I think it was certainly challenging, we had momentum in the game and then Luke (McPharlin) came off with a bit of a niggle and that took a while to be assessed, but to his credit he came on and was quite admirable, which you expect your leaders to be. Then Zac Dawson (injury) just came out of nowhere. So the worst possible result was to lose a tall defender. To the players credit a couple were thrown a challenge, Zac Clarke was thrown a challenge and then Chris Mayne, and then once they subbed out Scott Lycett they became a bit smaller and that enabled us to put Zac back. It was a gallant victory and we worked hard to bank the four points.
What was the diagnosis for Luke McPharlin and Zac Dawson?
Luke’s seems really minor to be honest, but while the bodies are hot and the blood is flowing through it’s hard to assess, so in the cold light of day we’ll know and get some scans. It’s a bit uncertain with Zac. He’s rolled his ankle and foot, and it’s hard to ascertain. Zac’s pretty courageous, in my time with Zac he has always been able to play through, obviously there’s a red flag but again I wouldn’t want to pre-empt the medical (staff). Certainly as more information comes to hand, as always, we will give an update.
Clancee Pearce was getting his shoulder worked on, is he okay?
Yes, there’s going to be those bits and pieces. If you went into the rooms now there’s going to be 20 ice-bags out. There’s a price to pay in every AFL game, there’s always a bit of physical wear and tear. You walk in and there’s always a little bit.
What was the issue with Luke?
I couldn’t tell you. It’s a bit of a leg, hamstring, quad. I haven’t got the time on game day, I just say can he play? And they go yes and I say, beauty, get him on. I don’t do a medical assessment on them.
How pleased were you with the start today?
We did start really well. We started well last week as well. More importantly, when we were challenged in the second we responded well. Last week we had a good foundation, that foundation that we thought was there was there again today and we made some significant improvements on our ball use. We probably overdid it at times, but we certainly forced the opposition to play on us and just didn’t kick it to their spares dropping back on Pavlich. I thought to anyone that watched the game, that would have stood out. We made them find us, chase us and defend us. At times we overdid it but it was an improvement on just kicking it to opposition people sitting back on Pavlich.
How important is Hayden Ballantyne in relation to your forward structure?
He’s significant, we know he’s a proven player. He’s a significant bonafide AFL player and he was lively.
Is the fact that you are having more inside 50s than your opponent but less scoring shots becoming an issue?
I thought we had plenty of opportunities. I think they got a couple late. A few of their's were pressured. I wouldn’t worry about it too much.
What do you make of Lachie Neale’s progress since coming to the club?
It’s significant I think that batch - Cam Sutcliffe, Lachie Neale and Hayden Crozier, Tommy Sheridan - played significant roles. Two of the four made our grand final team last year and one was first emergency. They have displayed great work ethic and character since they have been here. They contributed in my first year at the club, I remember in the wet at the MCG against Richmond.
There has been a lot of ups and downs, they are young men maturing on and off the field, but overall they are full of character and work. They're helping drive this group and give real momentum to our senior players. They have plenty of improvement in them, they have a long way to go, but they are starting to make some significant improvement, which is important.
Lachie and Cam Sutcliffe were late draft picks. Is it sometimes a matter of effort over talent?
I don’t know, once they come through the door I put the draft number in the bin. There’s plenty of failed first round draft picks. This business is about perseverance, character and work ethic and desire to get better, and those that have a great passion for that, longer than three weeks, three months, six months and twelve months, are the ones that tend to make it. Those that find it too hard go out the door. It doesn’t make them bad people. It’s a pretty harsh field, AFL football, and these guys have adapted to the work and have worked pretty hard. I think that’s a question you can ask Brad Lloyd. I don’t treat anyone differently. Rookie or first round draft pick, they all get the same treatment at the Fremantle Dockers.
Does it surprise you that Lachie was best on ground tonight?
Not particularly, I’ve seen Lachie against Port Power last year, he was clearly significant. It’s a progression they need to make, it’s that belief and work ethic and taking your opportunities. Lachie’s next step, he will get tagged, and someone will play tighter attention than what he got today, so we’ll start throwing out the bouquets when he’s learning to work through a tag I reckon.
You challenged Matt de Boer leading into the game, how do you assess his game?
I’ve got to go away and assess it. I thought he was up and about early, he was significant. He was solid and he certainly carried his position.
Is this game a turning point for the rest of the season?
We are far from playing our best footy, we have a bit to add. Lose a couple, we’re four-three, we could easily be a bit better. The best team in the competition towled us up. Everyone talks about top four but I thought we had to earn those positions. It’s been bestowed upon us but we haven’t earnt anything. We’re just a team trying to work our way up to the starting grid for the real season. The only way to do that is to focus on what’s in front of you. We’re not at our very best, but we’ve played some good teams that have thrown us some challenges and we’re starting to work through those challenges. We’ll breathe out tonight, come in tomorrow, the coaches will come together and it will be foot to the throat still, that’s what we’re about.
Do you feel like the effort is trending in the right direction?
Yes, I think that’s fair to say. No doubt about it.
Is there any reason for that?
No, I can’t coach effort, I don’t coach effort so the players bring it and we try and harness it with some general principal. It’s probably something the players would better answer than me. Overall, it's been solid, we’re not a machine. We have a lot of emotions and feelings and challenges and physical challenges and sometimes you’re not at your very best. I think it's unrealistic over a 22-week season to think you are going to be perfect or that anyone is. Weight of numbers, you get it right, so clearly we’ve got it wrong a few times.
What did you think of Aaron Sandilands game?
I thought it was really strong, he stood up with some really strong contested marks around the ground. I think we are kicking it a little better to Aaron. We’ve done some work on that. How to get to Aaron to give him best chance, kick it to Pavlich different, kick it to Mayne different. We took a step forward on that and we’ll show those clips. He can be a real force around the ground if we kick it to him correctly. Sometimes it’s not the player, it’s the delivery.
You mentioned Mayne playing in the backline, is that something that could continue for the rest of the season?
Yeah, we like the flexibility of it. That’s the important thing about Crozier, Danyle Pearce and de Boer doing their bit. Him and Clarke can go back, so yes, we liked it.
You face Port and Geelong over the next two weeks. Can you talk about the challenges of playing them?
It’s self evident, they are pretty good teams, every week is important. We’ll enjoy tonight and during the week we’ll talk about Geelong and Port. We will do our review before we move on. We know the season is full of significant challenges. The aim is to win more often than we lose and we’re doing that slightly.
Do you expect Stephen Hill to come up for next week?
I’m not sure, I’ll do medical Monday and Tuesday and let you know. Hopefully. I’d love him to play.
