Summary
* Not available - Foley, Simmonds, Jackson and a couple of our young draftees who we weren't prepared to push at this stage. Other than that we're in pretty good shape.
* A few vicious rumours over the preseason that Cotchin was finished but our fans will be pleased to see him run around for 3 quarters. He's done the full preseason but at a level that we wanted him to train at. We could have pushed him but we are prepared to wait. He's just one of those guys who has grown faster than his muscles, tendons and that sort of thing have as young men do. We've just got to be patient with him as we expect him to be a player of the future for this club. So we're not prepared to rush him at this stage.
* Surprisingly all newbies have shown glimpes throughout the course of the summer. Martin has done some really nice things, Astbury and even our last rookie draft pick Westhoff has shown they can play. So we're very pleased with the progression of our younger players.
* Hard to say at this early stage as far as younger guys stepping up into leadership positions. Always exciting when you have so many young players come into a club.
* NAB Cup - every weekend we will be going out to win. There's no doubt. From our point of view we'll pick a side that's taking us to the future. It's all about long term success for us so whatever we think is going to be best placed going forward we'll do.
* There's nothing better for us than playing a quality side first up. Hawthorn will be up and going. They had a injury-ravaged year last year. So they'll be fully prepared and from our point of view it'll be a great experience for our guys. Joked about telling Clarkson to rest Franklin, Roughead and Rioli.
* We do expect Riewoldt to take a lead role and take the forward line by the scruff of the neck. He's had a great preseason. We've had a number of guys down there. Polak has shown he can play down there and Polo at stages as well. With Jack we don't want to have one focal point. We want to have a number. So Jack and those guys we are expecting a big season from.
* Jack already provides a lead role. He's a guy who is very vocal. He's got some leadership qualities that we like. He's got a little way to go in that area but he's working on those deficiencies.
* Taylor - player we expect enormous things from. Very exciting player. Got a bit of a way to go he's a guy we are expecting reasonable things from him. All young players go out there with a point to prove. Hardwick said he's had 14 guys in his office this week saying where are they are at. So from that point of view Taylor is no different to any of the others.
* Journo asked if Hardwick wants as gameplan that is disciplined and robotic or do you encourage the kids to play on instinct and with flair?
Dimma said there's a bit of both. Players need to have their own individual flair but from our point of view we have such a young group that we just want a simple disciplined gameplan. Plus with the 45 knot wind we'll just kick it long today. It'll change as the season progresses. At the start we'll keep it fairly structured and go from there. Wait for the talent to catch up and see how it pans out.
* Cousins - is going well. He's done all we've expected from him. Had a couple of hic-ups early on in the preseason but he's in great form at the moment. We'll see how he goes in the course of preseason to get him right for the proper season. He's 30 years old but he's having a ripper preseason thus far.
