I think you can look back even further than that, we just couldn't sustain it and I think Hardwick had his brain filled with what ifs after the Judd final against Carlton, the North final in 2015 etc.
Back in 2012 and 2013 we were playing some of this footy, even in 2016 you could see parts of it. The Swans game was one that stood out (not just because of the after the siren kick by Lloydy) but the way we hit the switch in that final quarter. 7.2 in that final quarter won us that game from being a fair way back at 3 quarter time (3 goals behind). There were some other pockets of where we saw it in that season too despite the general slow play we resorted to.
The recruiting at the end of 2016 enabled us to flick the switch for longer periods in 2017 and we all know what happened from there on.
Back in 2012 and 2013 we were playing some of this footy, even in 2016 you could see parts of it. The Swans game was one that stood out (not just because of the after the siren kick by Lloydy) but the way we hit the switch in that final quarter. 7.2 in that final quarter won us that game from being a fair way back at 3 quarter time (3 goals behind). There were some other pockets of where we saw it in that season too despite the general slow play we resorted to.
The recruiting at the end of 2016 enabled us to flick the switch for longer periods in 2017 and we all know what happened from there on.