Great OP. It has been a good year. Still a very young team so plenty of room for growth. Recruitment this off season very important to be truly elite medium to long term.
I think the only hope for us Priority Three types is that not all Priority One or Two members registered for the ballot. If that is true, we may get a small look-in.
Membership numbers are just a phallus measuring contest. It's the $$$$$$$$$$$ from membership that counts and I'm pretty sure West Coast dominate on that front.
It's a good strategy long-term too, given the club (and us supporters) expect to be regular finalists in the next few years. It will just part of the routine and nothing too scary.