He's a bit bitter.
Think he may have missed the mark a little bit though, I am sure that 2013 when we were at our best we went without Sandilands and Pavlich for a big chunk of the year, and still managed to make it into the top 4. I could be wrong on this and will happily stand corrected.
We have also managed to get through large parts of seasons without both McPharlin and Johnson, although this has been ultimately costly.
I have begun to think recently, every year, you hear players clubs, come out and say that you must improve, let's say 5%. A lot of our players in our lower bracket named in the article have achieved their maximum, and there is no more improvement. Not to say they can't maintain or regain that level (some players need to regain this at WAFL level).
We shouldn't be too critical of these servants, because through sheer hard work, they were able to compete as more than competent AFL footballers. I remember looking at the line-ups going into 2013 Grand Final and thinking we had the Hawks covered for quality across most positions. That was before some of the Hawks, have gone on from there to expand their reputations.
At the same time we have had players that simply can't improve anymore and are in decline,eg Pav and Johnson,
All of this is not a bad thing, and there is nobody to blame. We have for a period of 4 years been right in the thick of genuinely chasing a Premiership, and decisions have been influenced and directed to that short term gain. Let's face it if we could have grabbed one we would all sacrifice years of suffering.
I don't think there are years of suffering though, we need to snare, Hooker, McCarthy maybe Hurley and if at all possible Hogan. We are still have a premium coach, a Brownlow medallist, new state of the art facility's on the way and some reasonable talent still on the list.
I think this also underestimates the quality of the team "actually having a dynasty in Hawthorn", they have had a little bit to do with it as well.
