A recent analysis from The Age examines the enduring success of the Collingwood Magpies and the Geelong Cats, characterizing both clubs as 'unkillable' due to their consistent ability to remain relevant in the AFL premiership race. Unlike many teams that experience significant drop-offs after periods of success, these two organizations have demonstrated a capacity to adapt and remain competitive year after year.

The report suggests that the resilience of these clubs is not accidental but rather a result of strategic management and an institutional culture that resists long-term rebuilding phases. By avoiding the traditional 'bottoming out' process that many clubs undergo to secure high draft picks, Collingwood and Geelong have maintained a high standard of performance. The article highlights how both clubs effectively integrate new talent while retaining core leadership, allowing them to pivot quickly rather than undergoing total roster overhauls.

While the piece focuses on the tactical and cultural strengths of these specific teams, it implicitly contrasts their stability with the more volatile trajectories of other AFL clubs. The analysis serves as a commentary on the sustainability of their respective models, suggesting that their ability to 'keep hanging around' is a defining characteristic of their modern eras. The report does not provide a comparative analysis of other clubs that have attempted similar strategies but failed, nor does it detail specific salary cap management techniques that might facilitate this ongoing competitiveness.