A 4 year period where we make finals before a 4-5 year (we hope) complete rebuild certainly isn't sustained success... In the current AFL it simply isn't good enough when you compare it to the better teams.
I agree that eventually Hawthorn, WC, Geelong, Sydney etc will have to dip down but it will without a doubt not be to the same length of time we've already spent down here, let alone the time we may still have to go before we're back. Hawthorn did one rebuild and have sustained over 10 years of consistent competitiveness out of it and who knows if they have the capacity to do a Collingwood esque soft rebuild (where the team hangs around mid-table) and challenge again without falling too hard down the ditch like us.
WC have only had 4 seasons below 10 wins in 17 years and haven't dropped below 9 wins in 8 years. In Ross' 7 year tenure we'll already have 3 after this year.
I don't think building for sustained success has got anything to do with how you rebuild. The challenge comes every single year you're contending to continue to refresh and rejuvenate the team which despite promises otherwise we completely and utterly failed at.
I agree that eventually Hawthorn, WC, Geelong, Sydney etc will have to dip down but it will without a doubt not be to the same length of time we've already spent down here, let alone the time we may still have to go before we're back. Hawthorn did one rebuild and have sustained over 10 years of consistent competitiveness out of it and who knows if they have the capacity to do a Collingwood esque soft rebuild (where the team hangs around mid-table) and challenge again without falling too hard down the ditch like us.
WC have only had 4 seasons below 10 wins in 17 years and haven't dropped below 9 wins in 8 years. In Ross' 7 year tenure we'll already have 3 after this year.
I don't think building for sustained success has got anything to do with how you rebuild. The challenge comes every single year you're contending to continue to refresh and rejuvenate the team which despite promises otherwise we completely and utterly failed at.
Look at the some of the stuff ups.
1. Selecting Brown over Glass
2. Trading our first round pick and instead picking up Judd or Hodge
3. Selecting Pitt over Darling
4. Selecting Simpson over Grundy
5. Not rooking J McGovern
6. Playing overs for Headland (not doing the resource on his knees)
7. Not getting Yeo
Etc
You take Yeo and McGovern out the eagles and place him in our team, you have a huge turn around.
