It would be an interesting exercise to compare the Cats' top 10 with our top 10 in the Doig after tomorrow night. It will lay out pretty clearly how much we need to improve to challenge Geelong in 2012. They are awesome.

This team also has had the chance to mature. The average age is somewhere around 27-28.

Looking at how the Cats were going in 2004 - 2006 with the same list at a younger stage of development they were a long way off where they have got to today.

Interestingly they didn't sack Bomber Thompson back then and bring in a 'proven' AFL coach to bring instant success. It didn't seem to do them any harm by keeping him and letting him develop the side he put together. Also it certainly didn't seem to do them any harm by taking on a coach this year that had no senior coaching experience.

Strong ethical management & team culture seems to have developed down at Kardinya Park that has ultimately brought success.

Yes one more year for MH to see if he could see the results of his planning. We will never know.