Honestly I came into this thread about to say the same thing about us now being close enough to full strength
Once McStay and Elliott are back in, Mitchell and Cox are really the only remining core pieces we need back.
Even then, if Ned Long can perform Mitchell's role, then it's really just Cox and even Cox's presence could be potentially cancelled out by McStay and Kreuger giving Cameron a chop out in the ruck for a few minutes each per quarter.
I think Fly just needs to find a way to get these players actually giving a shit about our season again. We look a LOT like the first 3 weeks of the season where we were more than happy just being the reigning Premiers rather than trying to go back to back.
Which I gotta say is a little bit surprising given the 3 main components of our coaching group have all experienced 3 peat success as either players, coaches or both?
I will say the only part I disagree on is Beau. Prior to his injury run, I think he was better than you're giving him credit for and he was just starting to show some real promise as a midfielder before his concussion in the Carlton game.
But his pace and power isn't easy to replace
It's just funny that when Cox and Mitchell are playing everyone is screaming for them to be dropped, but when they're injured they become critical parts of the best 22.
I call it the Sean Rusling Theory.
The longer a player is out injured, the better and more important they become.