I think there’s a window for a 2022-2023 premiership tilt, but it’s a tough needle to thread from here. On the plus side, we’ve got:
i. the core of a premiership backline in A Pearce, Hamling, Ryan and Wilson in the 24-27 bracket;
ii. forward KPP options in Tabs, Lobb and Hogan;
iii. established match-winners in Walters and Fyfe (albeit in their late 20s); and
iv. a new coach.
In my view, to challenge for a premiership in that time we need:
i. most of our recent blue-chip draft picks (Sturt, Brayshaw, Cerra, Serong, Young and Henry) to establish themselves as A-graders and at least one or two of them to become stars.
ii. one or more of our frustrated talents to hit their straps and turn into reliable contributors (think Hodor, Logue, CamMac, Cox or Blakely, and perhaps Aish or Acres, but I don’t really have a view on them yet).
iii. someone to come from the clouds a little to be an elite player (think Valente, Dixon or Carter);
iv. Hogan to be an elite player again;
v. to fill a few obvious gaps like a lock-down small defender (Logue?), an elite small forward (Henry?) and someone to run up and down the wings;
vi. settle on which of our role players can contribute in a Premiership-calibre team the ways guys like De Boer, Mzungu and Suban did;
vii. some better management and/or luck with injuries; and
viii. Fyfe and Walters to be able to contribute when they are 31 or 32.
In my view, it all comes down to which of our young guys can become an elite midfielder. If we can get enough young star power through the middle, Fyfe and Walters can fill plenty of gaps forward of the centre as their midfield responsibilities are reduced. Losing Neale and B Hill really hurt us on that front, especially where Hogan hasn’t been able to help us yet.
Looking at that list above, I think there is the potential to be good, but I’m not sure we have the potential to be great.
