Ryan you are way off the mark with Foran but have some valid points about DCE.
To say Foran is not a ballplayer is way off the mark he is one of the best at the line ballplayers in the competition combined with being able to run hard at the line.
Foran is an improved version of over-rated Laurie Daley, what Daley lacked in natural talent he compensated with leadership qualities, Foran has the same leadership qualities with much more rounded talent.
Foran and DCE's form dropped big time once the forwards were getting dominated during the back end of the season be it through lack of depth, size and bigger packs building on match fitness throughout the year.
Smaller packs that play at a higher intensity tend to start seasons off better due to playing at a faster more direct speed in the early rounds that larger teams struggle to cope with.
As the season gets into the second half of the season injuries take it's toll larger packs find their groove new rule interpretations of speeding up play are given up on and slower Winter tracks especially night games bring bigger more explosive packs into the picture.
Foran and DCE knew we lacked the central punch to allow them to flourish combine that with an obvious attitude shift in the last 6weeks or so "not the entire second half of the season as people here like to stretch" and you get the performances Manly put on.
Attacks that have too much depth do not trouble modern defensive lines, flat at the line attack gives defences less time to adjust but it is imperative that you have the defensive line going backwards or stationary to take advantage.