Uh, should they be brought into the A-League?

Yeah, look, I, I started my career at South, um, as, as a youngster, and a- again, you know, South Melbourne is a, a big, you know, historic club in, in Australian football.

Um, you know, I think they have the base for everything.

You know, they've got a training base, they've got fans.

Um, you know, so I, I think, again, it's not up to me, you know, about making, you know, those rules, but, you know, maybe that's one of those things that we need to think of, is maybe introducing teams, um, that have already a base, um, that allows the competition, um, to play, you know, more games.

[laughs]

I don't think we're that anymore.

Um, yeah, look, you know, I, I think for me it's, you know, it, it's sort of trying to take it, you know, day by day and week by week, trying to get the, you know, the team a- as, as best as possible, you know, and, and work to, you know, the end goal, which, you know, we want to do.

Uh, should they be brought into the A-League?

Yeah, look, I, I started my career at South, um, as, as a youngster, and a- again, you know, South Melbourne is a, a big, you know, historic club in, in Australian football.

Um, you know, I think they have the base for everything.

You know, they've got a training base, they've got fans.

Um, you know, so I, I think, again, it's not up to me, you know, about making, you know, those rules, but, you know, maybe that's one of those things that we need to think of is maybe introducing teams, um, that have already a base, um, that allows the competition, um, to play, you know, more games.

[laughs]

Um, yeah, look, you know, I, I think for me it's, you know, it, it's sort of trying to take it, you know, day by day and week by week trying to get the, you know, the team a- as, as best as possible, you know, and, and work to, you know, the end goal, which, you know, we want to do.

Um, but again, the foundation to start on the pitch, um, a- and working hard a- and doing that sort of stuff, you know? So, um, yeah, hopefully we're not known as Bling FC, um, I hope we're known as maybe Working Hard FC.

Uh, should they be brought into the A-League?

Yeah, look, I, I started my career at South, um, as, as a youngster, and a- again, you know, South Melbourne is a, a big, you know, historic club in, in Australian football.

Um, you know, I think they have the base for everything.

You know, they've got a training base, they've got fans.

Um, you know, so I, I think, again, it's not up to me, you know, about making, you know, those rules, but, you know, maybe that's one of those things that we need to think of, is maybe introducing teams, um, that have already a base, um, that allows the competition, um, to play, you know, more games.

[laughs]

I don't think we're that anymore.

Um, yeah, look, you know, I, I think for me it's, you know, i- it's sort of trying to take it, you know, day by day and week by week, trying to get the, you know, the team a- as, as best as possible, you know, and, and work to, you know, the end goal, which, you know, we want to do.

How exciting is this, going up against such a famous English club?

Yeah, look, you know, I think it's great for our sport.

I think it's great for our state and the country.

And I think it's a great opportunity for our players to play against, you know, some of the best players in the world and obviously, you know, coach against one of the best managers in the world.

Yeah.

What do you think of the squad the Spurs have named? Yeah, well, it's a big one.

Look, but we know the quality they have.

What did you think of Tottenham back then?

Yeah, okay.

Um, like if I know 'em, I understand already, you know, the background, how they play, what type of character they are, you know, what, what they bring to the team sort of thing.

If I don't, then I need to find out, um, all that information before I even start to think, okay, are they a good fit for the team? Where do they fit in? Um, and all that sort of stuff.

So look, you know, like Matthew Leckie for example, um, you know, it took me probably eight months to get him, to sign him.

Yeah.

Um, the hard thing is when you get to the grand final, it's a one game, you think, "Wow." You know what I mean? That's the disappointing bit.

And look, we all learn and, and stuff, and you can't win them all, but the fact that they got there, you just wanted to go that extra step.

But it was all credit to the players.

How do you assess your side's performance over 120 minutes and the penalties last Saturday night?

Yeah, look, I think the performance was a bit more than one game.

We had obviously those two legs against obviously the Premiers, which is a tough task, but the play in both games and in the end, you know, we go through, you know, on a penalty shootout, even though we didn't want to go sort of that long in terms of, you know, obviously conceding a goal in sort of the last sort of minute or two.

But again, the characters shown by the players and the mental, you know, strength and attitude was fantastic.

I'm very proud of it.

So I don't expect you to tell us the side, but what informs your selection decisions around your 11th?

Yes, look, it's a good question.

You know, for me, it's knowing where sort of Joe's come from and Akol and knowing, you know, what's sort of the best fit, you know, for the team at this present stage.

How do you assess your side's performance over 120 minutes and the penalties last Saturday night?

Yeah, look, you know, I, I think, I think the performance was a bit more than, you know, one game.

You know, we had, obviously, there was two legs, um, against obviously, you know, uh, the premiers, which, you know, is a, is a, a tough task.

But, you know, the players showed a lot of, you know, character and, and resilience, um, uh, in, in both games.

Um, and in the end, you know, we go through, you know, on, on a penalty shootout, um, even though we didn't wanna go sort of that long in terms of, you know, 'cause obviously, um, conceding a goal in, in sort of the last sort of minute or two.

But again, the character shown by the players and the, and the mental, you know, strength and attitude was fantastic, and I'm very proud of it.

So I don't expect you to tell us the side, but what informs your selection decisions around your 11?

Yes.