Almost all their best players and match winners are nearing the end of their careers. Ours aren't.
not sure about that. i think clubs like sydney,hawthorn, geelong even collingwood have been very good at succesion planning.
anyway the question to be asked is do we have the quality and depth id say no and i think most would agree with me. this is one reason why we should have still been in development mode.
Most of the better sides are always in development mode - they never dip down the ladder far but keep recruiting and trading in players to improve their list. Collingwood are a prime example. We are not as advanced as they are at this stage but we are now on the path. This will be made easier over the next couple of uncompromised drafts.
Todays game was turned by players like Bartel, Johnson, Taylor, Kelly, Longergan and McIntosh. The first three in particular were the biggest difference in the game along with Selwood. The same players were the difference in the last close game we played and narrowly lost against them.
We still need to continue to develop our side and inject more talent into it to join these other teams but in a few years I believe we will get there. I'm excited by the development of some out younger players who could not get a game last year such as Griffiths and Astbury the the inclusion of players like Miles and Lloyd. If we continue to create competition for spots and force the rapid development of players like Lennon, McBean, McIntosh and Dea we are well on the way.