Rebuilds are a fact of the system and shouldn't be feared. When our time comes (sooner rather than later) the most important thing is that we will already have a group of talented players in place, especially KPP. We'll use our time at the bottom of the ladder to grab some gun mids and off we go.Definite second half of 90s vibes at the moment. The last two seasons we were unlucky contender no.5 and didn't go far in finals. It was the Bulldogs loss when I felt that it just wasn't going to be our year. We were extremely lucky that the Richmond H&A game was postponed, a real sliding doors moment in the context of our season. I'm nervy about our list going forward, as while we have a number of good younger players, I think we'll eventually fall in a vanilla heap and lack eliteness in various positions and age groups. Look at Sydney and Hawthorn right now. Other than collapsing in the final month of 2013, we've been a respectable side for 10 years now, so overdue.
Still, nice to get knocked out of finals whilst playing well for once. The selection table was our biggest clanger really (Petch and Ah Chee omg!), but we played better than any other finals exit I can remember. 2019 was a disappointing edging by the Cats days after the Rioli news broke. 2017 we had nothing left in the tank against the Giants despite beating them there a couple weeks earlier, the meh addendum to the extra-time win over Port. 2016 at the time (before the rest of that finals series) was atrocious, back in form then pantsed at home by a hobbled, scrappy dogs who just wanted it more. Bitter exit given the GF choke the season prior. 2012 edged. 2011 smashed. 2007 straight-sets extra-time goneskis star players past & present. 2005 GF we had a pretty bad 22 on the day. 2004 smashed in storm. 2003 smashed. 2002 smashed. 1999 Blues boilover away home final. 1998 Woosha spared a belting. 1997 bad final quarter. 1996 smashed in away home final. 1995 smashed. 1993 oh hi Bombers. 1991 bad final quarter. 1990 smashed in first prelim. I think you have to go back to our very first final in 1988 for a finals exit that filled me with as much pride and the sense that we left a fair bit out on the field. Always disappointing to lose a 5v8, but against the Pies it was always going to be a thriller. I was admittedly more desperate for the Lions to overcome the Tigers than for us to get over the line against the Pies.
I expect Sydney to be back challenging in a season or two, as they are in a similar spot. Hawks could be in trouble, as they need KPP and they take years to develop.