Thank fuck because you had us worried you the stress of the poor season had caused you to blow a gasket.
If you look at it somewhat objectively.
CFS is 20.20 years old. Has not had a 21st birthday. He is literally a month or two older than some of the boys we will send to the U20's JWC this year. If it seems like he has been around a long time it's because he got a low-value rookie contract as a 17 year old that was essentially a "hands off Rebels you fucking vultures" type situation. He had chronic hamstring issues as an explosively powerful kid in his late teens who's musculoskeletal system was essentially not mature enough to handle the output he was capable of. This seems to largely have resolved over 6-12 months of consistent and quality management.
Aidan did a year and a half or so in what was then the Reds Academy as a kid and then has had 2 x 2 year contracts or something along those lines. He obviously had some issues with his knees which caused him to have to have back to back ACL recons (not that uncommon, he's not even the only one at the Reds like that) and then some chronic hamstring stuff secondary to that.
This year both have been unlucky to sustain an acute and serious shoulder injury (of different types, but both first time) that is a function of the fact they play a contact sport. Unlucky? Yes. Inconvenient for the Reds given how the season has turned out? Absolutely. Could much else have been done to prevent either one? No not really.
Is there an argument that Aidan's body has not yet returned very well on investment. Yeah I'd probably agree that there is. Can the same argument be applied to CFS? Given the fiscal nature of his first contract, his age and his value delivered in performances to date I'd say fuck no.
Some food for thought, the brumbies when they won the Title in 2004 used a grand total of 28 or so players the whole season. They suffered very little injury overall and more than that almost no injury to their key players at the time (Gregan, Larkham, Smith, Finegan and Mortlock). They kept the same team on the park week after week and won the final.
The reds in 2011 suffered injury to outside backs predominantly but Horwill, Genia, Cooper and Ioane were players who played a lot and we won't he comp. In the next two years we suffer seriously due to both an increased amount of total injury experienced and the focal nature of those injuries i.e there were many of the players injured in one position e.g 10 in 2012.
This year the Reds have again suffered with injury which has contributed (though by no means solely) to a rubbish season.
My point is, a successful year, even with all the talent and preparation in place, is definitely significantly contingent on the injury gods smiling on you. There are injuries you can prevent and those that you can't really and you need to consider that fact when judging a players worth. Are they honestly prone to injury and there is a risk in signing them or have they just been terribly unlucky. A quick glance at a players playing history doesn't tell you that if you aren't a qualified medical or high level S and C professional.
