Some have blamed management teams for not giving enough first-team opportunities. Others have wondered whether it's a lack of quality coming through. With this in mind, we've looked back over previous seasons to see where graduates who've made their debut have ultimately ended up.
This list doesn't include those who came over to Hearts after graduating from other academies following their 16th birthday, like Rory Currie and Jamie Brandon, nor does it include players brought over from abroad like Marcus Godinho or Aleks Petkov. We've also limited it to debutants who broke through after the club's return to the top flight in 2015.
5. Daniel Baur
The towering defender played just twice in the 2017/18 season. After leaving in 2020 he played for Spartans, Linlithgow Rose and is now with Hill of Beith. Photo: SNS Group Craig Foy
6. Anthony McDonald
Like Cochrane, the winger was another who burned brightly in 2017/18 but ultimately didn't follow up the initial promise. Moved to Cordoba in Spain in 2020. Has since had spells at Inverness CT and Edinburgh City and is now with Brechin City. Photo: SNS Group Craig Foy
7. Andy Irving
The 'Porty Pirlo' made his debut in January 2018. A big part of the Championship-winning team, he left at the end of the 2020/21 campaign under freedom of contract to move to Germany. Now with Austria Klagenfurt. Photo: Craig Foy - SNS Group
8. Chris Hamilton
The centre-back was one of four academy graduates to make his debut in the 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock at the end of the 2017/18 campaign. It was his only competitive game for Hearts. After a few loan spells, he landed with boyhood heroes Dunfermline Athletic in 2022 and helped them win the League One crown last term. Photo: SNS Group Ross Parker