CASEY Demons coach Jade Rawlings says a one club mentality between Casey and Melbourne has played an integral part in the VFL side gaining a double-chance in this year’s finals series.

Speaking in the lead-up to Casey’s second qualifying final against Geelong at Casey Fields on Saturday, Rawlings said he was proud of the way Casey and Melbourne had continued to build on its partnership in 2018.   

“It’s been great for the club to put ourselves into the position to get a double-chance and a home final,” he told Melbourne Media.

“We've had a really good alignment for a couple of years now, between Casey and Melbourne, and I’ve been extremely pleased with the way the groups have come together this year.

“Just about every week we've had multiple changes in the team, but each group that goes out to represent us comes together the way we’ve asked and played the way we’ve wanted to – that’s led to us being in the position we are now.”

Rawlings said he was looking for his side to bounce back this weekend, after losing its past two matches, on the back of 12 consecutive wins. 

“I’m really good mates with Craig McRae from VFL Richmond and we spoke about the form line going into finals. It’s not so much the form, but the learnings that you can gather from your last few games," he said. 

“We’ve lost our last two to two good oppositions, who are both top five opponents, so we’ve been challenged in a few ways and haven’t been able to meet the standard over the last couple of weeks.

“We’ve been able to come out of those games knowing where we’ve been deficient and we think that we’ve done the training and the reviewing to be in better stead for the first final on Saturday, where it all starts from scratch.”

Jayden Hunt, Joel Smith, Mitch Hannan and Tom Bugg are set to play, adding strength to a Casey side, which features the likes of Jeff Garlett and Cam Pedersen, who combined for seven goals in the VFL last week.  

“When those guys are back available, it certainly strengthens the team and it puts all of our other players in the team in the positions they’re more suited, rather than cover spots where we might be deficient,” he said.

“I think Hunt and Smith have been terrific in their rehab since they injured themselves and they’ve been really committed to getting back for this game.

“Bugg was the carryover player for last week, and hopefully Mitch Hannan will play after overcoming his knee [problem]. So, they’re the four we’ve got playing back into our group on top of the group we had last week.”

Rawlings said the finals were also a great opportunity for the likes Jay Lockhart, who has been a fine player with Casey this year and looms as a genuine draft prospect.

“One of the things that our club has been great at is providing VFL-listed players with a good program and good environment to propel them into AFL contention,” he said.

“We’ve had a few players flourish in the program, including Jay Lockhart, Corey Wagner, Mitch Lewis, Cory Machaya and among others, who have improved and grown as the year’s gone on.

“I’ve always had a healthy respect for the VFL, but AFL and VFL-listed players always emerge in the finals and I’m looking forward to seeing them better their reputations.”

Rawlings said he relished returning to the VFL as a senior coach, having previously been Coburg Tigers coach. On top of that, he has been Richmond senior coach, and an assistant with Brisbane Lions and Melbourne, giving Rawlings a wealth of coaching experience. 

He has completed the level four AFL coaching course and having produced an excellent season in the VFL, continues to enhance his reputation as an AFL senior coach in waiting.

“[It’s been] my most enjoyable year of coaching this year,” he said.

“I did it 10 years ago at Coburg and had a great time and I’ve been lucky enough to have been an assistant – and loved it – over the past nine years, so to get back being the coach of a club - and a team - has been sensational.

“I haven’t been in a finals series since 2008, when I was at Coburg, so it’s been a long time coming. But I’ve had a ball this year and wherever it takes us – I know we’ll get to where we want to.

“I've thanked the club and the players for what they’ve created for my family and myself, just through how they’ve gone about it and made the year so enjoyable.

“So, I’ve been very fortunate that the club has given me the opportunity and I've been thankful by the people I've been surrounded with.”