I'm not so sure about that. Geelong had - Scarlett, Egan (or harley - take your pick) Bartel, Abett, Mooney. SYDNEY - Barry, Roberts-Thompson, Goodes, Hall, O'loughlin. PORT - Wakelin, Cornes, Burgoyne, Tredrea, Thurstans. WCE - Glass, Hunter, Judd, Hansen, Lynch.
I admit that each of those spine has a weak point - but let's be honest, they are strong spines. Add to that the spines of Brisbane 2001-2003 and Essendon 2000 and there is a pattern of all these premiers.