Goodie, flattery will get you everywhere. Welcome to a very exclusive club of people who enjoy my posts. Currently it's just me and you, but I'm playing the long game.
On the Eagles, I actually think their success is a bit of a misnomer. I just did some sums (not my forte), and in the years since Freo entered the competition, they have won one flag (snuck over the line by a point) and have an average finishing position of 8th, most of which was in a 16 team comp. Perhaps those with greater numeracy acumen, like Fre-Doh or DK can verify that. If I'm right, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more statistically average club in the competition.
They were gifted a State of Origin team in the 90's which inflates their sense of success, and even their fluky 2006 win was on the back of a Brownlow Medallist from Fremantle being gifted to them under the Father/Son rule. Also, you know, they were probably on the gear.
I think aiming to emulate the Eagles would be accepting mediocrity.
