I was thinking today. I wonder how many players this year (not 2008/09, we were inundated with injury) have been easily in the 22, get dropped because of injury, then have to come back through the VFL the week after, as opposed to just being slotted straight back into the side.

Not a criticism at ALL. But I'd like to see the stats if someone out there is cleverer with computers. Has it been EVERY player?

I can't be bothered checking, but it's normally if they're out for more than a couple of weeks.

Yeah, that's my point. Haven't there been a couple of occasions this year where a player has a corkie, or sprain, or something not too severe, they're given a week off, and then because the replacement does well, they have to wait a couple of weeks in the VFL?

Look, I could be way off the mark here, but it seems to me that when even your captain has to play two weeks in the magoos, then there's obviously a selection policy that goes for the entire team. Not just the second-tier-and-below players...

I think this method has actually created some serious depth. Players like Bartram/Dunn/Bail/Bennell/PJ would traditionally get dropped to squeeze in a "Big name" upon returning from injury. That is no longer the case. These players are getting a chance to build form and experience at the top level, helping the dees develop depth in most areas on the ground.

If you are proppy, you need to show you can play at Casey before getting you red and blue jumper back.

Who would have thought that an under done Matty Bate would be struggling to get a jumper at the start of the season? Not I.

It looks like you will need more than just promise or reputation to get into this team.

Depends on the injury.

Bail played one game in the dewies and busted his cheekbone.

Juniors was a decent hamstring.

Overall though I think he is trying to create a culture of merit based performance. Although his mantra is still to get games into young players. There is a fine line with that as you still have to get the players to play how you want and with intensity - as Morton and Bate have found out.

I think this method has actually created some serious depth. Players like Bartram/Dunn/Bail/Bennell/PJ would traditionally get dropped to squeeze in a "Big name" upon returning from injury. That is no longer the case. These players are getting a chance to build form and experience at the top level, helping the dees develop depth in most areas on the ground.

If you are proppy, you need to show you can play at Casey before getting you red and blue jumper back.

Who would have thought that an under done Matty Bate would be struggling to get a jumper at the start of the season? Not I.

It looks like you will need more than just promise or reputation to get into this team.

Great post Wrath.

We saw the depth last weekend against Brisvegas, where a lot of people were questioning our non-selection of Trengove. For him to play, the logical "out" would have been Bail, and look what happened - Bail played a cracker of a game. As a result, he was an automatic selection for this weekend, and Trengove, while he is certain to play, is still named on the extended bench.

If this is the new policy for when you return from injury, I'm stoked with it. Bailey is creating that culture of people earning their spots in the senior side. It's a totally different culture than what has been around this Club over the past 15 years +.