That last bit is why Steele and Petracca are simply not in consideration for me as starters. It’s only Oliver in recent years who have broken that trend.
Your bullishness on Dunkley getting that mid role has me reconsidering him. I still need to see how the role looks in the one preseason game. If he doesn’t get at least half the CBs there, don’t think I could start him.
Your bullishness on Dunkley getting that mid role has me reconsidering him. I still need to see how the role looks in the one preseason game. If he doesn’t get at least half the CBs there, don’t think I could start him.
Oliver went 70> 111 > 114
Neale went 87 > 104 > 112 and then all the way to the moon.
Macrae from 94 > 107 > 127
Merrett from 88 > 111 > 109
Mitchell 84 > 104 > 120 > 129 (there's an extra 104 in there consolidated)
Fyfe is one of the few who supports with an injury ruined 73 > 108 > 94 > 106 > 122 path
Danger went 80 > 118 > 113 > 105 > 118 > 130, his role at Adelaide was a major issue (Dunkley comparison here).
Selwood went 77 > 98 > 111 > 117 and stated there a couple of years.
Pendles 88 > 103 > 106 > 110 > 129 and stayed 120+ for 3 seasons.
Cripps fell back having done 39 > 96 > 108 > 98 > 120 > 117, again though, after the big jump he hung there.
Ablett 91 > 114 > 132 > 140
Judd went 114 > 132 (not sure what the jump on 114 is prior)
Swan went 102 > 123 > 126 > 122 > 126
Not mids but Grundy > 97 > 130 > 130 > 121, Gawn 62 > 102 > 118 > 92 (injured) > 127.5 > 128 > 140, Docherty 87 > 108 > 115 and Lloyd 87 > 112 > 109 > 122 are also strong examples.
I actually think with the star players the majority actually hang around there for a few years, looking at that list there is probably more risk with a guy like Macrae, most of them struggle to hold that range for more than 3 years although some certainly do!
I'm sure there are more counter arguments, I believe JPK, Beams, Goldstein, Sloane and Dusty would probably support the opposite as they all had down years after breaking out from memory. Think a couple of them had injuries and a couple had role changes.
Basically I wouldn't be ruling guys out because they broke out last year, most of the top players had similar jumps at some point and a significant amount hold up or even improve. Petracca for example is one who should improve as he continues to get fitter and, quite probably, becomes the #1 midfielder in the side.