The new Cat's Chairman Colin Carter had a very revealing interview on ABC radio today. I know Colin from his very distinguished Management consulting days, and his days as AFL commissioner. He is a very astute guy.

He related the finding he had had from spending two weeks with Barcelona FC just before their European soccer triumph against ManU, which in most people's mind puts them top of the heap in terms of football clubs around the world.

When he was asked what made them different, there were a number of things, but in terms of making the team impregnable no matter where they are on the ladder he nominated the absolute essential of teaching the players coming through the system as to how to play "the Barcelona way". He says that is how the GFC is getting around the restrictions of the salary cap. It seems to be working.

Given we seem to be on a journey of developing a unique playing style (much criticised by commentators when it doesn't work but lauded when it does like Friday night), it does not seem to fit that we have a seconds team that appears to believe it does not exist to serve the interests of the MFC (aka Fevola). Certainly, for those who have watched Casey play, they do not practise the urgent skills the MFC needs such as forward press, and play-on football, and the importance of attack out of the back-line. That was what was on display on Friday night.

Surely if we are to be successful in the longer term, and to be "the Team of the Decade" to which the club aspires, then we urgently need to control the nursery. Otherwise, we will always be behind the cats and the maggies.

We have come a long way in a couple of years, but i think this is an urgent issue for next year.

Unfortunately it wont happen our alignment to Casey is too important to our growth and future.

It gives us a foothold on a massive growth corridor.

At the moment our development doesn't look to suffer too much.

Would like to see the incorporation of demon into the Casey name.

Casey Demons would be good don't know if it would ever be considered however.

The new Cat's Chairman Colin Carter had a very revealing interview on ABC radio today. I know Colin from his very distinguished Management consulting days, and his days as AFL commissioner. He is a very astute guy.

He related the finding he had had from spending two weeks with Barcelona FC just before their European soccer triumph against ManU, which in most people's mind puts them top of the heap in terms of football clubs around the world.

When he was asked what made them different, there were a number of things, but in terms of making the team impregnable no matter where they are on the ladder he nominated the absolute essential of teaching the players coming through the system as to how to play "the Barcelona way". He says that is how the GFC is getting around the restrictions of the salary cap. It seems to be working.

Given we seem to be on a journey of developing a unique playing style (much criticised by commentators when it doesn't work but lauded when it does like Friday night), it does not seem to fit that we have a seconds team that appears to believe it does not exist to serve the interests of the MFC (aka Fevola). Certainly, for those who have watched Casey play, they do not practise the urgent skills the MFC needs such as forward press, and play-on football, and the importance of attack out of the back-line. That was what was on display on Friday night.

Surely if we are to be successful in the longer term, and to be "the Team of the Decade" to which the club aspires, then we urgently need to control the nursery. Otherwise, we will always be behind the cats and the maggies.

We have come a long way in a couple of years, but i think this is an urgent issue for next year.

Couldn't agree more....Spend the money Demons. We need a stand alone Reserve side, so all our list train at AAMI & Casey in summer, play together weekly.

The Hun had a similiar article today talking about the Filth.

Spend the money even if the supporters need to help out a little.

We must be Pro Active for this MFC to grow....We can be a large club in Victoria (I am watching the Dogs on TV right now-There is a club in trouble, the window has passed them by & they still struggle for members and large crowds)

Unfortunately it wont happen our alignment to Casey is too important to our growth and future.

Why can't we still be based in Casey, but just have a stand alone VFL team? Casey Scorps wouldn't survive without MFC funding, so we would be the only VFL team based in Casey.

At the end of the day it probably would make a 5% difference having our own team... but premiership can be won and loss due to that last 1-2%!

I don't really think we've been compromised much though by VFL players this season... for much of a the year the senior team has had 14+ MFC players in it. Fevola seems to be helping out the young forwards and the panic that he'd destroy the development of our players has proved unfounded

Unfortunately it wont happen our alignment to Casey is too important to our growth and future.

It gives us a foothold on a massive growth corridor.

At the moment our development doesn't look to suffer too much.

Would like to see the incorporation of demon into the Casey name.

Casey Demons would be good don't know if it would ever be considered however.

As i understand it the deal we have with Casey Council does cater for a change in status of the seconds team ie if the relationship between MFC and CFC broke down, then the facilities at Casey and the links to the local community would revert to the MFC. This is doable under these circumstances, and it makes why Casey gave the two finger to the MFC all the more inexplicable when the Fevola issue arose.

Think I heard somewhere that it costs around $300,000pa to field your own VFL side.

Also, remember it being mentioned that our contribution to Casey Scorps is worth around $100,000pa.

Edited June 4, 201114 yr by 36DD

I am all for having a reserves side but can I just say that Brad Gotch employs the structures that the Demons employ.

There is more synchronisation than many believe.

Edited June 4, 201114 yr by rpfc

Why can't we still be based in Casey, but just have a stand alone VFL team? Casey Scorps wouldn't survive without MFC funding, so we would be the only VFL team based in Casey.

At the end of the day it probably would make a 5% difference having our own team... but premiership can be won and loss due to that last 1-2%!

I don't really think we've been compromised much though by VFL players this season... for much of a the year the senior team has had 14+ MFC players in it. Fevola seems to be helping out the young forwards and the panic that he'd destroy the development of our players has proved unfounded

Mick Malthouse would not have been able to sort out such intricate tactics in last years flag without a reserve side.

Players learnt tactics in the 2's and were able to step straight in, i am sure the same can be said for Geelong.

I am sure we can still work with Casey and in those suburbs but AFL clubs need a full 100% feeder team that is picked by the same match committee.

It will happen eventually....Barcelona do get it right!!!

I don't know how much there is in it compared to last year. The rules have changed now for the AFL-VFL affiliate relationship re: number of players on the park. So you could basically set up your own systems anyway by having a side dominated by MFC players playing the MFC way. The coaches would understand this and adapt as such, probably moving the VFL listed guys to play in the mould of their AFL counterparts.

And besides, right now I would prefer my membership $$ in that sort of area going towards projects like the Bentleigh Club to secure the long-term viability of the MFC than a short-term flag tilt. Yes, I know that the goal is always premierships, but to win a flag but not see the club's position improving relative to the rest of the AFL would be more problematic long-term.

Edited June 4, 201114 yr by Striker475

I don't know how much there is in it compared to last year. The rules have changed now for the AFL-VFL affiliate relationship re: number of players on the park. So you could basically set up your own systems anyway by having a side dominated by MFC players playing the MFC way. The coaches would understand this and adapt as such, probably moving the VFL listed guys to play in the mould of their AFL counterparts.

And besides, right now I would prefer my membership $$ in that sort of area going towards projects like the Bentleigh Club to secure the long-term viability of the MFC than a short-term flag tilt. Yes, I know that the goal is always premierships, but to win a flag but not see the club's position improving relative to the rest of the AFL would be more problematic long-term.

agreed

new vfl rules make it pointless really to own a stand alone vfl side seeing as most of the players who arent injured are playing vfl ones anyway. and if they dont it is mainly as they are rookies who on good performances will be promoted.

no point spending money when we dont need to spend it, and the deal we got with casey is pretty good.

from all reports brad gotch is working hard with the melbourne coaching staff and implementing a melbourne based game style so the players are running the correct motions.

I don't know how much there is in it compared to last year. The rules have changed now for the AFL-VFL affiliate relationship re: number of players on the park. So you could basically set up your own systems anyway by having a side dominated by MFC players playing the MFC way. The coaches would understand this and adapt as such, probably moving the VFL listed guys to play in the mould of their AFL counterparts.

And besides, right now I would prefer my membership $$ in that sort of area going towards projects like the Bentleigh Club to secure the long-term viability of the MFC than a short-term flag tilt. Yes, I know that the goal is always premierships, but to win a flag but not see the club's position improving relative to the rest of the AFL would be more problematic long-term.

Fair comments S475, but concerning the Bentleigh Club, wouldn't you think the club will prosper moreso as the team improves??

I admit i do not know the entire workings of our casey alignment, and if it is good-Great, no complaints-But the Filth/Cats blueprints seem to be pretty solid.

That said, the young Casey boys who have played for the senior team this year certainly look ready.

I will be interested to see how the club handles this compared to other clubs in the next 1-2 years.