TonyK
CibbuanoHart will struggle to find new home
November 18th 2006 02:23
After weeks of speculation about his future axed Adelaide Crows champion Ben Hart signalled his intentions to play on yesterday.
The veteran defender has nominated for the national and pre-season drafts in a bid to resurrect his AFL career, but with this year's draft touted as the strongest since 2001, Hart's chances of finding a new home for the 2007 season appear remote.
At 32 years of age his best football is behind him and there are major queries about whether his body will be able to withstand the rigours of an arduous home-and-away season and possibly a finals campaign.
The dual premiership player said he hoped he would be attractive to a club wanting experience for a young list, or a club in premiership contention.
The two clubs which fit perfectly into the first part of the aforementioned equation in Carlton and Essendon will not use any of their picks to secure the services of the former Crow.
Carlton chief executive Michael Malouf has made it abundantly clear the club has a strict policy of not recruiting anyone over the age of 24, while the Bombers last night dismissed any suggestions they were interested in Hart.
Of those clubs with legitimate claims to next year's flag, West Coast has All-Australian full-back Darren Glass, key defender Adam Hunter and several quality mid-size options at their disposal.
Sydney had the most miserly defence in the competition, conceding a meagre 1,630 points in '06, while Fremantle have classy youngsters David Mundy and Michael Johnson who are being groomed for similar positions that Hart filled at Adelaide.
The only legitimate challenger to the interstate juggernaut in '07 is Melbourne, with Collingwood still re-building, St Kilda on the decline after failing to capitalise on their window of opportunity and the Western Bulldogs at least a couple of years away from being a genuine contender as their young stars continue to develop.
The Demons had the sixth best defence in the league in '06, conceding 1,957 points and with the likes of Jared Rivers, Nathan Carroll and Ben Holland at coach Neale Daniher's disposal down back, a move to Junction Oval for Hart is out of the question.
The likes of Collingwood, Geelong and the Bulldogs may think they can win the flag next season after playing finals football in recent years, but using a recycled player to help push you into premiership contention never works- the Kangaroos are testament to this fact.
With this month's national draft expected to provide quality deep into the third round, the chances of Hart adding to his 311-game tally seem slim.
Those clubs in premiership contention aren't lacking down back and those currently in a phase of re-building will wisely opt for a quality youngster who will play with the club for the next decade over a battle weary veteran with one to two years of football left in him.
The game has passed Ben Hart by and he would have been better advised to accept the off-field role with the Crows if he harbours desires of one day becoming a senior coach.
The veteran defender has nominated for the national and pre-season drafts in a bid to resurrect his AFL career, but with this year's draft touted as the strongest since 2001, Hart's chances of finding a new home for the 2007 season appear remote.
At 32 years of age his best football is behind him and there are major queries about whether his body will be able to withstand the rigours of an arduous home-and-away season and possibly a finals campaign.
The dual premiership player said he hoped he would be attractive to a club wanting experience for a young list, or a club in premiership contention.
The two clubs which fit perfectly into the first part of the aforementioned equation in Carlton and Essendon will not use any of their picks to secure the services of the former Crow.
Carlton chief executive Michael Malouf has made it abundantly clear the club has a strict policy of not recruiting anyone over the age of 24, while the Bombers last night dismissed any suggestions they were interested in Hart.
Of those clubs with legitimate claims to next year's flag, West Coast has All-Australian full-back Darren Glass, key defender Adam Hunter and several quality mid-size options at their disposal.
Sydney had the most miserly defence in the competition, conceding a meagre 1,630 points in '06, while Fremantle have classy youngsters David Mundy and Michael Johnson who are being groomed for similar positions that Hart filled at Adelaide.
The only legitimate challenger to the interstate juggernaut in '07 is Melbourne, with Collingwood still re-building, St Kilda on the decline after failing to capitalise on their window of opportunity and the Western Bulldogs at least a couple of years away from being a genuine contender as their young stars continue to develop.
The Demons had the sixth best defence in the league in '06, conceding 1,957 points and with the likes of Jared Rivers, Nathan Carroll and Ben Holland at coach Neale Daniher's disposal down back, a move to Junction Oval for Hart is out of the question.
The likes of Collingwood, Geelong and the Bulldogs may think they can win the flag next season after playing finals football in recent years, but using a recycled player to help push you into premiership contention never works- the Kangaroos are testament to this fact.
With this month's national draft expected to provide quality deep into the third round, the chances of Hart adding to his 311-game tally seem slim.
Those clubs in premiership contention aren't lacking down back and those currently in a phase of re-building will wisely opt for a quality youngster who will play with the club for the next decade over a battle weary veteran with one to two years of football left in him.
The game has passed Ben Hart by and he would have been better advised to accept the off-field role with the Crows if he harbours desires of one day becoming a senior coach.
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