Essendon fans are wondering why their club has struggled to climb up the AFL ladder, and the answer could lie within their list management decisions.
A host of former first-round picks haven't necessarily excelled in their time at the Bombers, which is a cause for concern.
Admittedly, injury troubles to Zach Reid and Nik Cox have hindered the progress of these once-emerging superstars of our game.
But the lack of development has seen the Bombers stagnate, remaining perfectly within no-man's land.
The 2020 AFL Draft was supposed to be a turning point for Essendon, and following that fateful night in November, you'd be understood to be licking your lips as a fan.
The selection of Archie Perkins, along with Cox and Reid, inside the top 10 has proven to be a defining moment, one that Bombers fans will shy away from.
Starting with Cox and Reid, whose troubled injuries have taken them away from football for long periods, with the former currently under concussion assessment following multiple bouts of head knocks that could rule him out of the game.
As for Reid, he only returned with a purpose in 2025, playing the first 10 games of the year before a hamstring injury forced him back into familiar territory - the rehabilitation group.
Perkins was the third of that intake, and after showing much promise in his 93 games to date, he has seemingly regressed in recent weeks, starting either as the sub or being pulled from the game.
"I think that it's always about reminding players what they're really good at. And Perkins is a strong, powerful footballer who, at his best, is breaking through tackles and competing really strong," Scott said.
"Right at the moment, he's doubting himself a little bit. And so my job is to remind him of what he's really good at.
"Coach those things in terms of the technical aspect, but then getting to the point where he's in the frame of mind to get out and compete because he is a competitor.
"But he's just making mistakes through hesitation at the moment."
Ben Hobbs was the next cab off the rank, and joining the club as a midfielder with limited opportunities, his days ahead would be difficult.
The Bombers still boasted the likes of Zach Merrett, Dylan Shiel, Darcy Parish, Devon Smith, Jye Caldwell and Dyson Heppell, while Jake Stringer also rolled through the midfield.
Hobbs' 60 games in the red sash have seen him play predominantly inside the forward 50, with time on ball very limited due to the personnel ahead of him.
This prompted rivals to consider making a play for the former Pick 13, which could be revived at the end of the season, given he has no deal beyond 2025.
Elijah Tsatas is the latest Bomber to have his opportunities slashed, and this is why clubs see him as gettable despite being contracted until the end of 2026.
Taken with Pick 5 in 2022, Tsatas has been forced to bide his time in the VFL, playing only 15 senior games and starting as the sub six times.
His reserves form warrants selection under Brad Scott, averaging 29.8 disposals, 3.4 marks and 4.2 tackles across the past three years at the club, but instead is left on the outer.