Are you looking at the 12 consecutive goals that you conceded or are you looking at the fact that you've reduced a 77-point deficit to 47?
A bit of both. Yeah, I think we started well, what's frustrating is, you know, our goods pretty good and our bad, it's really bad. So, to come against the premieres, and, you know, second half, we win, which is great. But the, the discrepancy between our best and worst is something really, we've really got to work on, because we couldn't stop the bleeding and be like probably Hawthorn last week, in that second quarter, end of the first and largely due to stoppages and clearance and scores from stoppages. So, we did a couple of things at halftime work, that stopped the bleeding a little bit, and then the turnover game, we were okay, you know, we held our own. So, there's some stuff that we'll take from a positive point of view, but we've got to stop the bleeding a bit better than that.
With other teams you would roll over in the second half a little bit against Geelong in the past, where you end up losing by over 100?
It was heading that way, wasn't it? So yeah, there's a resilience piece with our players that you can clearly see. But that doesn't excuse the position we've put ourselves in. So, I've said this a bit, it feels like there's something there that we can work on. But the last couple of weeks in particularly we have played to premiership favourites, and probably just shows you where we're at, in terms of where they are and where we are. And then I'll look at the other side and think geez, there was some periods of the game where we held our own. So, to do it in the last half, is pleasing because it's been a while since we've done that.
It looked like Yeo's move to the midfield almost sparked you a little bit, are you likely going to stick with him in the midfield?
He's a bit sore. So, we will have to see how he pulls up. So yeah, for that period, he took centre bounces, and he was playing back. It probably does show we are missing some of our better players at the moment. And great to give some of these kids’ opportunities, but when you've got those types of players, Yeo, Sheed, Shuey, those those types, it makes Kelly a better player, and Naitanui, he helps as well. So, but while they're not here, and it's been a while since we had him all together, we're going keep getting more out of our mid-range players and keep exposing our young ones.
When you've got the momentum going against you, it's been tough in the last eight months to stop that. But how much is there a part of you saying, let it play out as it is, and it's a learning experience? Or do you shoot the magnets back, you put players back to stop the initial bleeding, how do you control that?
The problem with Geelong and the good teams, since the 666 rule has come in and strategically playing an extra behind the players doesn't work. It's the just puts too much pressure on, the backs get aggressive, and Geelong do it really well. If you put an extra behind the play, and keep him there, then they just go even harder. So we did adapt some things at halftime with our stoppages. But in general, you know, we, we want to play bit quicker. We want to bring others into the game with handball. We don't want to go as straight as we do at times. So this is all the things that we're working on our thought. In the second half we got that together, and probably still lost the clearance battle. But it felt like we made it harder around the stoppages.
Feedback from players, do you scratch your head a little bit because you think we started well, we sort of don't you dominate in the first ten minutes and then suddenly go to sleep for 45 and then look at the score after half time and it’s over.
I don't think we went to sleep. I think I think we're playing a team that has 20 premiership players in it from last year. I think that's disrespecting Geelong a little bit. They went to a level we couldn't keep up with, which I think hat's a fair assessment. And we need to find ways to get back into the game at least breakeven, not just concede. The last two weeks have been a real challenge with the two teams we played. But, you know, there's eight quarters of footy there's probably three or four out of those eight where we walk away thinking these are some things that we'll use going forward and then there's three or four quarters which weren't good enough.
Reuben Ginbey's day, subbed out, got at the end of a big tackle and got his first goal - it had it all in it.
Yeah, he's learning the hard and quick way at the moment. So, the sub was just an opportunity. I think he's fine but it's he's been up for a little while. So hopefully that gives us enough that you know, we can keep playing him. Not that there's a lot available underneath at the moment.
So the idea at the moment is not to rest him coming back next week?
Yeah, we will lighten his load during the week and to be honest, I don't know how many guys we've got available, we might not have a choice.
On those six AFL-listed players in the WAFL yesterday, beaten by 170 nearly and Elijah Hewett goes down in the first bounce. Is this starting to feel a bit like last year?
From an availability point of view. It feels a bit like last year, but it doesn't feel like last year with what we're trying to chase. So yeah, I've said this a bit, and I'm sure there'll be a time that we don't talk about last year. But yeah, we're chasing different things. You know, we're just trying to stay competitive. Last year, we were going for a bit more than that now.
Is there any update on Elijah?
It's an ankle. initially thought it wasn't too bad, but we're going to get another scan and see how it looks. So yeah, unfortunately, we had six players and five after the first bounce, and they're all 20 or under. So, it's not like they're these veterans in the twos there. Some NGA boys as well. So yeah, there's a battle at the moment. But we've been here before.
Oscar Allen's four goals today, he's kicked 15 for the year, I know you're not in awe of him but in terms of his performance, how big has it been him coming back the start of the year that you do give a focal point on it?
Yeah, these are the little wins we're getting, you know, we get some individuals who are playing footy for one. So he's come off a year off and he will have some ups and downs as well. The opportunities probably haven't been as strong as perhaps we'd like to give him but for him to deliver with limited supply, and Jack's working his way into the season, like he'd missed seven weeks Jack in the summer. So he's working his way back in and then you know, Jake Waterman, the other one who kick four today. So that combination is work working okay. Missing Ryan and Cripps is the next challenge for us. But young Long is standing up and Petruccelle had a better second half and so did Petrevski-Seton. So those things will hopefully grow as the season goes.
How pleasing was it that Allen and Waterman are able to hit the scoreboard significantly in the game?
Yeah, and Darling, kicked a couple as well. That's our future. So yeah, getting getting them the right supply. You know, forward half turnovers. It seemed like there's periods today, you lock it in your front door for a little bit, but probably for two and a bit quarters, but not not for four. So I don't know what our inside 50's were maybe close to 50. I don't think we would have done that last year, we'd have maybe 30 to 35. So it's a small win, but it's actually quite frustrating to be honest.
How much do you put that down to lack of availability?
There are a few reasons I suppose, one is that, we're playing Geelong and Melbourne and one is not good enough, we've got to get better. You know, we need to recognise from a leadership point of view, you know, we've got different leaders at the moment, can we recognise things from the coach's box and from the playing point of view to put the kids on the game. It's not going to be the last time that Geelong does this to. So that them at their best is difficult to stop, you've only got to look at the grand final.
Will you get anyone back for the Port game?
Maybe Luke Shuey. So, he will have to assess things and see how we go.
You've mentioned the mid ranged players and wanting them to step up, one is probably Jamaine Jones, how have you found his day and season as a whole?
He was pretty sore this week. So, to get up and play was, you know, we needed him and he brings a different dynamic to the back half, bit risky sometimes, but I think that's what we're chasing a little bit in the right way. He's grown a lot last two in the last two or three years and he went back halfway through last year. He's still got a lot to learn, but I think he took another step forward today.
You mentioned Elliot is sore?
We'll find out. He couldn't come back on.
Any other injury concerns?
Talk to me tomorrow.