Is your club’s list in the AFL premiership sweet spot?
TIGER time is set to continue, but which other clubs’ lists are in the right demographic for premiership success? JON RALPH looks at the age range of every club.
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PREMIERS Richmond will remain in the premiership sweet spot next year with the seventh-youngest list and only one player over 30.
With AFL lists finalised yesterday, rebuilding titan Hawthorn has the oldest list and Gold Coast the youngest list.
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Remarkably, a North Melbourne list that just two years ago was the oldest in football now has the third youngest list in the AFL.
But it is the breakdown of age groups that is most instructive, with clubs desperate to stockpile players in the 25-29 age bracket.
That is where players are at their peak, with Geelong ranked No. 1 with 19 of their players in that bracket and clearly going all-out for a flag.
The Western Bulldogs’ fall from grace after their 2016 premiership will have the Tigers desperate to avoid complacency.
Still, they could scarcely be better placed after an exceptional draft that saw them secure four highly-fancied players early in the draft to add to a balanced list.
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Richmond is the seventh-youngest list in the competition, has 16 players in the 25-29 bracket (ranked equal third), and the equal-least players over 30.
Shaun Hampson will be 30 by Round 1, with the Tigers boasting 16 players in the 21-24 age bracket which indicates players about to mature.
The Tigers’ stars are in the right demographic given Dustin Martin is 26, Trent Cotchin 27, Alex Rance 28 and Jack Riewoldt 29.
Adelaide will again contend for a premiership with a list that has 19 players from 25-29 (ranked No. 1) and only three 30-plus players.
Melbourne and St Kilda supporters are anxious for their sides to mature and take the next step as finals participants.
Melbourne now has the ninth-oldest list but has the biggest collection of 21-24 year olds (24 of them), while St Kilda has 21 (ranked No. 2).
The Demons have only nine players in the 25-29 age bracket (the second least), which shows they might be year or two short of the premiership window.
Fremantle’s growing pains are apparent from the list breakdown, having drafted a bunch of talented kids but still having the most 30-plus players.
The Dockers have only eight players in the 25-29 age bracket (the least in the AFL), with Aaron Sandilands, David Mundy, Michael Johnson, Hayden Ballantyne, Danyle Pearce and Lee Spurr at least 30.
Including rookies, now available to play from Round 1, Hawthorn’s average age is 24.66, with Adelaide the second oldest (24.53).
On average games played, West Coast’s list has played 99.21 games, Adelaide is second on 96.3 games and Port Adelaide and Geelong are close behind.
Port Adelaide’s long list of off-season acquisitions means it is not only stacked with talent, it has the third-most players in the 25-29 bracket (ranked third).
Gold Coast still seems an age away from finals, with 17 players under 21, the most in the competition.
Carlton’s list challenge is indicated by it having the second-most players under 21 (16) and the second-most over 30 (five), but ranking bottom five in both 21-24 and 25-29 categories.
Originally published as Is your club’s list in the AFL premiership sweet spot?
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