Agree. One of our biggest problems is we have to many guys scraping into the division above into a struggling team.Your should always invest in all grades! Don't rely on one set of youngsters, have a conveyor belt.
That's what clubs like the Panthers, Sharks, Raiders have
If we had kept a few of those players in the lower grades to let them dominate, not only would it breed a “winning culture” but it would help the one or two players making the step not look so out of place because the mistakes wouldn’t be as costly or more likely to be covered. If the blokes either side of you are struggling and second guessing themselves also it compounds and becomes a self fulfilling proficy.
Build a strong Flegg and KOE cup, then that experience and culture will flow into the top grade when they debut as long as you sprinkle it with marquee players and everyone is at a capable level.
We have the marquee players now. Paps, API, Bateman, Klemmer. Problem is the rest of the team has been promoted into a team that has been losing for a decade and have been promoted through unsuccessful lower grades that were transient in nature and players were hoping for a quick debut because of the poor quality first grade side.