Giants midfielder Tom Green expressed his concerns for players coming into the AFL system whose physical training is given priority over their skills.
This frustration stems from Green's own return to more skill-based training on his way back from an ACL injury that has sidelined him for the 2026 season.
The GWS gun himself is a highly skilled player, having finished in the top five in contested possessions over the last three consecutive years, including leading the league last year.
"I think there's maybe not enough skill work done at junior levels and too much of a focus on too many physical attributes," Green said on SEN.
"Some of the kicking, marking, handballing, and picking up a ground ball cleanly can all get left alone in the chasing of a 2k time trial.
"I feel like I grew up and got enough reps when I was growing up as a kid and that's why I feel technically sound now."
Green came in as a highly touted prospect after being drafted Pick 10 in the 2019 draft out of the GWS Giants Academy.
He linked the time dealing with his injury to how he has fallen back to training the skill aspects of his game that are helping him get closer to his best.
"Watching kids come in now, even just handballing with their left hand, they're doing a lot less- being someone who handballs a lot around the contest that frustrates me,” Green said.
“Your body shape, your body composition changes a lot once you get drafted- you've got to make sure that your skilled enough and your skills are good enough.
"It's up to the individual to sharpen up that part of the game.
"Even now I'm still doing touch, I can't run around, or I can't kick right now, but my ground ball- my handballing I'm still doing work on that.”
Regarding Giants teammate Toby Greene's future, Green clarified that the decision will be based on where the best place is to win and that Greene's relation to Melbourne won't affect his contract.
However, he had no idea where his skipper stood in relation to his decision.
“I don't know to be honest with you. What I do know is that I think over the bye he's going to have a proper think about it," Green said.
“I'm pretty close to Toby and I feel like we have a really good relationship outside of football too. I'm really comfortable speaking to him about absolutely anything that's going on and that's sort of why I'm having a couple of conversations with him.
“I really don't know exactly where his head's at but I get the sense that he's going to have a proper think over the bye."
