Hi all, first time poster here.

Something that has impressed me this year has been our development of what I assumed to be mid to lower level players. I’m talking about guys like Melksham, O Mac, Harmes etc. who I felt were ‘filler’ and wouldn’t become much at all. 

It seems to me that we have created a better environment for players to thrive in. I have to hand it to the coaching staff for believing in these guys and giving them the chance to take the next step. I’ll be the first to admit I had no faith in any of them.

Excited to see who else is going to step up!

Go Dees!

Our recruiting and development has been top shelf for a few years now. We've killed the draft selections, and it is starting to show on the park.

I think we all would agree with this. It is especially comforting and a good sign for the future that we are seeing growth from all angles, mature 'renovations', young kids passing expectations, and actual delivery on expectations as players hit that 22-24 year old range where they are supposed to be fully ready.

An extra note, it has been quite something to see stints of VFL time have really positive effects on a few players. The obvious starter gun for that this year being Brayshaw. Seems like there is a good, confidence-building system in place.

Just shows that some players just need games at AFL level to adapt to the speed etc.Also explains at time where players come up from Casey and take a little bit of time to show their true ability. Petty wasn't ready but it was probably good for him to get some exposure to identify this.

Your mid tier guys are the guys who will win premierships. If you look at the swans teams of years gone by, and the current tigers team it is these mid tier guys across the ground that get the job done every week without fanfare. It's consistency with those guys that allows them to really put the sword to opponents.

I was thinking about this the other day when hannan made me look a fool in the team preview thread. With our core player selections being a lot more successful than previous rebuilds and coming of age, its allowed the next rank down more time and lenience. Can you imagine harmes o'mac and anb being given the patience to reach the levels they have when our number 1 pick took off, our marque saviour signing being mitch clark and a midfield that consisted of an injuried trengove undeveloped grimes, with only jones passable (dont forget james sellers in the forward line and tom gillies in defence).

Its nice to think this is what the successful clubs have done. Had an exceptional core (hodge, mitchell, franklin, roughhead. Voss, lappin, power, aker, brown, leppitch. And geelong) and let players develop or bring in plaers to just perform a role.

I feel for the players listed above, players like grimes, trengove, petterd, tapscott if brought into this environment would be the harmes type players not expected to be the olivers, brayshaws.

8 minutes ago, Adzman said:

Your mid tier guys are the guys who will win premierships. If you look at the swans teams of years gone by, and the current tigers team it is these mid tier guys across the ground that get the job done every week without fanfare. It's consistency with those guys that allows them to really put the sword to opponents.

I do find it interesting with the media pumping up Richmond this week with they're inclusions. IMO even without Prestia and Cotchin they would still be healthily in line to win the flag because they get such a consistent team performance.

I believe appointing Rawlings as coach of Casey was an excellent move by MFC. All players who have gone back have shown great committment to Casey, and all the young players have shown great development. I am satisfied that the leadership of the coach as been very beneficial in this great atmosphere at Casey. Go Dees.

Brendan McArtney's role is development coach. He helped create cats  dynasty and then set up doggies for Bevo.

He once told me it takes 5 years to develop a modern league footballer. The late Dean Bailey said it takes 70-80 games together to build a strong team. It fits the pattern of long slow but effective development.

Given the youth and potential of our list and the development offered by the club, I am expecting a breakout in 2020. I will wait.

Go dees.