I thought we jumped out of the blocks and then really finessed the ball way too much. It's not exactly how we want to play. We were just a bit cute. Their pressure, to their credit, was pretty good and we turned it over a bit and gave them plenty of opportunities. So we just spoke about it at half-time, sort of hardening up a bit, finessing a bit less and giving our forwards some better opportunities. I thought we dominated the second half. Probably a bit frustrated we kicked 12.18. I think it was 18 shots to six after half-time. Speaking to the group, they acknowledged it and I thought it was a powerful response under some adversity with (Michael) Johnson going down. So just to clarify he's got a slight medial, maybe a grade one, maybe a grade two. That's anywhere from two to four weeks. So he won't play in the near term. I thought (Garrick) Ibbotson stood up down there, so that was quite positive. (Nat) Fyfe really worked through his tag. I thought (Ryan) Crowley fought on with (Patrick) Dangerfield and we ended up controlling (Rory) Sloane. Their tall forwards, the three-pronged attack that I think was really dangerous and a concern coming in, didn't kick a goal. And we took 20 marks inside 50 to five. So it was a really strong performance. We came here today, we saw an opportunity to improve and I think going away in the end, it certainly wasn't at half-time, but in the end I really feel like we've done that and we really need to keep improving our football.
Do you just draw a line under the goalkicking when you've been so comprehensive in all the other categories?
We don't ignore it. There's no silver bullet. I don't know exactly, there was set shots, there was some snaps. Some will go to (Jason) Dunstall, I think Tendai will go into the dribble file. It wasn't very good was it? It could have gone through halfway up the post. It's in the dribble file hopefully, so I don't have to coach it. We're mindful of it, but we've just got to keep working on it.
Dawson's goal, what's it like for you?
Well they're not going to go crazy too often are they? But he pushed down into a good position. He could've been hit up a couple of other times. Podsiadly plays high and takes him down into that area. What I do know is the few times under my coaching when he's had a shot he's nearly kicked them all bar one. I think he kicked a match-winner against Carlton to seal it, set-shot. It's not going to happen too often. What do I think? I think it's a bonus and we go back to the middle and hope he starts defending again.
Lee Spurr's progression this year and his performance today?
He was on a really Eddie Betts who was looking dangerous early. In the end he ground his way on top. I thought the pressure up the field was pretty good. I haven't been on that bandwagon of criticism of Lee. I think there might have been one early, or two, but it's never as good or it's never as bad as we think. He's still got plenty to work on. I didn't ever think he was going that badly. But he's certainly
progressed.
Lee Spurr: Defenders kicking goals for Freo
You are 5th on the ladder, you have a pretty good run and some good form (from) players in the WAFL. You have yourself in a pretty good position now for the second half of the year?
Well our thing is we stay in the moment, people’s perceptions and supposed view of draws doesn’t get it done. The only thing that’s gets it done in the AFL jungle is action, whether it be training or a game. That’s our view, but I understand the hypothesis behind it but it’s certainly not what I do. The Giants almost upset Essendon, there are plenty of challenges to come. We have worked hard to try and bank another four points. We commit, we do, we review. We still have our review to get through, and then we will commit again, plan and then we will get into action and try review again. It can change in a blink of an eye, we have lost Johnson, and we’ve lost Walters early.
Johnson has been in top form, how do you go about replacing a player of that form?
It’s very difficult. Our back six stood up, Ibbotson stepped back in, Morabito played terrific in that role and wing at WAFL level, Alex Silvagni is a key defender. We always prepare for the opposition.
VIDEO: Johnson subbed out
Is Morabito is right in the hunt for next week?
I wouldn’t say next week, I’m just saying he played well. (Hayden) Crozier, (Colin) Sylvia, (Brady) Grey, (Matt) Taberner, we’ve got pressure on for spots.
If Anthony earns a game this year, would you like it to come at home?
We don’t really know. Do you think it would worry me where he plays? We are an anywhere anytime team. I am sure Anthony would take anywhere, anytime, I don’t think that’s relevant. He’d just like to play, he would play in Broome if he could.
A couple of other guys came off sore during the game, (Hayden) Ballantyne, (Chris) Mayne, are they ok?
They seem ok. I think Ballas tried to smother and got a cork in the backside and Mayney a rumbly ankle. They looked lively in the last quarter, they seem ok. The danger is they don’t come in tomorrow, then Tuesday we get the all clear. There was a game we thought we had the all clear and we lost 3. Once they cool down we get a better picture, but on the surface they seem really good.
How close do you think you are to your best footy based on today’s performance?
We have plenty to improve on. We are still a fair way off really but I thought we played a quality opposition. They were confident of playing an upset, they challenged us. We could have kicked 16 goals today, I thought it was a huge response.
You had a huge possession count, was that on instruction?
To just play wants in front of your eyes, if the options are there take them. If they are not there, boot it forward. There was a bit of over finessing, but we’ll take it. We tried to play best option football and not kick it to the plus one all day. It wasn’t perfect but I think we played quite an expansive game today.
