Watching the Ashes has proven to me that the most important thing for any team sport is getting the right people. The players haven't changed that much but the coaching staff have, all of the sudden players are happy, confident and winning. The same can be said about Port Adelaide last year they fixed off field followed by appointing a new set of coaches, same playing list but they all played like different players.

This gives you hope, most on this site don't believe our players aren't as bad as what we have seen over the past 3 years. Training is different you can see the quality of training is a lot higher this year, the players looked focused and as Trengove mentioned recently balanced.

Like both Port and the Australian Cricket Team confidence is the next key, getting that early kill that creates the belief that the new way is the right way. Unfortunately for us we were Port's early kill last year.

Are we finally getting it right, one can only hope.

I think it also shows that not everything "new age" and "modern" is better.

Get the basics right in any sport and you are 90% of the way there.

I think it also shows that not everything "new age" and "modern" is better.

Get the basics right in any sport and you are 90% of the way there.

Said something similar to my brother today 'Clint'. Having people like Roos, Stone and Allison around the place that players respect and also that show respect back to players and not treat them as naughty school boys must make a big difference.

Use your footy and people smarts as a coach and understand what people about, not purely what sports science and text books say they should be.

The cricket team shows what can be done. What happened to the rotation policy and writing essays?

I just listened to Paul Roos on the club website, and love this quote about the new, young recruits:

" they have to train hard, learn good habits... If they play one game in their first year it's a bonus. For us, if we are a good organisation and a good team, young players find it hard to get into really good sides. We want to be a really good side, that for young players no matter where they are drafted at, struggle to get a game."

Match those words up against Watts, Scully, Trengove etc... and their introduction to AFL over the past few years.

Now this is "getting it right".

Darren Lehman obviously sets high standards on the team, but at the same time can have a beer with the boys when the job is done.

Respect has to go both ways for success.

I just listened to Paul Roos on the club website, and love this quote about the new, young recruits:

" they have to train hard, learn good habits... If they play one game in their first year it's a bonus. For us, if we are a good organisation and a good team, young players find it hard to get into really good sides. We want to be a really good side, that for young players no matter where they are drafted at, struggle to get a game."

Match those words up against Watts, Scully, Trengove etc... and their introduction to AFL over the past few years.

Now this is "getting it right".

It is of course much easier to implement if you have a reasonable side and don' t need to rush in anyone with a small showing of talent.

IMO our major problem has been with a crap list any recruit looks a better option than the more experienced but poor players.

I sincerely hope we perform much better and can afford to keep the kids at Casey.

It is of course much easier to implement if you have a reasonable side and don' t need to rush in anyone with a small showing of talent.

IMO our major problem has been with a crap list any recruit looks a better option than the more experienced but poor players.

I sincerely hope we perform much better and can afford to keep the kids at Casey.

Yes, you're right.

The original mistake was after the disappointment of 2007 we got rid of solid pros and didn't replace like-for-like.

Throwing kids in the deep end is not something I see strong teams, in any sport, do.

Oh, and we are still very young and inexperienced...

Clark, Dawes, Vince, Jones, Cross, Frawley, Garland, Jamar, Byrnes, and Dunn, are our most experienced 10. Only a few (5 IMO) can claim they are definitively in our best team (see Clark, Dawes, Vince, Jones, Cross, Frawley, and Garland) and don't have form or injury related question marks over them (see Vince, Jones, Cross, Frawley and Garland).

A great deal will be asked of the other players with over 50 games experience - another 5: Trengove, Grimes, Watts, Howe, and McKenzie.

Hopefully the above can shoulder the vast load and allow the younger ones to develop.

Yes, you're right.

The original mistake was after the disappointment of 2007 we got rid of solid pros and didn't replace like-for-like.

Throwing kids in the deep end is not something I see strong teams, in any sport, do.

Oh, and we are still very young and inexperienced...

Clark, Dawes, Vince, Jones, Cross, Frawley, Garland, Jamar, Byrnes, and Dunn, are our most experienced 10. Only a few (5 IMO) can claim they are definitively in our best team (see Clark, Dawes, Vince, Jones, Cross, Frawley, and Garland) and don't have form or injury related question marks over them (see Vince, Jones, Cross, Frawley and Garland).

A great deal will be asked of the other players with over 50 games experience - another 5: Trengove, Grimes, Watts, Howe, and McKenzie.

Hopefully the above can shoulder the vast load and allow the younger ones to develop.

I remember the same discussion we had 3 years ago rpfc.

I was far from confident then and only slightly more confident now.

I think 2014 is going to be harder work than a lot on here hope.

Good thread drdrake. I vote we rotate the 'joke of the day' around the club, like Boof, but its 100 push ups for each one that is not funny.

But seriously... good staff, the right staff, will develop the players and the club culture for players to believe in the group. We couldn't have had greater contrast in that then over the last 12 mths. Got to win some more games now.

The boys definately seem happier at training and the drills while similar to last years are executed very differently. The relationship between Roos and players seems very good, You can see it in the New Age add on the web site, he is prepared to have a laugh with them and engage them as people.

I would love to see the draftees running around at Casey for a year or so learing the game plan and hopefully winning and gaining confidence playing against men. We have sacrificed too many young players over recent years and I recon Maldonboys comments above are spot on.

We now have the players in the midfield to be a settled team and hopefully we dont see the youngsters from this year for at least 2 unless they are standouts like Hogan.

Pity the 'Like' button has been disabled. So much in this thread to 'Like'.

(Don't get me wrong, about the 'Like' button. I appreciate the integrity of the system is paramount).

round 1 is a massive day for the club

wish it was at the G

Again old dee negative again, u do know pessimist die younger, this year is a open book, and on the cricket team itisgood to win the ashes back, but whereis the next generation came in good this ashes has beenwon by olderplayers

Again old dee negative again, u do know pessimist die younger, this year is a open book, and on the cricket team itisgood to win the ashes back, but whereis the next generation came in good this ashes has beenwon by olderplayers

Oh get over it.

It is a discussion about our lack of experienced players.

No amount of positivity by supporters will cover up our lack of experience.

You were probably telling me how good we would be in 2012 and 2013.

Oh get over it.

It is a discussion about our lack of experienced players.

No amount of positivity by supporters will cover up our lack of experience.

You were probably telling me how good we would be in 2012 and 2013.

No your wrong my post are balanced, i never say how goodwe are going to be, and u won't find a post where i have said that, nor have i said that now.

We shouldn't expect miracles. It's the exception, not the rule that a team goes from 2-12 to 12-10 or 14-8.

However, we should expect a bit more next year than in previous years. We have been burnt before but the blokes in charge now have a record to fall back on. Not a great load of catch phrases like about how much they 'love the club' and 'bleed red and blue'.