How does this compare with other "good" clubs? You've mentioned Geelong, I'm thinking Sydney (off the perch) and possibly the Bulldogs (one hit wonder) could be interesting studies? I've got some stuff comparing the age profiles/contract length profiles of those clubs that I could go find as well later (they're on the computer somewhere).
Well, given that I'm procrastinating this morning:
Geelong:
2010 - 9 picks
Billie Smedts (pick 15)
Cameron Guthrie (pick 29)
George Horlin-Smith (pick 37)
2011 - 9 picks
Joel Hamling (pick 32)
Shane Kersten (pick 34)
Jordan Murdoch (pick 48)
Lincoln McCarthy (pick 66)
Jed Bews (rookie)
Marc Blicavs (rookie)
2012 - 3 picks
Jackson Thurlow (pick 16)
2013 - 9 picks
Darcy Lang (pick 16)
Jarrad Jansen (pick 36)
Jake Kolodjashnji (pick 41)
2014 - 7 picks
Nakai Cockatoo (pick 10)
Corey Gregson (pick 47)
Dean Gore (pick 55)
Jordan Cunico (rookie)
Padraig Lucey (rookie)
2015 - 7 picks
Ryan Gardner (pick 59)
Sam Menegola (pick 66)
Wylie Buzza (pick 69)
Matthew Hayball (pick 70)
James Parsons (rookie)
Tom Ruggles (rookie)
A really big difference between the clubs is that Geelong can already bank Parfitt and probably Tom Stewart from their draft last year in addition to bringing Tuohy via a trade. If you look at Hawthorn's strike rate with its late picks, you'd not think that any of their 4 new players will make it.
I'm not sure what to make of it all and I'm not sure that the way I've broken it down is the way that all clubs should be assessed. It can be distorted because Geelong might cull 10 players at the end of the year who are the later picks that they've currently held on to.
I don't think that it is necessarily relevant to look at who has won premierships as an excuse for the list management performance. The difference between winning a premiership and finishing fourth probably should not make a difference to the way in which you can and should manage your list. That Hawthorn has chased Baines from St Kilda tends to indicate to me that there is a genuine problem with the running of their footy department. Why else do you want to install a football person as your CEO?