Geelong VFL coach has pointed to squad stability as an important driver of Geelong's VFL success this season.
Speaking at Monday's VFL media opportunity, Corrigan referenced the buy-in of AFL-listed players Rhys Stanley, Mitch Knevitt, J.J. Liston Medallist George Stevens and Jed Bews several times across the course of a 10-minute conversation.
The Cats finished on top of the table with a 16-2 record, defeating Tasmania and Port Melbourne in their two finals.
"The wins-loss column suggests it has been a consistently strong year, and it has been; we've been really fortunate to have a blend of youth and experience and maturity," Corrigan said.
"At VFL level, that can be out of your control, but the buy-in from the AFL players has been so important, and we've got a good nucleus of guys around the footy as well.
"It's been incredibly driven, and the ownership has been driven by the players."
Corrigan coached a Casey side containing VFL stalwarts Jimmy Munro and Mitch White to a premiership in 2022 and highlighted the role the VFL-listed players have to play in a state league premiership push.
Jamieson Ballantyne has caught attention as a player who could push for higher honours; skipper Dan Capiron has been consistent, while former AFL-listed pair Jay Rantall and Nathan Kreuger have also played key roles.
"What you need is a nucleus of guys who are stable throughout the year because there's so much change in your dynamic week-to-week at VFL level, so what we've had here is lots of guys who have played a lot of footy," Corrigan noted.
"We've been healthy and had consistency among VFL-listed players. And the connection piece has been excellent - our group is really close in that space.
"The strong investment from the AFL players has been outstanding. It's been an organic mix in terms of the way it came together, and they've been keen to play for each other, and it's been great to watch."
Geelong has long been noted for their ability to develop and nurture talent off the back of strong recruiting, with first-year rookie Jesse Mellor and second-year defender Lennox Hofmann among the talent who have been vying for an AFL debut.
Corrigan believes in another situation both could have played AFL this year.
Mellor has kicked 42 goals and alongside Ballantyne has been an important scoring source. That pair will be accompanied by Jay Polkinghorne this week, who is eligible and fit to return following the AFL side being bundled out in the semi-final.
"Jesse's foundation is built off being ultra-competitive, so when you have that sort of instinctive behaviour, it holds you in good stead, so we see that," Corrigan said.
"He hates losing, he's super competitive, he trains at a level that allows him to always get better, and he's got some strong weapons he's been able to put on show because of the way he wants to play the game.
"He does everything at an intensity that sets himself up to play a game at that level."
Hofmann, meanwhile, had his contract extended until 2027 in July and has been particularly close to an AFL berth.
"Lenny Hofmann is so detailed in what he does Monday-Friday, he's got some unbelievable physical attributes in his speed and power and the size he is, but he's been ultra-consistent from what he does on the track in craft, what he does with his review throughout the week, he's the ultimate professional," Corrigan said.
Their performance suggests they were incredibly close, and for a couple of weeks there Lenny was right in the mix.
The Cats take on Box Hill at Ikon Park on Sunday in the VFL Grand Final.
