I think we saw last night what we saw in the last half of last season. The midfield just couldn't compete for long enough. Pickett was the only player who could cover the ground for four quarters. We were obliterated in the last quarter. Having Kaps back will help.
The club is probably a bit hamstrung by the contracts paid to the Chimp and Meatball. The Chimp will get a statue when he is finished but he is really battling. It looks like the Meatball and Lambert's bodies are shot. That is a lot of coin tied up in players who can't get on the park. If you put Cerra and Hewitt in our side we would have won.
I think we may be following the Brisbane dynasty of having four great years and then falling off the cliff. It is very difficult to balance paying the champs the right amount. The club has to balance their past deeds with what they are worth right now.
I think we are bottom six without Prestia. I am not sure we have drafted well from 2018 - 2020. Covid hasn't helped but I don't think there is one midfielder from that period who is guaranteed to make it. We need to find out about Ross, RCD, Dow, Martyn this year. It's no point carrying them if they aren't going to make it.
The undisciplined acts were disappointing. It's another sign of a great team frustrated by not being what they once were.