We have to send him to hospital for some investigations. We’re not certain yet, there is a bit of swelling but we will know more, hopefully, in a short period of time and we will let everyone know once we know. It’s around his face region. He was really courageous, he never takes his eye off the ball and he set a real standard for the team today. He has been one of our best players, depending on what it is, he might be okay, if he’s not, we know it’s a definitive period and then you get back. He won’t change the way he plays, to do what he’s done, to get back to his best form off a significant injury is a real credit to him and he’s a great leader. It’s a contact sport, stuff happens.
What about Stephen Hill?
I tell you what would be nice, I could be wrong but I’m sure we just played a game so it would be good to talk about that.
What were your thoughts on the game Ross?
From my end, I was a bit nervous coming here today. We saw them as a real emerging team that’s had some bad luck and copped a lot of criticism and then you saw the forecast for the weather. We had a really tough one in Adelaide and you saw the Swans yesterday against Port, it’s just a real grinding in those sort of conditions. It’s such a big ground, which makes it difficult. So the rain came, and there was predicted thunderstorms but I think we missed the bulk of it. It was really greasy and difficult. We walk away with four points. They are the best starting team in the AFL and we started quite well, our intensity was up. Take three out of four quarters, we turned it over a lot in the second half particularly in the third quarter we got a bit sloppy. I thought we had moments where we had the opportunity to take the game away but we didn’t take it. I thought when they got to 19 points the players lifted, there was an emphatic response and they kicked a couple of quick goals to seal them. I’m just hoping no one got hurt.
Is it more a lift in defensive pressure to stop their good starts?
We want to play with intensity from start to finish but we want to play intense. We know they were a good starting team, we just wanted to make sure we could hold them well. We had a fair amount of entries and we dominated the second, we probably should have put more scoreboard pressure on. We know that’s a work in progress and then they had a more dominant third. So it wasn’t to be defensive, it was more just to come out and compete because if you don’t keep compete, they are really good at hurting you.
What’d you make of Taberener debut?
I thought it was really positive, I thought he looked at home, but he’s got plenty or work to do. He’s got an enormous tank, I thought he looked fine at the level. Again a credit to our recruiters, he was picked up in the rookiedraft, he came in and worked hard and he’s made his debut. I think it’s our third debut for the year, so it’s really positive.
How did you assess Fyfe’s game?
I think it was a really positive performance, no Mundy, so we’ve missed Hill, we’ve missed Fyfe and this time we missed Mundy, so he needed to stand up with the other mids and I thought he did that.
Was Mundy’s omissions just a cautious one?
Yes it was on the real minor end. He’ll run tomorrow, he trained, we thought he would play all week, we thought we would give it time, so we are optimistic he will play next week in Geelong but if he’s not there will be no risk.
Zac Clarke?
We’re thrilled he’s re-signed, the way he’s going about things shows he’s really stood up. He’s really helped our midfield improve their clearance work, so he has been really important.
Just going back to Stephen Hill?
He’s fine, he came back on, sometimes you just get a knock, but he will be fine. He’ll play next week.
WATCH the incident involving Stephen Hill
What do you make of Ryan Crowley’s job on Brent Harvey?
I thought it was really effective, he did a good job. Certainly it was on from the first bounce to the last bounce, butthat’s fine.
The ability to outnumber the Roos at contests must be a pleasing aspect in terms of the team’s work rate?
Yes, certainly. Look, over the years, top teams have set the mark outnumbering the contest and that’s about work rate and run and the ability to lead the game, when to leave your opponent. We are improving in it, it was a high intensity game, when you look at the tackle count it was 77 to 82 tackles, they out-tackled us. So they came to play, it was a really demanding, slogging game and sometimes you just need to get through that . You’ve got to be able to play in anything. It’s really good that this group has had two of those experiences now, because we want to play finals. We’ve got plenty of work to do and we want to be able to play in any conditions. We’ve moved onto Geelong pretty much straight away, we will do a brief review. It will be at Simmonds Stadium under lights. Last time we went there we got hammered, that was before my time but it’s one of the biggest challenges in footy, we will have to go to school and learn how to play theground, and they’re a great team. It’s another challenge for us and one we are keen to meet, we want to try and keep the momentum going.
Can you explain how six of your top 8 possession getters are your gun defenders?
I’m not too sure, sometimes it just happens They’re very good at reading the game, they run hard and work hard and try and put on a counter attack,. They are pretty good players. I don’t think it happens every week, but sometimes it just happens like that.
It’s only Geelong’s second game under lights at Skilled Stadium, do you think that will work to your advantage?
Its hard for me to interpret, we recognise they have been a great football club and we want to build to be a great football club and part of that is going interstate and winning against teams like Geelong, but we understand they are a challenge. So it starts with a 10 out of 10 recovery for our players, we will move on to try and break Geelong down, which is no easy feat. The last time we played Geelong was in a final and we walked away with the win, that counts for nothing. I’m sure they will be pretty keen to return the favour. They’re a great team, they have a great coach and leaders. We feel like we are a team that’s emerging and you need to front these challenges and there is no hiding from it.
Just on Michael Barlow, do you know if it’s a cheek-bone or jaw?
I’d love to be able to help you but I’m not an oral surgeon. I can’t break it down to you, I Just know he’s copped one around that area, they will do the x-rays. I think it’s dangerous for leyman people like myself to extrapolate and diagnose when it’s not my role. We always inform the market anyway. For the sake of the time delay, I think clarity will be good for us all, I think it would be remise if it turns out to be something serious.
What is your take on Port’s win yesterday?
I think we acknowledge everything that’s goes on in the AFL, I was on the couch, I probably should have taken the kids for a walk. I thought Port’s effort was good and Sydney never gave up. If it was last round and we won and we went to third position on the ladder I would be over the moon, but what we know is there is an enormous amount of hurdles to jump so we know its transitional one week in and one week out. Let’s all review at the end of the home and away season, but it is nice to keep winning.
