I think you're right Tucker. It keeps come back to depth. Our top line players are good enough to take it to the best teams in the competition. When we had our first choice team we beat Hawthorn and Sydney and almost won against Collingwood, Geelong, West coast, Adelaide, North and Carlton. Could we have boasted that last year. Our best is good enough but when our better players drop off and need to be replaced we are exposed.
No depth equals no pressure for spots and no chance to cover injury.
Imagine Maric went out for the season or Cotch, Lids, Rance or Jack? Vickery is irreplaceable and we have suffered in his absence. Like Vickery, Foley can not be covered nor can Grimes. We need another tall forward, another tall backman and more quality midfielders.
Hardwick knows what type of player we need - strong bodied, good users of the ball who are willing to put their heads over the ball. Morris, King and Cotchin are Dimmas favourites for a reason - they never give up and if they make a mistake they make up for it in the next contest.
Dimma and the club and seeking to get the players to the club to fit this mould but he has only just been able to put together 22 players to compete. Developing and finding the players to provide pressure for spots/depth is the next step.