Ross what was the most disappointing thing about that performance?
We came here with high expectations and rightly so. We didn’t use the ball how we wanted to early, we had six kicks and 21 handballs but that was their pressure. The more you handball the more you invite their pressure. We weren’t playing how we wanted to play and they took full advantage of that. The Tigers are very tight and smart with their defence, they roll around really well to the line of the ball and they react quickly, and they're really seasoned, hard workers.
We just felt our forwards didn’t react as quickly and they got back on us hence why we were handballing. We worked hard to keep our structure in front of the ball, we held forwards, we made sure we had targets. In the end we took a bit of effect in the third quarter, I was really pleased, it was a great response. We spoke at three quarter time, we thought we could win the game, we just needed to play another quarter like that. But to their (Richmond's) credit they had 70 tackles to 38 so I think that’s their signature. Our young players either got stripped of the ball or couldn’t tackle them as well. The other thing is, they are a very quick team so it was good feedback for us and our list and how we’d like to get some speed. All credit to them.
I didn’t really see it coming in the fourth quarter, we were aiming (for the win) as it was their third game in thirteen days but they made us pay. We came out of the centre for the first time, we could have kicked the ball, but we handballed and invited their pressure and from there we really struggled to contain them. So we’re disappointed we fell away but there is some wonderful feedback. Within that (Adam) Cerra’s second half in the midfield showed he is going to be a good player for us. So out of that there are some gems that not everyone sees. Darcy Tucker continues to grow, we put Hayden Ballantyne to the wing, he had six in the third. I thought our leaders (Nat) Fyfe, (Aaron) Sandilands were exceptional. But (Taylin) Duman and (Ethan) Hughes get feedback on how you have to play on what is a great team.
They are proving to be a great team. They continue to surprise on the upside. Our interstate hasn’t been as good as at home and I was just speaking with Nathan (Fyfe) we have got to make sure that the expectation is that we perform. We don’t want the comforts at home to be able to perform and it’s just starting to look like that a bit so we’d like to address that during the week.
Only four tackles in the first quarter is that pretty undisciplined?
We spoke about the fact they controlled the ball and for whatever reason you look off. They looked quick, so it’s really disappointing we want to be a team that works hard without the ball and again the Tigers had 20 and we had four. It’s not ideal, we couldn’t find them and couldn’t keep up with them.
You’ve had a pretty good record at the MCG before does that make this even more disappointing?
I don’t look at it like that. We come here, we like the MCG. When you walk out pre-game the sun’s out and it brings back some memories of what it’s like when it’s full. We understand there is still possibility in the short and long term for us so we will keep perusing it. It’s such a tough competition.
You mentioned that last quarter and how you thought you may have had them in the fourth. What is it about them that makes them so good?
Whether it was the Swans 2005 and 2006 or the Saints 2009 and 2010 and then Freo in 2013 and 2014 there is just a real belief in what you are doing. They are hard and they are seasoned and that belief has been built up because they have done it under pressure. They would never think they’re beaten and they were able to lift. All credit to them, their program and their coaching is of a really high standard. So we need to continue to educate young players like Duman and (Andy) Brayshaw and Cerra, they couldn’t quite break the tackles, Fyfe breaks a tackle but they get tackled and then stripped. So we just need to work and build. So you can talk to the young players about it, but until they feel what it’s like then they start to understand how long it takes to build. (Alex) Rance took seven years to build up.
Nat did a fair bit of ruckwork today was that pre-planned and will it continue?
It was, we liked it and he liked it. I thought it was really productive.
He was probably best on ground today despite the loss, do you find he is back to his Brownlow best?
I don’t know what the Brownlow best is. When you win a Brownlow you have 21 teammates every week, he is clearly playing good football.
You mentioned you might look at changing your travel routine?
It’s not routine, we have had the same routine since I have been here. So the routine works. We need to drill in that it’s lots of things. It’s young players heading back to Melbourne going to see their player manger, go see their families and their mates and all of a sudden you’ve had six interactions when you could have been relaxing and preparing for your football. I’m not saying that’s happened but it’s likely they wouldn’t even realise that’s draining them. There are a lot of outputs that you don’t necessarily need. Sometimes you just need to trim it off and just focus. Not live in a bubble, but everytime you have an interaction it’s an output, you are taking something and sometimes you just need some time for yourself. They’re all the things we will look at. You have a new city to get around and our senior players will share those experiences, but until you go through it and get the feedback it’s hard to adapt. But we’ll look into those things.
