How did you win it Ross?
We competed really well. We won the contested ball, we won the kick battle, there were lots of turnovers centre forward, we weren't a collapse back team. Their real strength is creating mid space, finding the short, uncontested kick and going to their forwards. So for the most part I thought we handled that really well. We wanted to have entries, and I thought we went forward with good speed and gave lots of opportunities. We were pretty good for three out of the four quarters. That was pleasing.
How significant were the games of Adam Cerra and Brennan Cox?
A lot of people play roles. But if we go to the youth, I think it was seven players under 15 games. We played Cerra forward and he impacted, and then midfield, he was getting a run, but we just know his quality and how he reads the game and how he uses it and competes. We thought that his height, half-back is a good spot to play in AFL football if there's pressure up the field. That pressure was there today. We saw all his qualities come through. His production rate and distribution is of a high level. That will make him feel a bit more comfortable at the level. Brennan Cox, there's been good signs, but he put it together for longer today. (Development coach) Brent Guerra is working really hard with him individually, as is (assistant coach) David Hale. That hard work and increased work rate is starting to pay off. So it was pleasing. I thought Michael Apeness competed really hard, as did (Scott) Jones, but in particular Michael throughout the ruck to help our mids be able to compete at ground level. I thought that was significant.
What sort of work has gone into Brennan Cox?
Hard work. In the gym, one-on-one, body-work, repeat effort with someone on him. And just shaving off a rough edge all the time. His food choices are getting better. All that goes into the mix. And his intensity and ability to concentrate for longer periods. He's a wonderful athlete, he's just going to get bigger and stronger and quicker. You saw a bit of that today.
Have you noticed an improvement in his goalkicking?
It’s something he's been working on. It doesn't guarantee you'll kick them. But if you're missing them and then we ask have you got a plan to improve it and are you working the plan, and then they say we haven't got a plan to work, well that's a concern. But if they say they've got a plan and I'm working on it, and it's the right plan, eventually it will come. So it came for him today. He got reward for his investment.
What were the conditions like?
The breeze comes in, a bit like the MCG, it comes in one way, hits the stadium, and then flicks back the other way. So if you think it's blowing from the right, it will actually hit the stand and come back strongly the other way. Sometimes it's just random luck. But I think on the surface the breeze at ground level was going to the right more.
How did you find your leaders stepped up today?
Someone said no Aaron, no Fyfe, no hope earlier in the week. That's the beauty of the game, if you give effort. I thought it was across the board effort. Our leaders were strong. But I think everyone led today. (Bailey) Banfield led, (Stef) Giro led, (Michael) Apeness led. Neale and Mundy and Alex Pearce led. Pearce has broken his thumb. It’s quite significant. He played on without an injection. He's a pretty tough kid. I don't know how many people could do that. So he stood up. And Walters, he looked under some difficulty today, so his effort, I thought his chase, his tackle, he looked dangerous, he was superb. Those kids need the guidance of those guys. Today it panned out well.
What does that mean for Alex?
He would have to undergo surgery I would think, they would have to pin it. There’s a bit going on there, how he played it out, I don’t know. They are pretty tough kids aren’t they? We question the courage of the modern day player, I don’t know how we do it as often as we do, but we tend to.. He will go and see the appropriate surgeon. He will probably miss a couple of weeks I would think.
Alex also went back in the pack when Hamling took that great mark. He pulled up looking a bit groggy did he come out okay out of that?
He did look a little groggy. I think he came off, but he was cleared to go back on. It was super courageous. I think Shane Kersten is another defender who took a step forward today. A lot when right today, but that all was on the back of our intensity and competition. I thought we never gave up, we wrestled momentum back. It was a strong performance.
You mentioned Walters was under some difficulty, it did look like he was a bit sore at the start of the game?
Yes he did, he sort of just twisted it. I think he’s had a calf or a knee, but then he was moving beautifully at other times. So, sometimes it’s just that one spot.
He had a bad moment late in the game aswell?
Yes, he did. You’ve got to make a decision, it wasn’t the action we wanted. Michael would have known that. We had Lachie Neale with five minutes on the bench. We had one interchange left, it was opportune to do that. Michael knows he didn’t regulate himself as much as he should have at that moment. For the most part he does. We’d like him to be a bit fiery but at the right time.
Did he say what happened?
No, I didn’t talk to him.
Are you concerned about the head-butt report?
I always let the authorities work through that process. They’ll deem what they deem.
With Alex Pearce probably not going to play for a few weeks what are your options?
I think Kersten is playing as a tall defender. Griffin Logue hurt his ankle quite badly playing for Peel. He’s had scans and has torn some ligaments, so he’ll miss about eight weeks. We are a little bit thinner down there. Joel Hamling and Kersten can play, (Brennan) Cox can go back. Ryan Nyhuis plays quite well. We’ll just have a look at it.
Does Michael Johnson become an option to come back in?
Yes, we’ll have a look at it. He played quite well at Peel. We really respect Michael, in my tenure there is no one I respect higher than Michael He is really keen, he was the first one to hug me when I came down the steps today. He will play a part. He understands what his part is and what we’re trying to do. He will pick up the baton if need be.
What was your take on Joel Hamling’s game?
He showed strong competition. His great strength is that he competes. He can look a bit ragged at times but he’s always competing and giving great effort. The other stuff he is just building up.
Does Michael Johnson get to a point where he understands you need to promote the youth?
We have been promoting the youth for a couple of years now. He still wants to play, he is pretty proud. He is leading our young players at Peel. He is such a good person. He works hard as a role model. It is what it is.
