What was the key message to the players from that rather remarkable ending?
It is always hard to sum up a draw. Really, we just talked about the process and we got the process a bit better in the second half. It looked a bit more like the game we wanted it to look like. I thought that last quarter, in particular, we dominated the first three-quarters of that quarter and I think the story of the night probably for both teams was just that finishing inside forward 50. No one was able to make the most of their opportunities and it showed on the scoreboard in the total score.
You got back on top in the final quarter, as you said that ball delivery especially, it seemed like some of that was fading and even when you got on top, it still wasn't improving.
You're right. We will have to have a look at it on the tape, it's been an issue for a little bit now, where we just haven't been able to mark the ball inside 50 like we did earlier in the year. Teams are rolling back pretty hard and taking up space on us. Sometimes you just need a critical entry and I just thought we couldn't make any of those opportunities either and sometimes against the teams that bring good pressure, you just need to be elite with your skills and we felt like we probably weren't clean, and missed some handballs that were critical.
How important was the loss of Rory Lobb tonight?
We were just one tall short. So we were probably relying on someone taking the contested mark, which he has been doing really well and it just allows us to hold our structure a bit more when he goes in the ruck. We've still got Griffin Logue and Matthew Taberner down there competing and that helps our smalls as well because they get a predictable drop ball. We just need to get to work on our method. But at least I thought we defended them a bit better in the second half. There was some pretty ordinary stuff in the first half.
It was hard seeing Nat Fyfe injured, how was he post-game, and what's the initial diagnosis?
He's a pro, he had a smile on his face and he got around his teammates. We will get it scanned and give everyone an update.
How concerning is it for you, that you have this star player and you just can't seem to get him out there as often as you would like?
This is a road bump. That's the way I see this, we've got over his big injuries. Sometimes when you're trying to come back and trying to be really committed, you can have little setbacks and that's all this is, hopefully just a little setback.
Do you draw confidence that you were nine and three without him this year, is it really a sign of growth and maturity in this group?
I don't think we've ever been relying on one person this year. So we have players who can step up and fill the void.
Obviously, you talk about process, in that last few minutes do you draw anything from the fact there were a few reasonably heroic efforts.
I thought our players remained on task in the moment and that was critical. Michael Frederick got the spoil on Noah Balta but Lachie Schultz was on task in hassling the umpire and they were ready to react. I thought we were really committed and we stayed in a moment.
On that spoil, was there a game awareness where you guys have anticipated that situation?
No, not really. We always ask our players just to be in the moment and ready for anything and they really were. It's good to see.
What did you make of Hayden Young’s game?
He’s been a really mature, reliable player for us all year. I thought he as superb today. I’m not sure how many games he is up to now but it is probably mid-high 20s but he plays so much above that. I thought him and Brennan Cox and (Alex) Pearce especially in the second half were really strong down there. They won the critical contest, which allowed us to go back at Richmond and buffer their momentum. So I can’t speak highly enough of Youngy, he's tracking really well.
And what did you make of Griffin Logue’s game?
We’ve been really pleased with Griff’s ability to embrace any challenge we’ve thrown at him. He’s an undersized ruck but that’s what we needed tonight. He competed well and does whatever the team needs quite often. So it’s another string to his bow.
How tempted were you to bring in Lloyd Meek or Josh Treacy?
Very tempted. It was thrown around at match committee but we probably just thought it was more the leg speed on a quick deck against one of the quicker teams in the comp was the right way to go. It was nearly right.
Is Lobb a definite return next Friday night?
Not a definite no. We will have to see how he goes.
What’s your position on draws, would you like to see extra time at the end?
I don’t have an opinion on it, to be honest, we just play what the rules are. We’ll let people in higher places determine the rules and we will just play to them.
Andy Brayshaw said post-game you almost got away with a draw – do you feel like that as well?
I think in close games you always look at the last moments but there are going to be moments when we review the tape of ‘we could have stopped a score there’ or ‘we could have kicked a score there’. When you play in close games, it really brings to the fore that every moment is important. I know they had the last couple of moments but we had our moments as well. We dominated the start of that last quarter and couldn’t quite get the score on the board. So you probably just remember the fresher ones.
How frustrating was it when Brayshaw was off for five or so minutes in the last quarter?
It was a bit frustrating. Because there were no goals kicked for a period there and the game got stuck on the other side and it just happens sometimes, there’s nothing you can really do about it. We had a couple of really important players stuck on the bench.
How did Alex Pearce pull up?
He rolled his ankle early in the game but it got better and he ran it out. We’ll have to see how he pulls up but we think he should be right.
Jordan Clark has been important for you, and laid a huge tackle tonight?
He’s been terrific since he’s come to the Club. He’s given his all in terms of the way he applies himself, the way he gets around his teammates and the way he plays. He’s had so many of those crucial acts all year, so he’s been a great addition for us.
How did you see the too-high interpretation tonight?
I’ll have to review it. When a new rule comes in, it’s always going to be things that the umps need to iron out but overall I think it was pretty well handled.
It’s a big game next week against Melbourne?
They’re all big. Tonight was a massive game. Next week’s going to be a massive game. I keep saying it but we’ve put the work in and we’ve earned our position in the season and no one game is more important than another but the next one is important and we’ll give it our all. We had a good win against them last time, they’ll be looking to get back at us. So we’ll review this one, learn from it, move on and prepare for Melbourne.
