I don’t think it’s either to be truthful, I think we did what we needed to do. Let’s acknowledge where Brisbane is at, they are on the right path Justin Leppitsch is leading them really well. They are a young group without their talisman, Jonathon Brown. It’s the biggest trip in Australia. There are a lot variables that point to we should have a strong performance. They have capacity in their small forwards like we saw earlier in the third quarter to unsettle teams and ultimately get a couple of victories against the Bulldogs and Carlton. We’re trying to improve our footy. It was a difficult night by Perth standards, not by Melbourne standards in terms of weather and all those things. Credit to our guys, they come out really focused, bar a 10 or 12 minute patch, we delivered a really focused effort and worked on some things that we have been trying to. We were disciplined in the way we went about it so we take the four points and go home without injury. We’ll focus on our review, be pretty sharp. Another good week on the track, we trained well during the week. We’ve got a home derby for our fans and members, and just on that to see the crowd that turned up tonight, they’re really getting behind us and we really appreciate it. To our members and fans, thanks for coming out tonight in these conditions. We’ve got a home derby and we’re aiming to play really strong football against the West Coast Eagles next week. We understand that it’s a bigger challenge and one that we will focus on pretty much immediately.
It’s the lowest score the club has conceded in its 20 year history, is that pleasing for a coach that prides his teams on defence?
I don’t take any extra pleasure out of that as I have said, they (Brisbane) are a young team and on some level, this club was here in 2008 and kicked one goal against Adelaide. The wheel will turn for them, we’re working really hard to be a top team that places us in the top four. But there’s plenty of battles ahead to improve that position and maintain that position so there’s no great pleasure in that.
The centre square work, is that as clean as you’ve been, given the conditions?
It’s something we’re focused on and it’s been an area we can approve. We’re probably about 90 per cent in the way of what we wanted to do but there were some basics that weren’t allowing us to capitalise on it either. Hitouts and first possession. That’s our model, identify the problem and work on it during the week so they put some more time into it against a group that can be ok in there. They were pretty good. It was pleasing.
Would you be reasonably happy if, come September, you had to play a final in the wet?
I know we are a good wet weather team. That’s the first thing. We trained in the wet during the week. The players were bouncing around and, last year in September we played on a wet day so it doesn’t faze us. We like it dry but we’re not a big tall team so there’s nothing wrong with living on the ground for us.
Did you have to start lowering your eyes a bit more when going inside 50?
Early I thought we were a bit wide, and at times a bit too deep. Like where it just got to the goal line and it was rushed through. So we tried to not leave it as wide at times, and to put it to a more dangerous spot. I don't think we took many marks inside 50. We probably lowered our eyes a couple of times. But I thought we were a bit wasteful when we put it wide early and a bit too deep.
In terms of breaking into the top four, how significant a moment is that in your season?
No more than where it puts us. But if it finished now it would be fantastic. It would be really significant. But I don't think it does. I think there's nine to go. I don't think we've got enough wins to secure ourselves in the final eight. There's plenty to go here. A really big challenge. But we like sitting there. You'd rather be there than not there. But at this point of the year anything can happen. There's lots of water to flow under the bridge here. We are on a long, arduous climb, but it was a good climb today.
Eleven goals to ‘Ballas’ in two weeks, can you talk about his form?
It's self-evident, it's pretty good. He's working pretty hard without the ball. His pressure is good. I thought Colin Sylvia down there was really strong tonight, strong over the ball. Great tackle pressure. Chris Mayne, Matthew Pavlich, Danyle Pearce, Nick Suban, Zac Clarke, Aaron Sandilands, and Nat Fyfe and David Mundy going through there. So we are more flexible. More are going through there. And Hayden at the minute, it will be someone else's turn next week hopefully. If it's Hayden that's good, but it doesn't have to be.
Has he taken his game to a new level on and off the ball?
No I wouldn't have thought so. It's pretty much what he's produced - it's been his trademark for the last four, five, six years. Really it was his trademark at Peel - to pressure and kick goals. That's just him.
A few weeks ago he spoke about the need to improve his form away from home. He seems to have done that as well? Is he in career-best touch?
I haven't been there his whole career so I can't judge it. But if he spoke about home and away, then that's something that got through to the keeper. It didn't get past me, because I wouldn't have agreed with it. I don't judge career best form, but he's playing good footy.
Have you escaped injury free?
Yeah as far as I know. ‘Pav’ got a whack on the nose.
Were those conditions taxing leading into a Derby?
I haven't asked them. I wouldn't have thought so. We're professionals - hot, cold, medium, we don't care.
Does Sylvia give you coverage for Michael Walters, he’s low to the ground?
Yeah I think there's some similarities. But ‘Son Son’ is on his way back. He'll be back in the not too distant future. He's back running. Col's his own player. I hear what you're saying. One swallow doesn't make a summer, but I thought there was some really strong, over the ball, aggressive tackling. I thought he earned a little bit off the players tonight, some respect, and welcomed into the team a little bit. But that's an ongoing challenge for everyone that pulls on the jumper. Past performance doesn't dictate there. He certainly did enough tonight to guarantee himself next week, as a lot did. But from there it's a week-to-week proposition, from everyone.
Is it hard to pick your best 22 once your injured guys come back??
It tends to take care of itself. The best 22 tends to pick itself. But there's some pressure around. But the incumbents - I'd rather be in than out of the team at the minute.
