McCartin will lift young group to new levels

[hungry for a premiership]

....even though he himself isn't expected to have much of an impact for a few years, the immediate benefits we'll see from having him at the club, imo, (and this is where the genius of selecting him at pick one lies) is that his presence - the presence of a dominant forward, as opposed to the presence of another skilled midlfielder ala petracca - will inspire the young core group that materialised last year - the dunstans, newnes's, curran's, webster's, billings' et al - to reach new heights in their games faster than they would have if there was no strong succession plan for life post-Nick.

Put yourself in Billings shoes. So much pressure and expectation and hype on his shoulders this year - expectations that he lived up to for mine. But now that McCartin is at the club, all of a sudden the pressure valve is released on him and he's granted the freedom to just play confidently within his role as a member of the team, now that we have have the dominant-forward number-one draft-pick whose face all these midfielders now know they will be seeing and kicking to for around about the next ten years. It allows the core of the (new) team to establish their relationships and settle into their rhythms which leads to a stronger sense of unity within the team, to a team all pulling in the same direction.

Congratulations to Ameet Baines, Tony Elshaugh, and the rest of the St.kilda brains trust on their sterling efforts in holding to the steadfast vision for the team that the club has committed to, and building the core of the squad that will lead us to our second premiership. No doubt we'll be able to load up in next years draft after what will almost surely be another bottom 4 finish next season, and then.... the only way is up.

Can't wait to watch this young team take shape, grow and build, then become dominant..... exciting times!

(Also the impact of drafting McCartin - as opposed to petracca - on the other forwards - Lee, Siposs, Stanl-.. well, lee and sips - spells a red-letter day for the fate of their careers, instead of them floating along making no significant improvements whilst the Roo is still present)

[Verdun66]

Top post. Agree with your thoughts.

[Vazelos]

Excellent post.
The point you made about the presuure off Billings is compounded the following year when we get another top 3 pick (dont see us going higher than bottom 3) and we load up with Mid fielders.
These players that have been around by then a few years ala Tom Lee, Sipposs etc know thay have to deliver if they want to be part of this exciting young list.
One the Free agency strategy kicks in 2017 we will be ready to climb up the ladder.