You must be proud of them, the way the boys fought back, especially in the second half and never gave up until the end?
They didn’t, but obviously we didn’t play four quarters. Outside of pride there isn’t a lot to play at the moment to play for…well in fact there is a lot to play for but you can be mistaken in thinking - just get through the season. So, I think the guys are still playing with the right attitude but unfortunately after the first 15 minutes we lost our way for a quarter and a half. We were unable to stop that momentum and the game sense was not quite there to settle things down a little bit and soak it up a little. We seemed to concede several goals and our field position was a real concern. Half time we adjusted a few things, we got going and we almost grabbed it.
What happened in the second half, you seemed to play with a bit more dare?
No, not quite. I think our contest got better, our ability to stay connected around the contest and then we probably matched them in the midfield from a clearance point of view as well. So, the field position issue for us is our biggest issue. When we compete like we did in the second half the ball movement was taking care of itself, then in the last quarter it was just on. The boys were taking risks, they were paying off and sometimes they weren’t so to go down like that was disappointing, but we will get plenty of growth from it.
Thoughts on Jack Darling? getting the chance to lead the line and the way he did it today.
Yeah, he kicked six goals. We had 40 inside 50s and I think we took 17 marks inside 50 so we just need to get the ball in there and that’s not from our defensive 50. But he’s been great, obviously took him time to get him into the season missing a full chunk of preseason but he hasn’t let us down hardly ever in his career and he didn’t again today.
What did you learn later that you didn’t know coming in? We know that Darling and Barrass can play.
We are still getting growth with some of our younger players and some exposure as well. Jamaine Jones off half back, he seems to be growing in that role well. We tried Luke Shuey in half back as well at stages today and I thought he had a bit of influence. Exposure to O’Neill, who went to Miller - I think Miller still had about 16 off clearances but he didn’t probably do the same transition things he normally does. Young Foley went to Rankine, mixed results, he’s a pretty good player but Foley stuck to his tasks. We are not wasting this half of the season we want to keep exposing our players to different situations, we are just not getting rewarded at the moment that’s all.
How is Jai’s hamstring? I guess you can’t comment too much about the elbow incident in the second quarter.
Yeah, someone told me something happened, but I don’t know either. I know he felt it… the hamstring, but I don’t know the other situation.
I guess with those hamstrings they are normally at least a couple of weeks…?
Yeah, well it depends – we don’t know. I think Petruccelle went off with a tight hamstring as well. Sometimes they are long term and sometimes they are all good – they are all different.
Who have you got coming back for next week?
JK should be available – that’s probably about it with availability at the moment. Hopefully we haven’t lost too many today.
A big home farewell for Josh, is that the plan?
Well, that’s up to him, we will let him work through it. It’s up to us but I’ll let him guide he’s way through it and when the time is right for him to make the call I’ll be stepping aside and letting him do it so that’ll be in the future somewhere.
It was a big day for Gaffy and typically for him he had one of those games where he shows up and does what he does.
Yeah, probably the most consistent player I’ve ever coached. He’s been carrying injuries all year and just never complains – just always turns up. He’s been a quality person and he hasn’t let us down at all in his career so unfortunately, we couldn’t get over the line for him, but the boys tried.
