The list has some deficiencies but overall isn't that bad. Most club lists have deficiencies. It can be fixed pretty quickly with some astute recruiting. Port gained three ready made senior players in Homsch, Polec, White last year. GWS and Gold Coast raiding can improve the list pretty quickly. If we wanted to aggressively rebuild from the ground up, we could trade Cotchin and Deledio. We have plenty of options. What we need though is a fresh recruiting department. We can't afford to waste more first round draft picks on the Concas and Ellis's of this world.
The problem with our performances this year all reside with the coach. Ports list would struggle under Hardwick just as they did under Primus. Hardwick fails in every aspect as a coach. I can't think of one positive when I think of him.
Get a good coach with an attacking game plan and some quality recruiters and we could be pushing top 4 again next year. While defense is important, the enthusiasm that is generated when you kick goals has a much stronger impact on a teams psychology and that buzz pushes players to greater efforts. Robotically chipping sideways is devastating when it doesn't work. Having a game plan that you don't enjoy and doesn't work saps the spirit and morale of the playing group. Cotchin isn't the worst midfielder in the competition but Hardwick has him playing like he is whilst telling him he is a champion. Delusions are the only thing holding this list together at the moment because all confidence is gone.
Wait another 2 years and the next coach will have a Wallace like list full of underachievers who are mentally shot.