It, it was just a, it was a rare event.

Yeah, it was.

I mean, and, and if you wa-- I mean, if you think of center bounce goals in a certain way, where they come out the front and, um, you know, Will Ashbrook takes two bounces and kicks it to someone, he kicks a goal.

But I think four, I think four of them were involved with free kicks where, you know, I think Rayner gets a free kick, and he kicks some sort of floater, and it lands in, in Charlie Cameron's lap, and it's just like the isolation in those plays you can't avoid, and you've got your best player and their best player, and, um, if you don't get it done, then it's a goal.

So, um, it was a frustrating part of the game, the center bounce scores, um, particularly in the third quarter, uh, when they got, when they got their big run on and they, they got out to quite a lead.

Um, but I do reflect holistically on the game, and I think about the belief that we had.

Like we sco-- I think we scored a hundred and twenty-two points and still, um, and still lost.

What, what, what, what was missing? Was it, was-- Did you, did you, did you feel like this is an opportunity absolutely lost given the way you played on, on, on Saturday night? Or was this-- is this still a building year for you? W-what-- Give us your assessment of the year.

What did you say?

Um, oh, just that I was, I was proud of them, and it looked like there was a fair bit, a fair bit happening.

Um, so let's act with, um, humility and thank our fans who had all turned out.

So you would've seen after that, we walked off and, and, and gave a, gave a clap to some of the, you know, people who were still there.

And, um, obviously some of the things that we've found out since, there was a very small, um, portion of those fans that didn't a-act appropriately, which has sort of soured what was probably one of the greatest games of all time.

Um, so disappointing that, you know, a few fans decided to, you know, throw things and, um, yeah, not act appropriately.

Um, so that was a bit disappointing.

Give us your assessment of the year.

Is that something that you say, "Okay, they took this off us last time, but we're go- we're gonna push harder to, to ensure that we play our brand," or do you just say, "Okay, if they're gonna do that, we've gotta find an uncontested mark"? How do you handle that?

Yeah, it's good.

It's a good, it's a good pickup, Kingy.

I think one of the things, um, if you, if you go away from it completely, then you're not gonna be threatening enough in front of the ball, and I think we saw Sydney, um, Sydney against it in the first final.

They just basically played a high tempo game from the first bounce and just handball all the time, and managed to get through often enough that, um, caused them enough threat.

So, um, there's a balance between when you can get through, you've gotta take those options to put their defense under pressure, otherwise they're never gonna get enough entries to score enough to beat them.

Uh, but you know, if you do it at the wrong time, then that's gonna create scoring against.

Well, what about this final personally for you, Mitch? I mean, at, at some point, um, coaches get assessed on these big games and, you know, have you, have you taken them to a grand final? Have you taken them to a flag? Have you taken them to this point? Have you taken them to that point? What, what will a win in a prelim do for you?

How do you handle that?

Yeah, it's good.

It's a good, it's a good pickup, King.

I think one of the things, um, if you, if you go away from it completely, then you're not gonna be threatening enough in front of the ball, and I think we saw Sydney, um, Sydney against them in the first final.

They just basically played a high tempo game from the first bounce and just handball all the time, and managed to get through often enough that, um, caused them enough threat.

So, um, there's a balance between when you can get through, you gotta take those options to put their defense under pressure.

Otherwise, they're never gonna get enough entries to score enough to beat them.

Well, what about this final personally for you, Mitch? I mean, at, at some point, um, coaches get assessed on these big games and, you know, have you, have you taken them to a grand final? Have you taken them to a flag? Have you taken them to this point? Have you taken them to that point? What, what will a win in a prelim do for you?

That's gonna be like boring

... stru- well, structure.

So are they bringing a, a n- are they bringing a player up? You're looking at is there any positions, is there any match-ups that you're trying to keep or the opposition are trying to keep? Is everyone playing where you thought they would be?

Mm

... um, driven by, you know, doing it for their family or for some outside thing.

And it...

And once I sort of registered that everyone was motivated by very different things, I think that, um, that made...

Because the, my desired outcome is the same-

Did you speak to him in the build-up about what was probably going to come with Voss?

Yeah, I mean, I think having a little bit longer to scout the game and to be ready for it.

And we'd watched a bit of the last time we played them and we suspect, I mean, Voss is a, he's a fantastic player.

And in that stadium, he's very important to the way that they play.

He doesn't have to do very much to bring 60,000 Purple fans alive.

And so James was well aware that it was likely that was going to be the matchup.

And just to accept the matchup, he didn't try to avoid him.

Has this been a tinkering of system and a refining of system? Or has it just been on the back of red-hot pressure and the system looks better?

What did that mean to you both as a coach and also the leader of a club?

It feels, it feels unusual now, but even when the siren went, we went, um, you know, the coaches all together and you sort of walk to the, to the lift and you go down the four levels.

And I actually found myself sort of quite emotional, a- and I didn't even really have a reason why.

And then I got to the ground, and Will was the one who wore it on the outside, but a lot of the players' feelings were, were quite similar to that.

There's a lot of pressure on these guys.

Um, you know, they've...

Everyone is watching everything they're doing all the time.

Yeah

But once your back line settled, I, I don't know if I've seen three defenders totally dominate three key guns like your guys did last night.

Yeah.

I thought, I thought the key, the key backs, um, so between Barass, Battle, Sicily, and, and Weddle, to manage their three defend- their three key forwards, who are all very, very good players.

I mean, two of them have kicked over, well over 50 goals for the season and, and Voss is obviously the, um, you know, big energy giver for them.

I think the way we managed those guys, that was gonna always be a key contest.

If we had to, if we had to resource that part of the ground with extra numbers, that would've made, it would've made the rest of the game really difficult.

So the fact those guys could stand up gave us a bit of flexibility with what we did up the ground to, to generate the pressure that we did.

When the senior coach looks over and sees Will Day or... as, as caught up in the moment and emotional, uh, af- just post-siren, what was going through your mind? Because it was, it was, it was one of those ones that was hard to watch but great to see at the same time, that it, it just meant so much to him.

Is that on, on instruction, or have they just got a little more mature?

Oh, no, certainly they've just matured.

I think, I think what happens is when the young, when the young lads are coming in and they're excited and they're expressing themselves, you want, you want your players to express themselves and feel happy and to be their best, be their best.

And to do that, you need to let them act in a way, you know, always respectful of those around them and always, you know...

Even, even Nick on the weekend when he was-

But what did, what did you take, if anything, out of that that you could possibly share with us?

Oh, I think, I think the most important thing is gonna be playing, playing the full four quarters.

And, um, against them we probably played three, and we were not too bad start of the last, but then they just got a bit of a run on and we went into our shells and, and didn't, didn't execute our best footy in the last quarter.

Is that on instruction or have they just got a little more mature?

Certainly, they've just matured.

I think what happens is when the young lads are coming in and they're excited and they're expressing themselves, you want your players to express themselves and feel happy and to be their best.

To do that, you need to let them act in a way.

Always respectful of those around them.

Even Nick on the weekend when he was saying to Baker, poster boy, it's still respectful.

It's a bit of healthy banter.

As they build, you're encouraging fans to choose to drink moderately during this time

But what did, what did you take, if anything, out of that that you could possibly share with us?

Oh, I think, I think the most important thing is gonna be playing, playing the full four quarters.

And, um, against them, we probably played three, and we were not too bad start of the last, but then they just got a bit of a run on, and we went into our shells and, and didn't, didn't execute our best footy in the last quarter.

And against a side as, as good as Freo, um, they're gonna get hold of you if you let them, and we certainly allowed that in the last part of the game.

So there's a few lessons to be learnt there, but, um, chances are it'll be a very different, different game this time around.

Yeah

... and you feel safe.

You can sit with the opposition team, um, their crowd, and, and feel in a safe environment.

What, you know, what's realistic in terms of your conversation with the players at a point in time?

Well, I think straight after the game last week, after the draw, um, I actually said to the players pretty much straight away that what is gonna happen this week is every person you talk to, whether that's your, you know, your parents or your partner or fans in the street, everyone is gonna say, "Oh, what's the percentage? What do you need? How much do you need to win by?" And that takes all of your energy away from getting the job done that's right in front of you.

So, um, very much now we're very focused and, and it, it...

I mean, I'm not gonna say it's easy to do and that it doesn't come into your mind because it's all anyone is talking about is the ladder and the percentage.

But for us, you know, we've, we've seen the Eagles play some pretty good footy and, you know, if they were a little bit more accurate over the last two or three games, they probably could have won them all.

So we need to put, uh, that first and foremost.

And then the second thing I'm thinking about is where we're playing right now, if we're, if we're at our best, I think we can beat anyone, but the way we've played the last couple of weeks, I wouldn't think it's gonna matter who we plays.

Has that been difficult to, to, to settle the group down and do you have a temptation to do that?

Well, you know, what's realistic in terms of your conversation with the players at a point in time?

Well, I think straight after the game last week, after the draw, um, I actually said to the players pretty much straight away that what is gonna happen this week is every person you talk to, whether that's your, you know, your parents or your partner or fans in the street, everyone is gonna say, "Oh, what's the percentage? What do you need? How much do you need to win by?" And that takes all of your energy away from getting the job done that's right in front of you.

So, um, very much now we're very focused and, and it, it...

I mean, I'm not gonna say it's easy to do and that it doesn't come into your mind because it's all anyone is talking about is the ladder and the percentage.

But for us, you know, we've, we've seen the Eagles play some pretty good footy and, you know, if they were a little bit more accurate over the last two or three games, they probably could've won them all.

So we need to put, um, that first and foremost.

And then the second thing I'm thinking about is- Where we're playing right now, if we're, if we're at our best, I think we can beat anyone.

Has that been difficult to, to, to settle the group down, and do you have a temptation to do that?

Mitch, I mean, do, do you as a club learn from these experiences and address, you know, uh, your feelings on it, and can you share those with us?

Um, oh, I mean, firstly, I would say it's quite new, and we were traveling, um, yesterday, so I wouldn't say I am all over it and an absolute expert at this stage.

The thing that I would say is, um, as an organization, we have changed...

An organization being the AFL as a, as a whole, is we've changed our philosophy on, on concussion so heavily.

So, you know, back in, back in our days of playing, it was, um, not treated with the respect that it is now.

It's the type of, it's the type of thing now where you completely stay out of it as a coach, and you have enormous amount of respect for, for it is an injury and that the, the medical team have got a enormously difficult role in, in what they do.

So, um, I'm not sure on the details of what's actually happened with this one and other people.

Do, do a bit of a different week, Mitch? Has there been a different week in prep to this one?

Mitch, I mean, d- do you as a club learn from these experiences and address, you know, uh, your feelings on it, and can you share those with us?

Um, oh, I mean, firstly, I would say it's quite new, and we were traveling, um, yesterday, so I wouldn't say I am all over it and an absolute expert at this stage.

The thing that I would say is, um, as an organization, we have changed, an organization being the AFL as a, as a whole, is we've changed our philosophy on, on concussion so heavily.

So, you know, back in, back in our days of playing, it was, um, not treated with the respect that it is now.

It's the type of, it's the type of thing now where you completely stay out of it as a coach, and you have enormous amount of respect for, for it is an injury and that the, the medical team have got a enormously difficult role in, in what they do.

So, um, I'm not sure on the details of what's actually happened with this one and other people.

With more information, we'll speak on it.

Mm

Will Day was a good example of that last week as well.

Yeah, we got...

We've probably got a bit skinny.

I mean, there's a threshold for, for...

Every, every team's injury list has got a certain threshold where you know you're gonna, it's gonna be a bit of a challenge for you if you, if you cross it.

Um, and we've been across that only once or twice this year, and some teams have spent the whole season there.

So we're a bit lucky in that sense.

Is, is that similar to your thoughts or your philosophy?

Will Day was a good example of that last week as well.

Yeah, we've got...

We've probably got a bit skinny.

I mean, there's a threshold for, for...

Every, every team's injury list has got a certain threshold where you know you're gonna...

It's gonna be a bit of a challenge for you if you, if you cross it.

Um, and we've been across that only once or twice this year, and some teams have spent the whole season there.

Is, is that similar to your thoughts or your philosophy?

So of that 50-page document, now that you're in the role, i- i- if you were to go back and have a look at what you were presenting and, you know, whether it's specifics on game plan or what your philosophies are, how much of it would still be relevant and accurate?

Uh, I would, oh, I would say probably about three quarters.

So I think most of it is, you know, timeless philosophical beliefs.

And then there's probably a quarter which is time sensitive, which changes, and I'd like to think that will continue.

You know, I still, I still believe that, um, you need strong leadership, that needs to have a lot of player buy-in, but I, I don't believe that the tail should wag the dog, for instance.

So, um, you know, we don't, the players don't pick the game style, but make sure the coaches are really clear that that's what they do, um, with player input.

So things like that I don't think I'll change over time.

Mitch, what was that conversation like when you left him out again?

So of that 50-page document, now that you're in the role, i- i- if you were to go back and have a look at what you were presenting, and, you know, whether it's specifics on game plan or what your philosophies are, how much of it would still be relevant and accurate?

accurate?Uh, I would, I would say probably about three quarters.

So I think most of it is, you know, timeless philosophical beliefs.

And then there's probably a quarter which is time sensitive, which changes, and I'd like to think that will continue.

You know, I still, I still believe that, um, you need strong leadership that needs to have a lot of player buy-in, but I, I don't believe that the tail should wag the dog, for instance.

So, um, you know, we don't-- the players don't pick the game style, but make sure the coaches are really clear that that's what they do, um, with player input.

So things like that I don't think will change over time.

Mitch, what was that conversation like when you left him out again?

It's Friday night against the Giants, a team they lost to in opening round.

Our best has been pretty good.

We've been quite potent.

Even, like, we lost the Bulldogs game just before by...

But I thought there was a 15-minute period of that game that's probably our best footy of the season or close to.

Um, and then on the weekend, I mean, there's a part of me that looked at the weekend's game against Gold Coast and said, "Great, we won up there for the first time for over a decade.

Uh, we played some good footy." Uh, but there's a part of me that said, "Well, we kicked five goals from center bounce, and we lost the expected score." Um, so I don't think we're a complete product either.

How, how confident are you you can turn things around this time?

But it's not the media doing the job, but Hawthorne is active in the trade space.

And we have been and we continue to be.

So we will continue to try to make our list the best it can possibly be.

And the players who they may be in competition with their spot, then competition is a good thing and it's what breeds success.

So I think for the most part, our players would back themselves.

Do you have that discussion with them, though? Do you feel the need to? At times, you might need to have a chat.

If there's something specific where you're thinking, oh, I wonder how he feels about that, then you'll have a chat.

Do you feel that in the coach's box? And is there any sort of level of panic early in a game where it unfolds the way it did on Friday?

Do you now think that you've dodged a bullet with Zach

Merritt? Well...

You haven't just said it in round one or round two.

You've said it every week, on every show.

So you've said it everywhere, every day.

And I've heard you.

And we can agree to disagree.

But it's not the media doing the job, but the Hawthorne is active in the trade space.

Now you've sort of done your best to allay fears o- on this one, Mitch, but w- what is the actual injury that he's got?

Yeah, I, I mean, I, I've never been one to, um, mess around with the injury report.

I've always pretty much told you exactly what we know.

Um, so, so he's got a midfoot sprain.

Now, there's more complicated language than I can pronounce according to our doctors.

But the joint in the middle of his foot, um, he hurt it a few weeks ago, but then he ended up...

it ended up bouncing out of it not too bad.

Not, not that you're disappointed, but are you surprised that you're, that right now Hawthorn are, are a fair way off those top two or three teams?

Now you've sort of done your best to allay fears o- on this one, Mitch, but w- what is the actual injury that he's got?

Yeah, I, I mean, I, I've never been one to, um, mess around with the injury report.

I've always pretty much told you exactly what we know.

Um, so, so he's got a midfoot sprain.

Now, there's more complicated language than I can pronounce according to our doctors.

But the joint in the middle of his foot, um, he hurt it a few weeks ago.

But then he ended up...

Not, not that you're disappointed, but are you surprised that you're, that right now Hawthorn are, are a fair way off those top two or three teams?

But what sort of application does it have for you in real time game day?

Oh, I mean, for me, on a personal level, I, um, while I encourage our staff to use it as much as, um, it will help them, the thing that it can do is it can, can flag a lot of stuff.

So if you look at, um, AFL coaches, they're all carrying iPads or huge wads of paper, um, with enormous amounts of statistics.

Now, in the f- in the six minutes you have at, to talk to players at quarter time or three-quarter time, it's very difficult to get the right stats and figure out what is...

You know, your eyes are telling you one thing, and you want to be able to back it up with data, and I think it just accelerates that process.

So when you talk to players, you can do it with a little bit more clarity.

Because unless it actually helps us on the field, um, then there's not a lot of point.

A-are you a, are you a coach that'll still manage and rest players in the back half of the year, given how tight it is? Will you, will you take that risk or are you one that'll just charge through? And I know Gunston's a bit of a different story, but with the rest of the group, will you, will you charge on or are you a rester?