We also had the WORST injury run of any team in the AFL this year (most games missed by those considered best 22 as of late in the year, according to Champion Data, or whoever- with several of those being to our best 5-6), so we'd be pretty bloody stiff if we don't have a better one next year.
I also disagree that only Hill will improve our team.
For starters Robbo was in our best 3 or 4 prior to his heart issues and was our best in the preseason games he played this year, so if we get him back he makes us instantly better.
A fitter Carlisle and/or Hannebery or even just having them for more games helps a bunch.
Jones will comfortably be an upgrade on someone (eg Newnes) and will along with Hill make us quicker, and so will Butler. So we could be a different team, with more speed.
I also see Howard as a likely upgrade on Brown, who is just too one-dimensional and lacking in versatility for the modern game. Howard is likely to be much better suited to the quicker and more athletic types that we've struggled with for years. He's obviously got something going for him if he's going to cost anything like a first rounder.
Him being streets quicker than Brown makes us quicker again.
Then there's the potential for the likes of Clark and Coffield to really improve as soon as next season. It won't necessarily take another 2-3 years.
Then there's the Ratten factor. He might get more out of the group than Richo did and we'll have a whole preseason to get used to the way he wants us to play.
To lock us in to the bottom 4 at this stage is ridiculous IMO.
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