I also believe that the Freo board/Coaching staff over estimate where we are at.
To me the rot started and the head in the sand began in the last 3rd of 2015 , where after our great start , sides worked us out and we limped in the finals and just beat a depleted Sydney side ( albeit positive effort against hawthorth).
Many of us at that time realised we had given our best shot and needed to begin a new era.
No not Freo , they flogged the same old players thru much of 2016 and ONLY played the youth because of injuries to the older players.
Than again that believed the list could be a threat in 2017 , and only after being belted and humiliated in the first 2 rounds they began in earnest. However, they tried everything possible to bring the old guard back in and it was only a repeat embarrassment against the Lions that they again began the youth.
Come to 2018 and once again the old guard get a game after believing anything is possible ( even coming last) , despite Johnno just simply cant run , D pearce cant hit the side of a barn we play 6 players over 30 and a few non achievers well into their 20's.
That is why Ross is not a list builder his ego and stubbornness wont let him get belted trying the youth. Instead he would prefer poor Johnno being humiliated with lack of pace, D pearce constantly not hitting a target when it really counts and C Sutcliffe who is still too weak ( after 8 pre seasons) to lay a really strong tackle when it matters.
Even given the Board gave Ross a long extension and there full support he wont fully commit to a Sheedy like rebuild. I have really wanted Ross to succeed, but I don't think he is capable of change or listening to different points of view. Lets hope they can improve at home.