Are you ******* kidding me with this excuse-riddled bullshit??
Mate even now, this very year, members of the core of your 2007 team are still playing. Guys like Bartel, Selwood, Enright, Mackie & Lonergan.
At the time GC & GWS were plundering drafts you still had Ling, Mooney, Scarlett, Hunt, Milburn, Kelly, Ottens, Chapman, Stevie J, Stokes, Corey & Wojcinski on your list. Don't give me that rebuild bullshit because GC pillaged the draft in 2011 and GWS in 2012, years when your team was still at the top of its game, with almost all your 2007 team still there.
Let me tell you what REALLY happened.
First, the drugs Stephen Dank injected over the 2007 preseason gradually wore off and instead of physically bullying every other team in the comp like men against boys, you had to start outplaying your opponents because you could no longer out muscle them.
Second, you replaced a quality coach in Bomber Thompson with a third-rate excuse whore in Chris Scott.
Third and most importantly, Hawthorn finished its' mini-rebuild in 2012 and began spanking you with predictable regularity. Don't forget if not for us you would've been at least one flag richer, because we both know you would've rolled Freo comfortably in the 2013 GF.
So to summarize - the drugs wore off, you got a shit coach, Hawthorn resumed loving you not-so-tenderly in September, and that's why you've won sweet FA ever since while we went on to immortal fortune & glory.