WE ARE the 'want-it-now' generation.
This is perfectly illustrated in football, where patience is generally a dirty word.
Luke Davies-Uniacke has become a fascinating case within this dynamic, as a No.4 draft pick initially branded as an instant hit at a club, North Melbourne, in an intriguing period of transition.
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The 19-year-old midfielder played five of the Roos' first six games in his rookie campaign, winning double-digit disposals just once in that time.
Given the dreaded 'AFL-ready' tag by many, coach Brad Scott instead warned not to place unrealistic expectations on the former Dandenong Stingray, although he did label him "special".
Davies-Uniacke, who signed a two-year contract extension before playing a game, made only two more AFL appearances after his original taste of senior football – and not until rounds 17 and 18.
By contrast, most of his top-10 draft peers were regulars: Cameron Rayner (22 matches), Andrew Brayshaw (17), Paddy Dow (20), Adam Cerra (21), Jaidyn Stephenson (26), Hunter Clark (15), Nick Coffield (10), Aaron Naughton (18) and Lochie O'Brien (18).
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It took Davies-Uniacke until late July to accumulate at least 20 possessions at even VFL level, but those performances then came with a rush: 23 against Collingwood, 23 versus Williamstown, then 28 at Footscray's expense.
The decision to resist giving him an extended AFL run on potential rather than form seemingly paid off, and his strong state league finish buoyed his senior outlook for 2019.
How that plays out remains to be seen.
North's two-year flush out of veteran talent in 2016 and 2017 – headlined by the exits of Brent Harvey, Nick Dal Santo, Drew Petrie and Michael Firrito – was succeeded by a recruiting raid last year.
West Coast champion Andrew Gaff proved elusive, but experienced midfielders Jared Polec, Aaron Hall and Dom Tyson found new homes at Arden St.
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They join a Kangaroo onball rotation that includes All Australian Shaun Higgins, contested ball king Ben Cunnington, tagger extraordinaire Ben Jacobs and emerging trio Jed Anderson, Paul Ahern and Trent Dumont.
Jy Simpkin, himself a first-round selection three years ago, is also attempting the evolution from forward to midfielder, while captain Jack Ziebell spends his share of time in the middle, too.
Only Ahern, 22, and Simpkin, 20, are younger than 23 among that group, with Davies-Uniacke turning 20 in June.
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Cunnington, Higgins, Jacobs, Anderson and Ahern gobbled up 87 per cent of North Melbourne onballers' centre-square attendances in 2018, a number that rises to 92 per cent once Ziebell is factored in.
Now throw in Tyson and Hall, who are certain to force their way into the centre bounces, while Polec – like he did at Port Adelaide – should get the odd run through there.
So where does that leave Davies-Uniacke in the Roo logjam?
On the above evidence, Scott and co have some questions to answer ahead of the opening round about their prized investment.
Is North in win-now mode? Is LDU in the best 22? Would he be better served at this stage of his career playing bulk midfield minutes in the VFL?
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The Kangas have form in this regard.
They left key defender Ben McKay in the reserves all of last season despite his impressive form, preferring to stick with seasoned backmen Robbie Tarrant and Scott Thompson.
Majak Daw's successful transformation into an intercepting defender also went against McKay, who has played just one AFL game since being the No.21 selection in 2015.
McKay, at 21 years of age, finally looks set to start this year in the senior side, but may need to reassure Davies-Uniacke that patience can be a virtue.
