ROSS LYON:
Ross, you didn’t look overly happy after the game?
The adrenalin was still flowing so therewere a couple of things while it was fresh in the mind. A bit about stoppages, like we hit out to space and it hurt us and they walked out of the middle. Just game situation stuff so I thought while it was still fresh in the mind. Then I got around to everyone individually and just thanked them for the efforts. Three or four things I thought hurt us that shouldn’t have occurred, so the guys will remember that. It’s certainly not personal. We’re all pretty tight and we just put it in there for next time it’s a good learning opportunity.
Were some of those in the last 10 minutes?
Yeah the last four or five minutes, near the six minutes. Game situations where you have seen teams like Essendon, I think , have been in front with two minutes to go three times and haven’t got the chocolates and it hurts you. They’re a very good team, so while we’re sneaking through we’ll try to address those things and remember them for next time.
Is there anything emotional or mental in that? Like switching off?
We’re 24 points up with four minutes to go so maybe they did mentally relax. It just highlights that good opposition keep coming and the Eagles are good opposition and they keep coming.
How would you describe Stephen Hill’s game?
Well if we go by the experts I think he was best on the ground. I’m happy to concur with that. He was very good. He’s really building a strong career at the club. He’s a real team driver and leader and clutch goal I think that was really significant, to go back and take responsibility and kick the goal and be part of building a top flight midfield and they are working hard to do that. Stephen’s grown continuously.
What’s more pleasing, that you won the game or kept another team to a low score?
I thought they were pretty solid. They had 26 shots on goal. I thought it was high tempo, up-tempo game. Both teams bounced out of their back 50’s pretty well when they could against fierce pressure. It was always going to be a tough day today. I’ve been here long enough to know derbies are quite fierce and we have won the last five now I think so four in a row. They are a proud club and it was a critical game for them in the context of their season so we knew what was coming. Certainly their strength is their forwards and we had some challenges down back. I thought when the game was up for grabs at half time we responded powerfully we got hit in the last but we kicked three goals in the last three minutes. I was pretty happy with the commitment of our team and their desire.
Matt Taberner playsforward for Peel, was it a tough ask for him to play defence in a Carlton Draught Derby but you backed him in?
When in doubt, the enthusiasm of youth goes a long way. He is 196cm – big man, we picked him as a forward and we had it planned another way and I thought about it and when he came in today I said, ‘here’s your birthday present mate – go down and play on Natainui and Cox’. He accepted and we were really pleased with him. He was good.
Were there any moments in the game when you considered doing a swap with him and Mayne?
Probably early, I think he was loose early and tripped over - but the ball was coming in. We thought if we pressured well enough he would defend… and what a great experience (for him). We’ve found something there I think.
Do you think some of your forced changes due to injury have added depth to the side – with someone like Taberner?
Well he has always been a forward and now we know he can go down and play back on big men. It was a really good effort, we had some good performers down there – Sutcliffe on Darling was really strong, Spurr on Le Cras and Duffield. But they play like that because these guys in the midfield and the forwards like Mayne, Ballantyne and Pavlich put on great pressure.
In the last term could we see some affect from playing in the wet last week?
I think that would be really unfair on the opposition, I thought they were very good today. I think their ladder position belies – they have had some close losses. We knew what was coming and we understood what we were in for today. They came off a six day break and travel so it’s not easy for them. Both teams are no excuse football teams, we are professional teams and I wouldn’t have thought so. I thought we played a fierce team today and we stood up and in the end got across the line.
Pav had the thigh strapped. Is he okay?
Yeah I would have thought so. I haven't had medical. But as always, we'll give you an update. But there's nothing acute. Nothing acute.
Was it a thigh or a hammy?
I've got no idea. I'm not being dismissive. I haven't got one bit of information that he's hurt. Probably a cork. I'm notsure.
STEPHEN HILL:
What was it like in that final term?
It was pretty fearsome. We knew they were going to keep coming and going until the end. We knew we had to keep fighting and keep playing our game plan andfight it out till that last minute.
After you kicked that goal, what were you thinking?
I just go back and go through my routine. Yeah I just did my routine, what I've been working through during the week at training. I think that held me in good stead.
Your game seems to be at a new level, what's been different this season?
Just looking at keep improving my game. I get a lot of help with my midfield coaches, Brett Kirk and Mark Stone, they're really helping me out, working on my inside game, not just outside. That's really helped me out.
Does it help to have Fyfe, Mundy and Barlow there in the midfield?
Yeah we've got a pretty good midfield with those boys, and great leadershipwith Dave (Mundy) and ‘Fyfey’. It's great playing alongside them. They really help me out a lot as well.
Does Ross give you a licence to take the game on?
I'm just playing my role. Whether it's going forward, back or the midfield. I'm just looking to play my role.
What did it mean to win the Ross Glendinning Medal medal?
I'm more focused that we got the win and the team gave great effort today. We really fought it out. As Ross said, it was a weight of numbers effort. I'm just really happy with the four points.
Did you think you were the best on ground?
I didn't really think about it.
Who would you have given the Medal to?
I think there were a few players who stood up. ‘Fyfey’ in the midfield was strong. Danyle Pearce was running well. There were a number of guys who played well.
When you pushed back, does that come from the bench, or was it players decision?
We just felt they had a bit of space down forward, so we didn't want to allow that and wanted to stop the forwards getting easy marks.
Did you get a tap along from ‘Pav’ to head down?
Ross interupts: C'mon mate, they're all secrets.
ROSS LYON:
Do you give players a license to take the game on?
He's allowed to go wherever he wants. That's his license. He's an important player. We've got a few players - I thought Danyle Pearce was terrific today. We're not basketball. He (Hill) is a very good player. He's really grown. He gets tagged, and he's got sometricks up his sleeve to work through that. But we're a weight of numbers team, and that's what got it done today.
What were your thoughts on Sylvia's game until he got subbed off?
I thought he was quite solid. There's some others probably going a little bit better than him. I think it will take a while to come to hand with how we play. But there was some strong stuff. I thought his effort was prettygood.
Are you likely to get anyone back next week?
That’s a good question. I don't know how Peel went today. You might be able to tell me. There are a few performances down there. We’re really optimistic McPharlin should come up. He’s the main one I think.
Can you elaborate on the two emergency players playing for Peel today? How late did they stay?
Until the first bounce. We tend to travel with one or two and when it’s home we definitely have two, a tall and a small. Leederville is pretty close. We had a discussion and we worked it out. As soon as the ball goes up, we go, because if you lose someone up until then. Fyfe had a bit of a sore back. Fyfe mightn’t have played, but he’s pretty tough.
How close was Fyfe to not playing?
Close enough to keep two emergencies over.
So for him to play like that…?
Yeah, he’s a pretty good player, isn’t he? Lucky he signed.
