dbts when trying to peer into any spin-driven organisation; look at what they do rather than what they say.
Why would Ross be given a 5-year contract if no rebuild was required? Setting aside the stats, Freo played unwatchable football in the 2nd half of 2015 to limp over the line as minor premiers, while showing many signs of collective fatigue. The following season we duly fell off a cliff.
Ross Lyon's contract extension, and the rebuild, arguably all stem from that time.
What is less forgivable is the extraordinary $$$ involved, as if this was a one-year contract only. He's not Clarkson. Even with a decent finals record, the longevity of that deal could have been tempered by some hard bargaining, that might free up member's hard-earned, to invest in the football department. Right now, I will not be tempted to buy a full membership while the current administrators allow people to milk the system.