No, I think if you get up to speed with it we’re going to have to need to win next week to cement top four. That’s the equation.
Were you disappointed that you weren’t able to convert more of those opportunities to be able to edge ahead (of Port Adelaide) on percentage?
Well I don’t think edging ahead…I didn’t spend much on the equation. I thought we played very well, I thought we stuffed the third quarter up to be truthful. If we had got the third quarter right, we wouldn’t be talking about it. Hypothesis doesn’t interest me, reality is that it’s sudden death for top-four next week. We’re really thrilled by that, we’re excited by the challenge, we accept the challenge, as Port do. We generate a lot of interest, it’s our home ground. They’re going to ask some questions of us and we’re going to ask some serious questions of them, so it’s really game on from here.
Do you think that finals basically start now?
I don’t treat finals or home and away any different, I prepare in exactly the same manner. Clearly there’s a different outcome, but it’s still home and away.
What happened with Matthew Pavlich before the game?
He just tightened up in the warm-up, I went and saw the physios, they came and grabbed me, so it was a no-risk equation so we took him out (of the line-up).
Is it an injury or is it something that could cost him next week?
Look, they’ll (physios) have to do an investigation, he just tightened up in the quad, so hopefully they’ll do some investigations and more stuff will come to light.
Is Lee Spurr alright?
He could have kept playing, he was a bit tight in the quad as well, so it was precaution there and he could have continued. He’s been a real warrior for us and we had full control and once we stuffed the third (quarter) up, it was a bit about getting Ibbotson on.
What disappointed you about the third quarter?
Our overuse…we were winning the ball, we just got a bit cute and turned it over and they (Brisbane) scored. At the end of the day, they had more entries and scored and when we had control of the ball I just thought we got a bit cute. It was a really valuable lesson how quickly it can change.
Did the energy levels drop in that third quarter as well?
No, I wouldn’t’ have thought so, I just said it was about our use. Too much handball and not enough kick.
You had a lot of change to your forward structure in terms of personnel in recent weeks, how did you think today’s one worked with Taberner?
I think (Matt) Taberner was outstanding. Off our rookie list, 196cm, running machine…he had a real good day today I thought, he ran them to death. He had a big second quarter and we were thrilled with that. I thought (Hayden) Ballantyne and (Michael) Walters combined well together, (Hayden) Crozier was really good, (Chris) Mayne. We don’t rely on one, we had a spread of goal kickers. That’s the way we go about it, but ideally you’d have Pav (Pavlich) back.
You had the smalls against Geelong a few weeks back…this was a bit taller, what do you look to go with (in the future)?
Blokes pick themselves, blokes in good form I go with and then I worry about their height.
Ballantyne and Walters, were you happy with the way they combined?
It was pleasing, I think Sonny (Walters) will only get better, I think you’ll see him play better next week to be truthful. ‘Ballas’ I thought he was really good, he always struggles off one-week off so he should be a bit better again.
Have you had a look at Port, did you watch them Friday night?
No I was on the bird I think, when we landed I saw the score. Clearly they’re in impressive form, 20.20 and had 30 shots off turnovers. Hopefully we don’t turn the ball over as much and get scored against as much. They’re a real threat, you don’t sneak your way into the top four, you’ve got to win your way and we’re excited by that.
