A really difficult day, how do you sum up that performance?

Yeah, really disappointing. We got outplayed for most of the day. Thought defensively we were poor, which made it really hard to get any type of ball movement. The contest stuff was a reasonable level, but they were cleaner, they transitioned the ball a lot better than we did. And then before we knew it, the game was out of our reach. So, reset, change a couple of things at half time, to some small success, but not a lot. And then the last quarter we didn’t take any of our chances. To be honest, most areas of the day we were outplayed.

You said the last time you were here in round six and lost by 97 points that the team looked ‘weak’ and were ‘embarrassing’, how do you describe the performance today?

Yeah, it’s probably not that emotive. I think we’ve got to look at our method and how we go about executing it. Contest stuff wasn’t too far off, but they were cleaner, and the way they used the ball, their run, their work rate, we weren’t at the same level.

To have such big losses this season, how do you explain the inability to compete in those games?

That’s now a pattern, two weeks ago we were coming off a really good win against the Tigers, and after another good win against Carlton interstate. So, we thought we were on the right track, but I think we’ve got to look a little bit at what we do. So, we’ll assess that, won’t go completely sideways on it. So, we’ve got to look at some of the things we’re doing. Some of it’s just work rate, and being clean, so we’ll keep training that. We’ve identified that scenario that we really want to focus on, we’ve been training that for a few weeks, so hopefully that comes to fruition sooner rather than later. But the inability to stop momentum is costing us dearly.

A dramatic change to the game plan is that what you’re suggesting?

No, no, I think I didn’t say that. Think we’ve got to look at bit of our method. if we’re cleaner and tougher at stoppages and contests, and maybe there’s different issues, but at the moment we’re doing a lot of attacking from that deep 50, and we’re not getting supply. Which is a concern, so that’s the first thing we need to look at. And how we defend on our entries is the second thing. We got out too easily today, and I think the Bulldogs were the same last week, so it’s a bit of work to do, that’s for sure.

How frustrating is it that you’ve got to contemplate work rate at this point in the season, when you’re in contention?

It’s working in the right manner too, like we just don’t look as connected as we have been in the past, with how we defend and how we move the ball. Part of that is learning to work. We’ve got to look at all aspects. It’s disappointing if I mention the word work rate, it’s disappointing. But there’s a lot of other things as well.

What is it about Kardinia Park?

I don’t know. I thought we had the right attitude on the travel, trained well, Caulfield Grammar really looked after us with their facilities, there’s been good spirit, just poor execution. And they’re not just little losses, they’re big ones. I’d like to say it’s got nothing to do with the ground, it’s more about what we need to do as individuals and as a collective than worrying about getting on a bus for an hour.

Do you expect to get home this week? What’s the intel you’ve got over there at the moment?

I haven’t got any (intel) yet, steered clear of that, they’ll obviously tell us. But hopefully we’ve had close to no cases in both states and we can get back sooner rather than later. But whatever they tell us, we’ll do.

And Jack Redden, do you know what happened there?

I actually don’t, I don’t know what happened, I know he was subbed out at some stage, I don’t even know what it was, a knock to the knee maybe?

What about (Jamaine) Jones’ and (Andrew) Gaff’s situations?

Gaff has just got a little thumb issue, that we tested it yesterday and we just thought it just wasn’t worth the risk, he was in too much pain with it all, so he was a late withdrawal. And Jones has got an ankle sprain, so hopefully it’s not a bad one, but fingers crossed on him.

So, Gaff, is that just one game or is it looking like a break or something more significant, which could keep him sidelined for longer?

I’m not quite sure, but it’s probably connected to pain tolerance more than anything. So, it’ll definitely be better next week, just if it’s better enough to play on we’ll find out soon.

Are you aware of whether (Luke) Shuey was officially reported during the game? There looked to be an incident?

No, I don’t know the incident you’re talking about, so, sorry.

How’s the belief in the team at the moment?

Well that’s the mindset of the players, so we’ve got to tap into that. So, no doubt confidence is low. But like I said, two weeks ago we’ve come off one of our best wins for a few years. So, you know, you can’t lose it that quickly. Albeit, I think clearly when we’re 10 goals down, that the confidence to be brave and take the game is not as strong as it is when the game is on the line or you’re winning. So, we’ve got to make sure we own today, we take responsibility for it, we’ll do everything we can do get better.

Your midfield has a few players coming back from injury, how do you see them progressing over the next few weeks and driving a turnaround for you?

Yeah, that’s the connection piece, I suppose. They’ve been back for a couple of weeks, the synergy is not as clean as it needs to be, I thought we lowered our colours around stoppages today, and we weren’t as clean as the Sydney mid, and the same thing happened last week as well. But I wouldn’t put all this in the midfield’s basket, I think we need to own it, collectively all of us, coaches included.