Initial thoughts on the game?

I think you can tick off our intensity. I thought we were up tempo, created plenty of opportunities but I thought our polish and skill level wasn't where we needed to be. So we need to keep working on that. There's a bit of time still but I thought it was more convincing than the scoreboard, what was it, 21 points in the end of something, shots from 20m I think in the second quarter, there was four or five of them. We certainly played quicker, created a lot of opportunities. We worked really hard defensively. When you look around the competition it's hard, there's plenty of challenges that come at you. I think you've got to view them (GWS) as Joe Patfull back, Phil Davis back, I think (Shane) Mumford has been a big loss for them, obviously against someone like Aaron and Jon Griffin supporting. But their midfield is elite. If you've got (Callan) Ward, (Tom) Scully, (Ryan) Griffen, and then (Lachie) Whitfield, (Josh) Kelly – even though he's a second year player he was pick two in the country, and (Adam) Treloar, (Toby) Greene, it's enormously talented and you've got the luxury of playing Griffen off half-back with Heath Shaw, Patfull and Davis. They're quite an elite team. Hence they're fighting for a top eight position and really on the dry expanses of Subiaco it's a challenge for our midfield. But I thought our hit around the ball and intensity and really our pressure centre-forward was as good as it's been for awhile and we created all those opportunities. But a lack of polish and composure at times stopped it being convincing and we had some really bad turnovers where they scored quite easily out the back. But that was the only way they were getting the goals I thought. It was a bit tighter in the last quarter than it should have been but at the end of the day it was really quite convincing bar, ultimately the ultimate measure, which is the scoreboard.



You have mentioned polish as a theme over the last few weeks, do you think it will just click?

That's the aim. We've got to keep working on it and keep challenging decisions at training and play mini footy, mini games, and all that. But at the end of the day players have got to take responsibility for it, stick to the principles. And sometimes it could be a teammate alongside rather than calling for it, direct. Just because you run and you created a number doesn't mean you're the best option. Sometimes we need help and you can point and direct your teammate to where the better option is and I don't think we do that enough. But we spoke about that and we know we can do that. So that's our challenge that lays in front of us. But certainly this time of year we've got to fly to Melbourne, another big challenge. And it was good the midfield without Nat today. I thought (they) really got to work and scored quite heavily from clearances and so on. Lachie Weller debuted, I thought he looked fine. Alex Pearce forward was good. I thought Zac Dawson back was really quite strong for us. Gave us some physicality in the air and all those sort of things. We're building. Michael Johnson will be back in two weeks. Fyfe will be back. So there's a bit to like about where we're at.



Will you persist with Alex Pearce up forward?

Yes I really liked what I saw. Speed, movement, took some good marks. Kicked one, should've kicked three really shouldn't he? And I think one out on the full. We like it. And he gives us that flexibility to go down back. It's good. And it puts pressure obviously on (Matt) Taberner rather than just get a game by default if you’re the only tall. So he's got to compete a bit more fiercely for his spot. So it's a win-win.



Based on what he showed why the decision to sub him?

It's a good question. We were really flummoxed at three-quarter time and halfway through the third because he was going well. But obviously (Hayden) Crozier is a young player and we wanted to continue to give him opportunities. So look, right or wrongly we took him out, gave (Chris) Mayne some experience down back and went with the run. So it was nothing to do with the form. It was just a flip of the coin really.



Is Alex Pearce a better option than Zac Clarke?

Well I think they're different in that Zac plays a ruckman forward. So he's been competing against Jon Griffin. But I think Zac could fit into that space, that position so yes he is. It'd be Taberner, I think you could see Zac as a legitimate mobile forward himself, and Taberner and Pearce obviously. Look our list isn't choc full of the height, we know that. Hence free agency has been a target with key forwards. But it's nice to have a couple of young kids vying for the position.



Will Alex Pearce go back if you lose Dawson?

I haven't considered it. I get briefed before I come in. That was mentioned. I clearly didn't see it. But really confident the match review panel's making good decisions.

There's an action that's been brought to your attention or you've seen, but I clearly didn't see it. I'll let that run its course of events.



Leon Cameron left the box twice today to talk to the umpires?

Did he? That would be surprising that a senior coach would do that. I don't think it's ideal. Leon would have his motives for that. But I don't think it's a great look for the game, because we all get frustrated on different weeks. We've had games where we've had four free kicks paid and those sort of things. I understand the frustration, but Leon's a really good person. He can do whatever he likes ultimately. But I don't think it's something we should encourage.



Do you have to suck it up as coach and question afterwards?

Well that's what we all do really. We all do that. But we all obviously have moments. It's not for me to sit in judgement. That's not my role.



What are Nat Fyfe’s chances of playing next weekend?

He trained a little bit today. He would still be 50-50 I reckon for the Saints game.



Are you thinking Michael Johnson will be back in two weeks?

Yes we are. And then can he come straight back in or go through Peel. He's been in full training for a while. He's in pretty good nick. But he's so important to us. Odds are in his favour, but we'll see.



Are the Saints a bogey side?

We look forward, and lift up. We've got to get our review done. But they are. They're a much improved squad and team. They didn't put their best foot forward today just on the scoreboard. But looking at it, they had equal entries. I think they rested a few for us. That's ok. I think (Nick) Riewoldt will be back. I'll give him a call during the week and check in. (Sam) Gilbert I don't think played. I'm not sure of the others. Look, it's about our football. There's no special interest from me or then. It's four years on. We're in a really good position on the ladder. We aim to protect that pretty fiercely by going to play some good football at Etihad. We love getting to Etihad. It's a good track, fast track. It's a big challenge.



Are you hoping to settle with a forward line before finals?

No, not really. It just changes so quickly with injury form and suspension. I don’t think you can sit there and say we shouldn’t have kicked 100 points. If you are kicking them out on the full, missing them and not making the distance, dropped marks and missed handballs. We could just get that little bit of polish. It’s a concern that we didn’t do it so we want to get out of that sort of mentality, if maybe and should have could have, we need to get it done.



Earlier in the season you were so slick and polished have you been able to put your finger on what’s changed?

I thought we did a lot right today, so sometimes it’s a simple as a missed kick, poor decisions but we will continue to learn every week and we ill try and build. Time's of the essence, it’s a long time but it’s not long. Five weeks will go pretty quick.



Chris Mayne looked to roll his ankle in the first quarter, is he okay?

Yes, he finished the game I think they strapped it up. (If) he wasn’t we would have subbed him, because him and Alex Pearce were playing the same sort of role. I thought he was pretty good today. He led well and marked well. He could have kicked a bit better.



Did you come through unscathed?

Yes, based on that.



Was Crozier a bit crook?

Was he? Not that I know of.



Will nothing but finishing top two satisfy you?

I don’t think about it. We’re aware of where we sit and once you start hypothesising guess what happens? You take your eye of the ball and you lose a game. So, we’ll add them up in the end. We’re dog hungry, we’re working hard. Are we perfect? No, that’s just where it sits isn’t it? It just changes so quickly. Everyone’s aiming for their best possible position, if that’s our best possible position that’s where we’d like to stay but at then end of the day you take what you earn. No one gifts it to you, you can’t wish for it and sit there and watch other people win. It’s all garbage.



Have a couple of results helped your cause?

I don’t know, I wouldn’t have thought so. I’ll tell you what helped, winning today. I think players and coaches focus on what they can control. Typically, think we can only control our own performance and our own winning. I think that’s why we are in the position that we are, we don’t rely on people to win or lose, we just have to control our own destiny and I think teams that can't control their own destiny look at those things. But we’re certainly not a team that cant control our own destiny. So therefore it's not a priority that I sit there and wish and hope about other teams. My priority is to build our football and aim to keep wining.