Crap drafting notwithstanding, it is interesting to consider the impact on the rest of the competition of the draft concessions to the expansion clubs which have virtually owned the entire first round drafts over recent years.
Consider 2010 - the final 8 were Collingwood, Geelong, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, Sydney, Freo, Hawthorn & Carlton.
Fast forward to 2013, it is entirely probable that 6 of those 8 will again be finalists (indeed most have played in every final series over that period). The Saints and the Bullies have dropped off as their lists were ageing fast back then, and join those of us in the rebuild.
Those who were building, or peaking have largely remaimed dominant in the competition while gap grows against the rest.
There is a governance issue here where the AFL is both manager of the competition and owner/funder of 2 teams( or perhaps 3 if the ongoing Sydney concessions remain ).
Frank Costa's comments are spot on - the AFL is fast creating an EPL where only a small number of clubs can realitistically have a shot at the title.
Don't hold your breath that anything will change any time soon.