Said in a lot more detail than I did.The issue is not before 2014/2015 - I'm of the view that like it or not the expansion clubs gave us close to zero chance of pinching a flag unless everything went perfectly. A JWS without ankle injury could have been the simple sliding door difference IMO.
It is after 2015-16 that the they do need to take full responsibility. Decisions were made there that were not consistent. We had the guts to cut some stalwarts but then happily gave them a farewell tour whilst we got obliterated in a final. We barely played Daw all year then he was amongst our best in that same poor final (and went on to have a cracking year a season or so later). Brad and his match committee were simply too conservative at selection and failed to recruit or select good young players during this period and this is a big part of the reason we have a team led by a Captain that we are finding roles to justify his selection and a midfield led by a 80 odd kg 24 year old. It's not about playing only kids it's about playing the replacements for players that were closer to the end (or delisting) than not. We simply didn't do it and we didn't find replacements even for role players which is why we have such a cavernous gap between Simpkin and the older players in the 22. We left it too late now we have to do it extra hard.
The fact that we have a non-existent core group of players in that 26-29 year old age bracket, that should now be in their prime and shouldering the load, sits squarely on Brad Scott’s shoulders.