Speaking on Port Adelaide’s ‘Mad Monday’ - the first day of off-season for the club’s playing group, Cassisi acknowledged the benefit injecting new talent through trades and drafting into the side had provided the Power with in 2012.
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Port recruited Brad Ebert, John McCarthy and Brent Renouf to Alberton last summer and all three provided boosts in their respective areas.
Ebert is a favourite to pick up the club’s best and fairest award on Friday night.
McCarthy has played the majority of games as an outside ball-winner while Renouf featured as Port’s number one ruckman prior to a knee injury.
“We’ve added a bit more depth to it last year with Brad and McCarthy and Brent Renouf who’s obviously been a bit injured,” said Casissi.
“If we can add a few more to that sort of mix I think we’re going in the right direction.
“Some of our young guys are making some pretty good steps.”
Those “young guys” include Round 22 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee Chad Wingard who played twenty games and has emerged as an exciting midfielder this year.
Tagging close behind has been Aaron Young whose twelve-game debut finished strongly with impactful performances against West Coast, Brisbane and Richmond.
Cassisi would not be drawn on who the Power would consider drafting in October but did endorse the pursuit of other experienced players to Alberton.
“That’s for the match committee to decide,” said Cassisi.
“I think two or three more of them [experienced trades] will really add to our depths and pressure for spots.”
Coupled with an active involvement in the October trade period, Cassisi put the responsibility of resurrecting Port’s on-field performance in the hands of its playing group.
“We’ve seen clubs turn around form pretty quickly,” he said.
“You look at our cross-town rivals [the Crows] and West Coast a few years ago - it can all change really quickly.
“We obviously have a new coach coming in but a lot of the onus is on us as a playing group [to] have a good eight weeks off, come back in good condition and have a great summer.
“Seasons are often based around your summer.”
Stay tuned to PortAdelaideFC.com.au throughout the off-season for the latest on the club’s 2013 recruiting and pre-season training.