Continuity and confidence have produced a breakout first half of the season for Casey utility Paddy Cross.
Cross has played all 11 games for Casey this season after managing just 10 at the level across the previous two seasons combined, largely as a result of repeat hamstring injuries.
The Nar Nar Goon local kicked a career-high four goals in the Dees’ most recent game, a 29-point win over Essendon last Saturday night before a bye.
Splitting his time mostly between the wing and forward line, the 183cm talent has hit the scoreboard in seven of the last eight games, stretching back to Casey’s round 3 loss to Geelong, a performance Cross pinpoints as crucial for his self belief.
“It took me a few games and I was on limited minutes first three rounds but down in Geelong I had a pretty good game and got all my confidence back from that game and it’s been ongoing,” Cross said.
“That was the turning point this year where I realised I was more than capable at the level.
“I was happy with my game (last) weekend but it’s a build-up of my hard work throughout the season and building that confidence in my body after being out of the game for so long.”
The promising 2025 form has come off the back of a very limited pre-season as the 22-year-old sought to fully recover from his hamstring setbacks.
Into his third year on Casey’s list and has made the graduation into the leadership group of a young Dees squad.
While the group has long since evolved from his first year at the club, learnings from VFL stalwarts Jimmy Munro and former skipper Mitch White have informed his own leadership.
“One thing I love is building relationships with the boys by working hard and training and the fun time is on the weekends playing games.
“Being out there again and getting that footy feel which I missed in rehab has been really exciting.
“We’ve got a good group of VFL boys and there isn’t much opportunity but just the fact that everyone who comes in is ready to go so we’re training hard and enjoying it.”
That attitude and skillset which earned him a spot in the leadership group, highlight his cultural importance to the squad.
Equally, it illustrates the difficulty of the last two injury-punctuated years which naturally separated him from the team.
“I feel like the second rehab I got a lot of even though it was tough on the mind,” Cross said.
“I looked at ways I could grow, which was putting on size, so I focussed on that.
“I’ve never been a big body so I definitely wanted the strength to help me add strings to my bow and play as a deep forward and mid at VFL level where you’re coming up against mature AFL listed players.
“So I honed in on my physical attributes and obviously looked at ways I could make my game more impactful.”
Cross’ average statsline in 2025 of 13 disposals and four marks sounds modest but if you watch a Casey game, his impact is apparent.
He flies for marks, seizes his moments, is involved in plenty of scoring chains, opens up space for teammates and hunts with venom when he doesn’t have the footy, with his team-first mentality endearing itself to coach Taylor Whitford.
“His numbers won’t say he’s killing it per se but he’s coming from a long way back and is having a big impact on games,” Whitford told Pakenham Gazette last month.
“He’s high impact, in terms of what he does for the team: his running capacity, his ability to defend, and his impact when he has the ball is, at I think, greater than a VFL level.
Just as importantly in an AFL-aligned program is the Gippsland Power alumni’s versatility.
With AFL-listed players prioritised on the teamsheet, VFL players are often left to fill the remaining positions, with Cross’ adaptable skillset, which is continually growing, keeping him in the team regardless of the AFL players Whitford has at his disposal.
“My marking ability has strengthened this year,” Cross said when assessing his own game.
“I’ve always had good a pretty good set of hands but my ability to be more developed and mature and knowing where to run and how to use my body has made me a more well-rounded footballer.
I think my one on one stuff has also improved – because I’ve been playing a lot forward, I pride myself on winning or halving contests when the ball comes down.
“Obviously I want to play AFL footy and I feel like I’m capable, but it’s just about getting my body right which is one tick so far and playing a full season of VFL will be really good for me, so I’m just taking step by step.”
