd, Kerr, Lynch, McDougall, Sampi, Seaby)
Western Bulldogs – 3 (Cooney, Cross, Minson)

Now, this is an extraordinarily simplistic look at each club’s youth, and my opinions may not be the same as everyone else’s. For example, others might say Xavier Clarke, for example, should be in the list while Henry Playfair shouldn’t be. That isn’t the point of this article. However, a list like this is no good either. So trying to make a team with only these youngsters in it would help paint a better picture of the youth situation.

Full Back: There are quite a few quality key-position defenders in this list, although almost all are more recognized as centre half backs. For this reason, Carlton’s Bret Thornton, already one of the top 5 or 6 full backs in the competition, gets this role ahead of Maguire, Rivers and Miller.

Full back: Bret Thornton (Carlton)

Back Pockets: Two names jumped up at me while I was writing the list out. Andrew Welsh is a very consistent player, generally racking up good stats and keeping his man quiet. The other pocket is the tough, aggressive Campbell Brown of Hawthorn. Unlucky are Carrazzo of Carlton, Bell of Melbourne, and Rutten of Adelaide.

Back Pockets: Andrew Welsh (Essendon*), Campbell Brown (Hawthorn)

Centre Half Back: A surprising wealth of options here. Melbourne alone has two good options in Miller and Rivers. However, Matthew Maguire of St Kilda has shown himself to be an extremely important part of their success. Rivers and Miller have other roles to play anyway. Players such as Kepler Bradley of Essendon* and Graham Polak are unlucky omissions.

Center Half Back: Matthew Maguire (St Kilda)

Half Back Flanks: There are two types of HBFs – the third tall or the linkman. I’ve chosen perhaps the best exponents in the league of both types on the flanks. Jared Rivers won the National Rising Star in 2004 as a key defender floating across the Half Back line, and Luke Hodge has finally started to justify Peter Schwab’s choice to take him at number 1 with some great displays in recent weeks.

Half Back Flanks: Jared Rivers (Melbourne), Luke Hodge (Hawthorn)

Centre: A mass of options here. Any number of players could take the honours here. Luke Ball has quickly become one of St Kilda’s key players, Chris Judd is simply a freak, James Bartel and James Kelly of Geelong also put up their claims, along with former Cat, now Demon Brent Moloney. But it’s Ball who gets the gong here, as his super courageous efforts and one-percenters are part of the St Kilda machine.

Centre: Luke Ball (St Kilda)

Wings: Looking at the list, two names stand out. Wells and Dal Santo are both super quick, super skilful and super important. Players like Brent Reilly of Adelaide and Moloney are very unlucky. In fact, I had Moloney in a wing until I remembered Wells.

Wings: Daniel Wells (Kangaroos), Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda)

Centre Half Forward: So many choices! Jarrad Waite has shown some great signs for Carlton, Henry Playfair likewise for Geelong – although his kicking lets him down on occasion – and Brad Miller for Melbourne played an important role in the Demons’ rise in 2004. Ashley Hansen has proven himself an integral part of the Eagles’ machine too. But it’s Miller who wins it – his versatility and sticky fingers vital, as well as his relationship with Rivers.

Centre Half Forward: Bradley Miller (Melbourne)

Half Forward Flanks: Geelong has some brilliant small forwards in Gary Ablett and Steve Johnson. Waite has also been used as a third tall in the forward line. Brett Ebert and Damon White from the Power have both shown good signs in two different HFF roles. Ablett wins one flank by virtue of his work without the ball and his mercurial abilities, and Adam Cooney of the Bulldogs the other, thanks to his ability to be swung into the middle when required.

Half Forward Flanks: Gary Ablett Junior (Geelong), Adam Cooney (Western Bulldogs)

Full Forward: Mark Williams of Hawthorn is leading the Coleman Medal as an undersized full forward, thanks partly to Alistair Clarkson’s game plan, and partly to the lack of other targets the Hawks have. Quentin Lynch of the Eagles is bulky, agile and a booming kick. His marking lets him down, however. Despite this, he gets the role thanks to the quality of the crumbers at his feet.

Full Forward: Quentin Lynch (West Coast)

Forward Pockets: Aaron Davey took the football world by storm in 2004 with his speed and polish. He worked well with David Neitz, and could easily do the same with Lynch. Mark Williams takes the other pocket as a second leading target for the midfield to pinpoint. Players like Ebert, Schneider, and Steve Johnson are unlucky.

Forward Pockets: Aaron Davey (Melbourne), Mark Williams (Hawthorn)

Ruckman: A few options here – Jason Laycock, Will Minson and Mark Seaby all have claims. Minson has done well in the absence of Luke Darcy, and Laycock can drift forward to take a mark and kick a goal too. But Seaby takes it – with slightly more experience and the ability to move forward like Laycock gives him the edge.

Ruckman: Mark Seaby (West Coast)

Ruck Rover: An embarrassment of riches in the midfield, but there is only one choice to make here. Chris Judd is a superstar, and accordingly gets the slot. His understanding with Seaby doesn’t hurt his cause either.

Ruck Rover: Chris Judd (West Coast)

Rover: Thompson, Schammer, Bartel, Kelly, Moloney, Kane Cornes, Kerr and Daniel Cross. So many choices, so little slots. Moloney is my choice, as he is tough, quick, and kicks very long.

Rover: Brent Moloney (Melbourne)

Interchange: In any computer football game, I generally take the option of putting one forward, one center, one backman and one ruckman on the bench so all options are covered. I won’t stray from this. The seventh backman will be Graham Polak from Fremantle, as his strong marking and ability to move forward afford greater versatility than a Ben Rutten. The centreman will likely be Kane Cornes as he can take on a ball-winning role or a negating role. Jarrad Waite will be the forward, with his strong marking, quick running and general aggro, and the secondary ruckman will be big Willie Minson, who can take the enforcer role as well as his bullocking ruckwork.

Interchange: Graham Polak (Fremantle), Kane Cornes (Port Adelaide), Jarrad Waite (Carlton), Will Minson (Western Bulldogs)

So, from the back half to the forward half, the team list is:

B: Welsh Thornton Brown
HB: Hodge Maguire Rivers
C: Wells Ball Dal Santo
HF: Ablett Miller Cooney
F: Davey Lynch Williams
R: Seaby Judd Moloney
INT: Polak Cornes Waite Minson

Looking at the team, it is seen that the majority of players were drafted in 2001, with a few exceptions such as Wells, Moloney and Cornes. This makes Carlton’s decision to trade away early draft picks even more puzzling than it had been previously. However, with 2 players in my ‘Youth Team’, Carlton doesn’t look too bad. Admittedly, this only looks at the icing and not the cake, but Carlton has quality icing.

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Cer 'ch 'n alluog Blues

Just my opinion, but I'd have Bartel ahead of Moloney and Playfair ahead of Miller.

Are these guys eligible for the NRS?

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Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but The Blues abide forever."

top work half.

as good an opinion piece you'd expect to see in a paper or mag.

well done.

Yep, one of the best posts I have ever seen. Very well written and nicely formatted as well for easier reading. A Plus Plus.

Gives some hope for Carlton supporters to see that we do have some good young talent in the team.

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POW

Open to debate as you say, but some great research and I doubt anyone could argue with the quality.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

How Do you think that the youngsters team would go against the veterans team.

This team is made up of player who were born in 1973 or earlier with the following exception Drew Banfield (WCE 02/74) because there are only 21 listed players born before 73. Drew is next oldest (I Think)

Backs: G. Wanganeen (PA 06/73) M. Graham (Rich 03/73) G. Archer (Kan 04/73)

Halfbacks: D. White (BL 07/73) C. Grant (WB 12/72) M. Pike (BL 11/72)

Centres: S. Maxfield (04/72) N. Buckley (Coll 07/72) P. Riccardi (Geel 12/72)

Half Forwards: W. Campbell (Rich 09/72) J. Hird (Ess 02/73) R. Harvey (StK 08/71)

Forwards: R. Smith (WB 05/73) S. Rocca (Kan 11/73) A. Thompson (StK 10/72)

Followers: J. Ball (Syd 11/72) A. Koutafides (Carl 01/73) P. Williams (Syd 03/73)

I/C: M Clarke (Adel 09/73) S Parker (Fre 02/73) C Mckernan (Kan 12/73) D. Banfield (WCE 02/74)


I reckon the old blokes would win by about 8 goals

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Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but The Blues abide forever."

Glad you made it 1983 becuase when it gets to 1981 and above it starts to get ugly and thats part of the problem...proven youth ie Corey, Enright etc . Its how you define youth...ie Andrew Lovett from Essendon*..I call him young but I think he is about 23 from memory....would be an automatic in most clubs 22 at the moment but falls outside your parameters..

I'm not disagreeing with your findings and sure I could argue other players..ie Collingwood with zero?..I think Travis Cloke would be hot property as he has made a fair start to his career buts as you said thats not the point..

My point would be its the group of players who are no longer called youth but are just into the next bracket are where we have nothing...ie Geelong...cats have a heap of very good players in the next age gap.


Getting players who are 22-25 of the quality to match it with the other good teams mature youth is a major problem...

its this very reason why i really want to get moloney for pick 9.

hopefully russell turns out to be a gun, but moloney would be a ten your player at the club and would have an instant impact.

he would be top 5 in our B&F i reckon

Maloney would have been nice as would Sam Mitchell..no bottoming out required just some common sense and an appreciation of finding footballers rather than athletes sometimes. I bent peoples ear about Sam Mitchell many times, even wrote to the club..Frank can probably remember me talking him up when he was in the VFL and ignored by all clubs...not athletic enough..too slow... etc etc...thats what I got from people.....you could see Maloney was a player from his first game...you have to wonder about recruiters...there are more to players than draft camp results....

That's an interesting proposition. Looking at each individual line, I reckon the vets would win the backline (Wanganeen Graham Archer), the youngsters the HF line barely, the youngsters the centreline, the vets their HF line and the FF line. Probably the ruck line as well. Interchange is negligable, but I reckon any team with McKernan on the bench needs to be penalised at the moment.

It would be close, but I reckon the vets would win by about 4 goals after trailing at each of the first two changes.

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Cer 'ch 'n alluog Blues

B: A. Welsh B. Thornton C. Brown
F: R.Smith S. Rocca A. Thompson

HB: L. Hodge M. Maguire J. Rivers
HF: W. Campbell J. Hird R. Harvey

C: D. Wells L. Ball N. Dal Santo
C: S. Maxfield N. Buckley P. Riccardi

HF: G. Ablett B. Miller A. Cooney
HB: D. White C. Grant M. Pike

F: A. Davey Q. Lynch M. Williams
B: G. Wanganeen M. Graham G. Archer

R: M. Seaby C Judd B. Moloney
R: J. Ball A. Koutafides P. Williams

INT: G. Polak K. Cornes J. Waite W. Minson
INT: M Clarke S Parker C McKernan D. Banfield


I still reckon 8 goals

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Ecclesiastes 1:4, "One generation passes away, and another generation comes: but The Blues abide forever."

Blackwell will be our Sam Mitchell

Often forgotten about on this site

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

Interesting to note how many of those players were not actually high draft picks and the number who were rookie selections and have since made it onto senior lists. Also the number of big players who have taken time to develop into ALF players.

think it might be closer and I think the kids would come home in the last and the old stagers might just hang on for about a 15 point win.
Course we'll never know

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!