I don't get it, what players are coming through then?
You criticise AFL for not being tough any more, yet you don't watch AFL for Hall, so who is it that you don't like watching?
Look at the recent draft picks. Marc Murphy, Adam Cooney, Trent Cotchin, Joel Selwood and Rhys Palmer... they're all not typical athletes, they're in and under players with skill, class and tough at the ball attitude.
I'm assuming you know who they are btw, if you don't watch AFL that's fine, but don't peg it when there's more class and skill in modern day players than ever. Its the toughness and physical ways that have gone out of the game.
That's why your women's tennis comparison doesn't work. Strength and power has never been less important, rather than being more important nowadays. Speed and skill are what players need, otherwise they just don't get selected. No more blue collar players like your Jason Johnson and Toby Liberatore. Not many more anyway.