hmm the easiest answer would be of 2 possibilities;
1. the current team is stagnant or improving slightly while the rest of the world improved a lot more.
2. the team is regressing and the world is stagnant or improvng.

i wouldnt say quality regressed, id say it improved compared to the past (altho admiteedly i dont follow local footy), so just going from what i remember here.
and the world has been getting better. in almost every terms.
training etc.
think we need to define those areas so we can set a target to be level with the rest of the world, or level with the best.

where to begin?

Chance is not give by us but they have to get it by themselves.