• Blues triumph late over Freo
• Langdon goes back with courage
• 'We let ourselves down'

Is that disappointing?
Yes, really disappointing. We had a strong disciplined start in the conditions, it was a really positive start, from there you should get it done at home. For whatever reason we felt we were unrecognisable from what we were in the first quarter, they were using the ball and taking ground and surging. It felt like we gave them an invitation back into the game. Ultimately, I am responsible, we weren’t disciplined, it felt like we were unrecognisable and then from there it was an arm wrestle all day.  They were really strong around the ball and we were strong, they got us on the outside a bit, they had too many uncontested marks and kicks for the conditions. When it becomes so tight it’s a game of a little bit of luck here and there and a missed tackle or over the ball. They did what we thought, we prepared for them. They are working really hard in their front half to get the ball back, they have been strong around the ball. They are a young midfield, they were ably led by (Matthew) Kreuzer, Marc Murphy and Ed Curnow, in the end we didn’t get it done around the ball in the last quarter clearances, in particular the last one. Without focusing on what happened when the game was to be won and lost right at the death, because we did a lot right, we felt it was the second quarter when it was seven entries to 20. It’s a little bit inexplicable how you go from dominating and use the ball how we were to mucking around with it and going backwards and around with it and inviting the errors and the pressure. That’s the bit we are disappointed with - the second quarter, not so much the last two minutes even though there were a few improvements in that.

In the last six minutes you conceded four goals, that’s a large amount of goals in such a small amount of time.
Yes, it’s not ideal. One over the back, missed tackles, a stoppage and rushed out of bounds. I think they slotted two from the boundary. It’s a concern, we thought their skill level was higher than ours, but our group is working really hard to improve. The competition is telling you that, moment to moment, quarter to quarter, if you’re not on your game there is enough quality that will get you. We need more to step up and help out a few others, that will be the aim during the week.

You have lost to the bottom three teams this year, can you put your finger on why you aren’t playing well against the teams that are lower on the ladder?
I wouldn’t say we have played (poorly) we started really well, so I don’t have an answer to that. I think you have to be careful with the bottom teams, Melbourne were a prelim finalist, all the numbers said they should have another three wins on the board bar accuracy, so if you drill in a little bit there, and Carlton to their credit are playing better football, but we would expect to get that done. Gold Coast round two, they were up and about with full availability. In all games we were in winning positions also but it’s a long season, I think our effort has been incredibly consistent, no one can question our effort to round 14. You look at some other teams that are even higher up on the echelon on the ladder have had some blow out games because that does happen, they’re not machines as much as we try prepare them and get them up for every week it’s a difficult thing to do. We haven’t had a blow out, it was another tight one, we were in front right at the end. Our effort has been very consistent, has there been some quarters we are not happy with? Yes, but we haven’t had the blow out yet, you could correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think we have. Ladder position, I don’t have that lens, same respect for every opponent.

You mentioned clearances last week and well as last quarter losing control of it and again this week, is that what you are referring to with needing to contribute more?
I have to go and have a good look at it, it is a little dangerous from here, we were all really disappointed. We have to pay Carlton credit they never gave up and they took their opportunities and Curnow lifted in the last quarter, he had seven clearances, that’s a big number for one player but there’s still enough around the ball. We still did a bit right in the last quarter but as you said four goals in the last six minutes is quite sloppy, isn’t it?

You mentioned that second quarter, do you think there was any complacency there given how dominant you guys were in the first?
I can’t answer the question, only the players can answer that, I can’t read minds, I can only coach action and I highlighted the actions that had changed, but then you over correct a little bit, we could’ve played with more composure but you over correct because the second quarter was so extreme using it the way we did.

What’s your message to them now knowing that you’re heading into a Derby next week? What do you need them to focus on to turn it around?
More consistency, the meeting, learn what we need to learn, train it, align ourselves to it and improve, that’s all we’ve done and we have found ourselves in every game. Where we were categorised at the start of the year and rated, I think we are performing really well but we want to continue to write our own story and improve that’s all you can do, the winning and losing takes care of itself so it’s consistency from quarter to quarter.

Is Rory Lobb back next week as you guys are missing that one more tall target in attack?
We will assess that, and we are hopeful that he is available, and we are hopeful that Aaron Sandilands becomes available, but again I need to get that at the right time. We have had nothing come out of today that is significant so we will just take that as it comes.