What is "culture". How does one define such an arbitrary term? How does one create it? Seems unless you have a healthy dose of success and a bright path ahead, you have **** all chance of convincing players that there is a future at that club regardless of how much money is thrown at the problem or which coach is giving the rev ups. Letting one of your star players walk for a deal that's obviously unders does nothing except reinforce the status as a minnow club that's there to train players for the Victorian teams. I can't see pick 10 being a great boost to the Suns "culture".
The second problem is that GC is in Queensland, where few AFL players want to live. Moving from Melbourne to the GC is quite difficult when you have a family and friends, as you might understand. Usually when teams bottom out, they go straight back up in a few seasons. The QLD teams aren't doing that because their young talent keeps departing for unders, preventing the club from advancing. So clearly something has to change.
And a steady stream of academy picks to replenish departing talent that can handily be farmed for more top draft picks. Until the GC academy starts pumping out the numbers enjoyed by GWS, it's hard to see them getting to that level. But then again, GC isn't blessed to have an academy close enough to Victoria to benefit from everyone playing AFL and good proximity to the TAC cup either.