Gershwin wrote:I think it is a fair bit more complicated than just recruiting.
Once recruited the player needs to be developed - physically and mentally. He needs to feel part of the squad and understand expectations. He needs to feel comfortable and accept playing in the VFL if necessary. He needs encouragement and acceptance from senior players. He needs mentoring and leadership. He needs to know where to go to get a decent latte in Seaford.
Its not just about recruiting.
I absolutely agree. Perhaps I phrased the title badly, but (for example) Sam Crocker could have been Puopolo if he'd had a different team environment, or if he'd been trained at the Saints a different way. It starts with the player, but the club they come to has the remit of developing them into useful players. So did we fail the players that didn't make it, or were they not good enough to start with?
A lot of you have said, it's the past, but as an old proverb says, if you don't know your past, then you don't know your present, and if you don't know your present then you don't know your future.
I'd like to do 2011-2014 but I really don't have the time, so if anyone wants to, go ahead. FQF does a decent job of 11 & 12 in a less straightforward but briefer style.
Regarding the photo, yes that's a beauty of a rictus grin from ol Ross. I imagine that being around so many young untried players was making his neck itch.