Casey Scorpions - the off season

[nutbean 8,838]

If we keep going at this rate we will have more development coaches on the payroll than players.

I've asked this question before - what do our coaches do all day, other than standing around scratching their balls?

scratching ones balls is a much undervalued pastime

[The Devil Inside 2,147]

Try

Surprised that Byrnes at age 30 wants to keep battling away at VFL level, but good luck to him.

He's a positive guy. That will be good for Casey especially if they aren't going well like this year.

I'd say McCartney's appointment and Byrnes' are probably linked. He can see himself getting in to the development coaching business (he helped out at Oakleigh this year), so why not be involved where Roos and McCartney will be.

Nice to see ex players positive about the club as well. I read an article about Nicholson today and he had no hard feelings.

Try speaking to him, he actually enjoys playing footy and enjoyed the games he played with the younger guys at Casey, when he went back there he impressed everybody with his attitude, so it is a win win for everybody

[jezhug 54]

That's a great decision by the club.

Casey has really suffered this year with Magner and Couch getting the axe. It will be great for the Scorpions having an experienced head like Byrnesy to help steer the ship and hopefully build a winning culture for our younger players.

Teams like Geelong and Hawthorn have very successful VFL teams, so it would be good to follow their development model.

I want to see our young players this year earn games, not just getting picked because they were the best from a bad bunch. With picks 2 and 3, we really can't afford to stuff up their development!

[binman 42,939]

As noted by (almost) all above a great decision. It is how they should have managed Jnr. Give him another year in the seniors as an on field playing coach (god knows we needed it) and transition him into a development/coaching role. Just as GWS did.

You keep solid citizens around the place - It's how you build a good culture (as opposed to a list)

[Nasher 33,616]

so, what else should they do?

the afl is a well known gravy-train

Fail. It's Henry's face on the train, not Gordon's.

[deanox 9,915]

so, what else should they do?

the afl is a well known gravy train.

I agree with this based on what I've heard from club support staff from other AFL clubs. The word I resourced was the suggestion of 60+ hour weeks is not true, with many coaches heading home mid arvo to pick kids up from school. Much of the preparation work is undertaken by IT guys who prepare video footage, lower level "analysts" who review and write reports on opposition players and teams etc. The coaches read a brief report to the team, plan a training session then go home. Running staff take running sessions. Weights staff take weights sessions. Rehab staff take rehab sessions. Yes the coaches attend most of these but other than the "football drills" they don't do half what they make out they do. Apparently.

[Lucifers Hero 39,779]

Crickey, we have been complaining about our lack of player development for years. Now that we are doing something about it some people think it is OTT!! Both McCartney and Brynes have other roles besides development!

Byrnes at Casey will help the young kids train/play the Roos' way so when players step up to the seniors or are coming back from injury the transition is seamless: Consistent messages, consistent rules, consistent drills, consistent set-ups etc etc.

This has all the hallmarks of Roos' style; smooth transitions, believe in people, succession plans, consistency and develop our own (coaches and administrators as well as players...think Mahoney, Miller, Plapp and now Byrnes). Roos is quietly setting up a 'dynasty of succession' across the whole organisation. I am in awe of the man's ability to see the big picture and be able to implement it.

We may not see the benefit of this work for a 2/3 years but then the 11 current 18 to 21 year old players will be in the 50 to 100 game range and (along with the older players of course) will take us to finals!

[Akum 2,660]

Fail. It's Henry's face on the train, not Gordon's.

Oh the indignity!!!

[Roger Mellie 4,023]

Now all we need is some $$$s at Casey to attract some players

[Redleg 40,914]

Todd Viney the other night at the List talk, explained the problem with Casey as follows; bate, sellar, martin, davis, couch, magner etc leaving the club and creating a huge gap in experience and hard bodies, a lack of development of the players to the standard needed, a lack of consistent MFC playing style throughout both clubs.

He said when a lot of senior blokes leave, as a result of our list turnover and then are replaced with young kids, in a physical VFL competition and then injuries occur, that is what happens, a poor season.

The adding of a new Coach and Development Coach will address a number of those problems.

They don't necessarily want Casey winning flags, but rather developing future MFC players.

[KC from Casey 7,064]

Todd Viney the other night at the List talk, explained the problem with Casey as follows; bate, sellar, martin, davis, couch, magner etc leaving the club and creating a huge gap in experience and hard bodies, a lack of development of the players to the standard needed, a lack of consistent MFC playing style throughout both clubs.

He said when a lot of senior blokes leave, as a result of our list turnover and then are replaced with young kids, in a physical VFL competition and then injuries occur, that is what happens, a poor season.

The adding of a new Coach and Development Coach will address a number of those problems.

They don't necessarily want Casey winning flags, but rather developing future MFC players.

Bate and Martin have been gone for two years and Davis was actually at the club in 2014 as a VFL listed player. The problem for Casey was certainly the loss of AFL experience but it was also the loss of VFL experience as well combined with injury. The young kids with light bodies simply couldn't cut it when opposed to bigger bodied and more experienced opposition especially when they were called on to play a defensive game plan which called for super fitness and massive tanks. They should be better at it in 2015 especially if they get money to recruit some suitable players.

[Whispering_Jack 30,101]

Tweet from Paul Amy who covers VFL for local newspapers:-

"Good signing for Casey Scorpions tonight in Korumburra-Bena defender Paul Pattison.Ex-Gippy Power and in the 2014 Alberton team of the year."

I know very little about this player but it's good to see the Scorpions are doing some recruiting.

[DeeSpencer 25,695]

Tweet from Paul Amy who covers VFL for local newspapers:-

"Good signing for Casey Scorpions tonight in Korumburra-Bena defender Paul Pattison.Ex-Gippy Power and in the 2014 Alberton team of the year."

I know very little about this player but it's good to see the Scorpions are doing some recruiting.

TAC in 2013 and then in the best team of a decent strength country league in his first season, sounds like he must have some talent.

I certainly think you need a handful of really solid experienced VFL players to keep consistency of performance, particularly spread throughout the team so they are a constant to go with the younger VFL guys and the MFC players.

But it's these bottom end signings and continuing to build the culture of players coming out of TAC and local footy and in to the Casey program where I think the value is for both clubs and the partnership.

[demoniac 1,333]

Paul Pattison

http://thestar.com.au/blog/footballers-flown-from-fire/

Presumably final year of TAC Cup was 2013. Might not be willing to participate in a high country pre season training camp.

http://www.sgst.com.au/alberton-season-heats-up/

22/07/2014

Paul Pattison: A skilful midfielder who has played senior football since a young age.
Pattison is a major ball winner for the Bulldogs and continually drives the ball forward.

Good to see that Casey is giving talented footballers from Gippsland their chance to at VFL level. It can be tough to convince some to play VFL because of the increased time commitment and often a pay reduction. The increased coaching resources at Casey this year will hopefully encourage more to try out knowing that the resources will be their to develop their games. The challenge they face is keeping the ones who do make the grade when the clubs like Willy come calling and offering a chance to move to the big smoke.

[KC from Casey 7,064]

Melbourne scored a coup this week when it drafted Christian Petracca from the Eastern Ranges but the Casey Scorpions also did well to sign Petracca's teammate, captain and club best and fairest winner at the Ranges in Luke Hannon.

[Whispering_Jack 30,101]

Melbourne scored a coup this week when it drafted Christian Petracca from the Eastern Ranges but the Casey Scorpions also did well to sign Petracca's teammate, captain and club best and fairest winner at the Ranges in Luke Hannon.

Eastern Ranges captain and best and fairest Luke Hannon joins Casey Scorpions

The similarities between Hannon and Petracca continue.

"Hannon, a former state under-age basketballer, has agreed to a two-year deal."

Hannon is about the same height as the Demon draftee at 187cm but is almost 20kg lighter at 76kg.

[KC from Casey 7,064]

Bayley Fritsch of Coldstream Football Club in the Eastern Districts Football League has signed with the Casey Scorpions for 2015. He was runner up in his club's flag-winning Under 19s this year and also took out the EDFL Division 3/4 Young Gun Award.

[rjay 24,923]

Bayley Fritsch of Coldstream Football Club in the Eastern Districts Football League has signed with the Casey Scorpions for 2015. He was runner up in his club's flag-winning Under 19s this year and also took out the EDFL Division 3/4 Young Gun Award.

That's a long way off VFL standard.

[dazzledavey36 54,922]

That's a long way off VFL standard.

Unfortunately thats where Caseys recruitment have to come from. Obviously cannot afford to recruit ex AFL players or other VFL players our best bet is basically kids from TAC cup..

[Biffen 12,943]

There is a blowfly in my room I have named Reginald that needs my immediate attention,

but I will be back to discuss this in the near future.

[demoniac 1,333]

That's a long way off VFL standard.

He might not be. Presume Casey think he has VFL potential. Could be a late physical developer. Could have always had talent but not taken footy seriously.

[demoniac 1,333]

Unfortunately thats where Caseys recruitment have to come from. Obviously cannot afford to recruit ex AFL players or other VFL players our best bet is basically kids from TAC cup..

Shannon Byrnes is an ex AFL player...

[Biffen 12,943]

he has a personality all of his own,with quite an off beat flying pattern.

Seems to have gone quiet lately though.

[DeeSpencer 25,695]

The Footscray Bulldogs won the VFL last year with the following ex-AFL players on their VFL list:

Brent Prismall

Will Sullivan (former West Coast ruck I've never heard of)

Nick Lower

Jordan Russell

Lukas Markovic

2 other young guys - Darcy Fort and Jordan Keras came across from Werribee. Without knowing much about them I doubt they are top end VFL players. It seems the rest of their list was made up with guys from local leagues and out of the TAC comp.

Now Troy Davis and Shannon Byrnes only makes 2 ex AFL players. But we probably enter this season with more experienced VFL players than the Dogs did last year. Such as Evan Panozza, Tim Smith, Jake Best and the 4 guys who trained at the MFC recently.

For the record Box Hill Hawks have 4 - Marc Lock, Sam Crocker, Sam Iles and Ayden Kennedy. The majority of the players on their list come from the Oakleigh Chargers or Eastern Rangers. Casey should and seemingly are trying to do the same thing with Gippsland Power, Dandy Stringrays and/or Sandy Dragons

[rjay 24,923]

Unfortunately thats where Caseys recruitment have to come from. Obviously cannot afford to recruit ex AFL players or other VFL players our best bet is basically kids from TAC cup..

...but 'dazzle' this kid is from the EFL 4th division under 19's.

He's coming from a long way back. For a comparison Leigh Williams was BOG in the first division senior GF this year...he struggled with illness but hardly set Casey alight.

Really hope he is a find but I don't know how you would put a line through his form.

Edited December 4, 2014 by rjay