The uncannily similar plight of both the Gold Coast Suns and Titans is no coincidence, according to former AFL ruckman Peter Everitt.
Both teams have endured seasons from hell, the Suns and Titans sitting second and third last respectively, finishing the season without a coach and grappling with a high-profile star in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
Whether Jarryd Hayne and Gary Ablett see out the final year of their contracts in 2018 is up the air, with the NRL's Hayne experiment faltering and Ablett's injuries and desire to return home souring the AFL's grand designs of success north of Sydney.
Everitt played 291 games for St Kilda, Sydney and Hawthorn between 1993 and 2008 and has spent the last seven years on the Gold Coast working as a radio presenter.
He says the clubs' problems are similar and uncomplicated.
"For both of them, just so many injuries and an inability to hold on to that core group," he said.
"The Titans and Suns always seem to be more injured than everyone else; maybe it's all that swimming at the beach and playing golf that's fatiguing them."
Axed Suns coach Rodney Eade rarely had access to his best players, with Dion Prestia, Rory Thompson, Jaeger O'Meara, David Swallow, Sam Day and Ablett constantly battling injury.
At one stage last season the Suns had just 26 healthy players to choose from.
The Titans, who sacked coach Neil Henry last week, will blood their 17th new face of the season in Keegan Hipgrave for Saturday's final game.
Under Henry the Titans seemed to find the right mix, rising to a finals berth in 2016.
But they lost Greg Bird and Nathan Friend and the lack of leadership has been felt this season.
"What I don't understand is why we can't attract stars to live and play footy in this great place and that's up to the clubs to sustain an 'I want to be here' attitude," Everitt said.
"The Swans have that; Dusty Martin looks like he'll stay in Richmond but I bet he'd stop and think if Sydney called.
"Wouldn't it be great if (Suns chairman) Tony Cochrane could have the same impact here.
"But you need that core group of key players together for several years to see results."
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