As a fan, missing the finals is never fun.
You're left ruing what might have been as others celebrate on the precipice of success.
Countless hours are spent calculating the losses that left your team outside of the eight or worse yet, scouring draft boards to see which teenager will be tasked with resurrecting your club.
However, it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. Every cloud supposedly has a silver lining and it is always darkest before the dawn.
Cliches aside, here's why the fanbases of the bottom ten teams should be excited about 2021.
Hawthorn
Dry your eyes, Hawks fans. You've had your run.
You've seen four flags in the Clarkson era and borne witness to some of the greatest footballers the game has ever seen wearing your rancid colours.
However, what comes up must come down. It's time to vacate the throne.
In the past ten seasons, your Hawks have made only four selections in the first round of the draft. This trend of avoiding the addition of top end youth should come to an end this year.
So jump on the draft boards, Hawkers. Scour the mock drafts and put the trade radio phone number on speed dial โ your inner eastern abode is about to be re-stumped.
The great thing about football is that success is neither permanent nor to be expected. I say steer into the skid and get excited about watching a whole new era โmaybloom' before your eyes.
Will day the only shining light in this Hawthorn side at the moment...
— Helen Barbagiannis (@elenib76) July 31, 2020
Or conversely, shut the shades and bust out the three-peat DVDs.