I respect what you’re saying, but there’s some critical issues with the above:
- the opinion of a premiership coach from the outside was that he was astonished. I’d say he hasn’t elaborated because it’s an opinion formed at long distance without a lot of internal insight. Doesn’t mean it’s not accurate, but it is less likely to be.
- I think the “fringe player’s lament” is a fairly common sentiment and present at all clubs to differing degrees. Dare I bring it up again, but I recall being at the home of a number of Geelong players watching their teammates play in a final & openly barracking for them to lose & get knocked out.