I think first credit to St Kilda Football Club that played some really hard-tackling, intense football and it just shows how tough the competition is. I was probably a frustrated coach, and we were a frustrated team at half time. So we just said we have a choice to make and we need to turn around our football in a positive matter.
I didn’t think it was instantaneous but we certainly got them into a contest and, in the second half, I think it was 32 entries to 11. So it’s whether you want to focus on when the game was up for grabs or how we turned it around.
How did you turn it around when, structurally, the only change was Crowley to Montagna?
Structurally we probably did a couple of little things, but nothing dramatic. Our mids were getting a lot of the ball and their mids were getting a lot of the ball. So then it really just becomes about turnover and I think you could hear the Bronx cheers, we were turning it over a lot.
We tried to make it more of a contest, be a little more accountable so then we controlled their ball movement and we were able to score, or create a lot of opportunities ourselves.
Why do you think you had the slow start?
I’m not sure, we’ve been a pretty good starting team for the year, we rank quite highly. There’s no doubt, as a match committee, we knew we were putting the group under some pressure playing two players straight into AFL competition after a long period of time.
Then what happened was we subbed Aaron (Sandilands) for Tom (Sheridan) late in the third and then (Luke) McPharlin’s calf tightened. It’s not dramatic but we don’t think he’ll play in the Carlton Mid Derby, I’ll put that on the table, so hopefully (he’ll be back) the week after.
So we had two on the bench, in that context the group’s performance was quite positive.
Are you comfortable with your depth to cover any niggles over the next 6-8 weeks?
Our history this year shows that we have been able to step up. We would aim to continue to do that and hopefully everyone is better for the run.
Hayden Ballantyne was very important?
I thought he was our best player today, no doubt.
How did you assess Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands?
Matthew had 20 possessions and kicked two goals. I thought they both looked rusty at times but it’s a hard business. Aaron got a bit of a Bronx cheer when he marked one. I think they will be better for the run.
Was it always the plan to sub Sandilands off if you could?
I thought it was the right thing at the right time, it put a lot of pressure on, we didn’t plan for Luke to pop a calf slightly after that. We were able to keep Zac Clarke going for the whole quarter.
Josh Kennedy next week with no McPharlin, is that a concern for you?
He is a great forward. We have Alex Silvagni and Peter Faulks.
Alex came in and played on Podsiadly in a final last year and we know our pressure is good enough and we trust Alex to play the role.
Can you put a timeframe on McPharlin?
Not really, it could be one, two, three or maybe none. But in all likelihood, a couple of weeks.
How do you look to replace the rebound McPharlin gives to the side?
Primarily, he is a lock-down defender who does give us bounce, but he defends the key forwards so that’s what we will be looking for (in his replacement).
Tanner Smith hurt his shoulder (in the WAFL) so it narrows it down to Peter Faulks and Alex Silvagni. Alex Silvagni is the most likely because he has done it a bit more recently and stood up in finals for us.
So that’s the likely scenario, but it’s not ideal.
What did you think of Clancee Pearce’s day today and how have you assessed his year?
I think he has been solid.
You have a few unsung heroes, Lee Spurr looks good and Clancee Pearce is playing career best footy?
I hear there are rankings and we don’t have anyone in the top 100, but to me it just highlights we are a team that relies on an even contribution, and when we get that, we are pretty good. When we don’t get it, you can come back to the field relatively quickly. So we need an even team contribution, Typically that is what we get, and that is why we are still in control of our own destiny.
