How do you explain size of losses over past two weeks?
I think it's self evident in a sense. We haven't been performing at the level required. Internally we know there's some challenges with what we're doing. I think we had eight players under 10 games, or six. And eight under 20. I'm not sure how they looked. But from our end, that's where our improvement needs to come from. Our senior players are carrying the load. We had 18 entries to six in the first quarter, and we were doing everything we wanted to. But the evidence of polish and the ability to execute was still there. Some inefficiencies. And really our whole team defence - our ability to defend over the past two weeks has been deplorable. I mean they had 50 entries and kicked 25 goals five, so the ball's not rebounding out. And you can't spread the ball. We turned it over. They kicked seven goals at one point, one out of the middle but it was six from moving the ball out of the backline. So we've got some young players with no composure, just when you've got time and space and you've got options, turning the ball over. So that's the reality of it. We need to train that up and ask them to play with more composure and learn their lessons. But it's just a fact of life at the moment. I don't think it comes as a complete surprise. And then what happened is they kicked incredibly straight, and our stoppage work and all that and then everything fell away a bit, that hope and that spirit. Which the burden on your senior players becomes too great. That's the reality of our situation at the minute. We're really disappointed. We spoke about in the rooms, the weight of numbers is inexperience and the season's ending. But they need to be thinking about what their break looks like, of improvement, how they need to return and the hard work that lays in front of us to be a competitive AFL team, which at times this year we've really shown. We went on a run and won six out of seven close games. And bar these last two weeks, we've had a lot of competitive football in between that. So that tipping point of weight of numbers of inexperience and youth and probably quality, that tipping point happens, and that's what we've seen over the last few weeks.
Is it a matter of a young team hitting the wall at the end of the season?
I think there's a little bit of that. I'm no expert in the area. We're really disappointed after a positive opening. We felt we shot ourselves in the foot with our ball use, going down the line and no composure. There's a couple of kicks up the middle where we had options but that's young players. And our ability to defend, our backline most of them were playing at Peel last year. If you look at Ryan Nyhuis, Griffin Logue was playing Swan Districts Under 18s, and a bit of seniors, Luke Ryan was playing for Coburg. That's not to be derogatory. That's just a reality of our back six. I thought Joel Hamling fought on out of the backs.
What can you do to ensure next week doesn't get ugly?
Well there's no guarantees. We spoke about it. We're honest. We're certainly not brutal within. We understand the challenges. We gave the loss meaning. We're about a growth mindset. We can't sit here and say we're not good enough so we won't do the work. We're not going to sit here and say we're too good, too much talent, and not do the work. It's a growth and possibility mindset.. We need to improve and we need to get into action. At the moment we're not doing it for long enough. We need to improve. So there's no guarantee.
In terms of the bigger picture Ross things were looking good half way though the season, when you mentioned that run. Is the re-build still on track?
I think that's a really long-winded question and an inappropriate one for me, not that you can't ask it. But I haven't got the metrics on that. But we've been really competitive. Up until the last two weeks, everyone was banging on it was on track. Did I think it was on track? It's not what I do. I'm looking how to develop and train as hard as we can each session, educate and grow. But it's a reality of where we're at. Do any of us like it? No, we're all disappointed.
Are you concerned about the future?
I don't think with where we're at is a surprise. Again I think it's an unrealistic question. I'm not here to do a season summary for you. I'm here to say we're really disappointed. And prior to the last two weeks you wouldn't have the confidence to ask that, because you would have answered it yourself and said, ‘geez, they're on track,’ But after two 100-point losses… your confidence is up, and you're entitled to ask. I think it's inappropriate at this time. I think you can make your own judgments, because everyone does that anyway.
Do you run with a similar 22 next week?
We have a long injury list, I think we had five players at Peel on the weekend. We had two ruckman in (Jon) Griffin and (Luke) Strnadica and running players there was Tommy Sheridan. So we need to turn it over some of the things we saw out there we need to give the feedback that it’s unacceptable. So we will make some changes, Danyle Pearce was an emergency but he hasn’t played. There are some challenges, we may get Lachie Neale back next week but that’s uncertain. Looking at the positives, I think Harley Bennell showed what he’s capable of doing. He just looked all class and high end. He handled the ball well he kicked well and took his opportunities and we need to get more of that in the team.
How is Bradley Hill’s ankle?
It didn’t look good, but he came back on.
On the basis of what you saw of Harley tonight does it give you confidence going into next year and the WAFL finals?
He looked like he had some class and handled the ball well and took his opportunity. I think to extended it out to next week is unrealistic off the back of two years off with a calf injury. We want to get on firmer ground with Harley over a period of time. He got through unscathed was my understanding. He was exciting, I’m really thrilled for him and it’s a stepping-stone. Clearly we need that level of player to be able to build to be a match winner because you can see what they can do for you.
If it was up to him he would want to play next week, but does the Etihad Stadium deck pose an issue?
I think if he pulls up well and he can play, we will play him. Then it might effect him for the week after, but we are pretty keen to expose him, but we all sit here bitterly disappointed. We just want our young players to understand the level and the feedback. Perth is a small town with big connections, we don’t want them to get caught up in the garbage and stay focussed on their footy. We think we have a good group and we want to build to earn the respect around town. At the minute we haven’t got that.
After a loss like this what do you say to the players?
I think we are all a little overwhelmed for the minute but what I said was we just had a look at the youth and we said we have some seasoned pros that weren’t perfect but we know that Fyfe and the Hills can play at a high level and Mundy and those sort of guys. But clearly the bulk of the improvement and ability to sustain effort has to come from that core that’s outside of those players that’s the bulk of the team that need to go through that improvement. But we’ve seen this all before, this is no shock. It’s a tipping point and the evidence is we’ve got to that point at the minute if you want to break it down in the team. That’s just the reality of footy. Do we like it? No. but I’ve sat and watched teams rebuild over a period of time and I’m sure they go through losses and periods like this. We need to bring through young players. I think that’s the task at hand here. I don’t think any of us are really surprised?
Ross are you enjoying the challenge of the last two weeks?
That’s an interesting question, yes it’s challenging but so was round one and two and we gathered ourselves. We understand what needs to be done. We need to work hard and improve. It’s a simple formula. We’ll leave no stone unturned, we’ll be a high demand, high performance club that demands improvement. But we’ll do it the right way. It’s a safe environment. Our conditioners will build them up, we’ll build their footy knowledge up and if the talent is right and the effort is right we’ll improve, but if one of those things is missing we’re in trouble.
What did you make of Sean Darcy’s report?
I didn’t look at it and I don’t think I’m empowered to talk.
Did you mention the result of the Western Bulldog’s game last year or the chance to influence the finals as motivation heading into the last game?
I think that’s pretty thin motivation. It should be personal pride to improve. We have some challenges but we need to work through it. We’re steady, we’re not crumbling.
