This spring saw the realisation dawn upon a Scottish sporting legend that it might be time to call it a day.
Much faded from the vision in green burned into the nation’s sporting memory, Sandy Lyle mused that his next annual nostalgia trip to Augusta should perhaps be his last.
However sweetly shots can these days be struck by Sandy, balls propelled by muscular golfers half his age fly far beyond where his come to rest.
In truth, Sandy became uncompetitive long ago: 34 years removed from his last top-ten finish in a major, his longevity stems from the ability of participants in individual sports to reset their goals to match their changing abilities.
Team players have no such luxury. They must constantly live up to the standard of the collective, else drag it down. And for that reason, Jim Goodwin’s declared decision to turn loose most of the experienced heart of this squad is, whether correct or not, understandable.
Athletic evolution is such that when physical prowess begins to decline – as one day it must – even the greats quickly sink down the ranks. Aberdeen themselves have been stung plenty by signing high-profile but aged players, only to discover the decay which saw them become available to the club rapidly making them unfit for it.
It is no surprise that Goodwin, a proudly fitness-first coach, subscribes to Bob Paisley’s maxim of ensuring players’ legs go on another manager’s watch. Andy Considine, afforded a mere sixty seconds to demonstrate the extent to which his has repaired since the calamity in Baku, is particularly unfortunate to be pushed while he can still jump.
But he will not be the last victim of the ruthless sporting truth that, however many games you have played, the most important one is always the next one.
