In 2013, when 211 was injured for a large part of the season, Griffin and Z.Clarke were doing quite a good job filling in. Freo also had Hannath just recruited in 2012. I’m not sure recruiting can be entirely blamed for 211 getting kneed by Nic Knee. 211 may well still play for another 2 or 3 years if he can get fit and stay fit.
Freo’s name has been linked to most of the the KPP trades in recent years. They have been trying to recruit without success. Most of those KPPs have stayed at their clubs. Freo has brought in Z.Dawson, & A. Pearce. Scott Gumbleton didn’t work out. Others such as Taberner, Apeness, and Collins are still yet to be determined. Some (including me) would argue it was only GWS’s stubborn ways that prevented Cam McCarthy from being on the Freo list this year.
In the midfield, Freo have recruited Neale, a great recruit, Bennell when fit likely to be great, D.Pearce has provided and now some of the youngsters are showing promise and yet to be determined, eg. Weller.
Apart from Forster, Duffy, Simpson & Wood who have been drafted (I've ignored Rookies) and then cut from the list, the rest of the drafts have shown enough to be a tick for recruiting.
I don’t understand much of this criticism, unless you're talking about recruiting going back before 2011. But then if you are going to be critical, then you should also acknowledge the wins, such as Fyfe.
