Summary
Maher: The response you got after 3/4 time? The momentum seemed to have completely swung the other way. So what a sign of maturity to finish off the match the way they did.
It was terrific. We put it back on our leaders on the day and they stood up. Guys like Cotchin and Martin didn't have good overall days but for them to stand up and drag us over the lines in the last quarter was outstanding. We are really pleased with the way they did that.
Watson: That's a mark of a player really maturing isn't it?
Yeah I really think so. Trent we know is going to be a fantastic player for this footy club there's no doubt. But for him to have somewhat of a quiet day (Bartram did a good job on him) but stand up in the last quarter and get us up and going is not only a sign of a good player but a great leader.
Maher: Don't know if you saw it Damien as you may have been on your way out to middle but at 3/4 time the players gathered and Brett Deledio called the group in. He was in the middle of them and spoke to them for about 30-45 seconds. Is that a role Deledio has taken upon himself now to emerge as one of the genuine leaders of this football team?
Yeah it has. It's surprising cause (I didn't see it) the thing that's grown in Brett's game is probably leadership. It's something he wasn't noted for. He's really taken upon himself as he wasn't one of those guys who looked to be in the leadership group or wanted to be but he's really started to grow into that role and we've been really pleased with the steps he's taken in that area. For him to become the player we know that he can, he really needs to develop in that area and we're really pleased with the way it's developed this year.
Lloyd: Well done on the win. Good stuff! You may get sick of being asked about this guy as the supporters love him but Shane Tuck - you spoke glowingly about him at the aftermatch press conference where you said about his reliability. Do you have to rethink Shane Tuck (I know he'll be in your plans anyway) as 5-6 weeks ago he may have been a player you'd look to move on?
It's funny as I love him as well. He's one of those guys you love having around your footy club. Look we sat down at the start of the year about Tucky's role and he knew he have played 15 games or he might have played 3. He just knew what role we required to play and he's done that to no end. He's one of players we'll sit down at the end of the year. He doing everything right and he's the type of guy you love having around your footy club. He's had a terrific season when he's played for us and we think he can go on and do some jobs for us.
Watson: Dimma, how aggressively will you go out there and try to trade for a ruckman at the end of this season?
Look everyone keeps saying from a ruckman point of view but with the list management process we'll go through we'll look at any out of contract player that fits our model. If we think they can help us we'll look at them. With what's happening we'll see what pans out over the coming two months.
Watson: Is that high on your list of priorities though?
There's a lot of things high on our priorities mate. Obviously as most teams on the bottom of the ladder we'll look at anyone who can help our footy club and hopefully get the result we are after.
Maher: Mitch Morton. I don't mean this to be a slight on the Morton boys generally or Mitch particularly but we know the Mortons play nice footy, outside footy, they are highly skilled, etc. I know that can be code for something else and I don't mean it to be at all but yesterday Mitch Morton on more than one occasion put his body on the line and took a couple of big hits. It's not the stuff we associate necessarily with Mitch Morton. Has he been told it's time to do that if he wants to continue to play at this level?
Look he has. It was just prior to half-time he ran back with the flight of the ball and we highlighted it at half-time. It's something we want to instill in our players. It's an expectation of our playing group that they do that and for Mitch to do that and another bit of play about two minutes later where he got cleaned up by Aaron Davey was terrific. Look he's fought his way back and he's had some personal issues over the year but to work his way back and play the way he has over the past three weeks has been really pleasing for us.
Lloyd: There were a few concerns at Richmond about Jack Riewoldt and he looked a but flat for a period there. It was great to see him barge through and present you with a cake. It looked like he had his spirit back up through the week.
Yeah it was. It was funny Lloydy and credit goes to you as you sat down and spent some time with him which is terrific and he got a lot of out of that.
Watson: The Brad Miller situation. It was pretty much an experiment at the beginning of the year. You got him on board and you weren't quite sure whether you'd need him playing. The role he played yesterday we've seen but what other roles does he do inside the footy club?
Look he's just helped with the general development of our forwards. We looked at our forward stocks and they were quite thin with Jack. The development of Tyrone Vickery and Ben Griffiths who we've seen a little bit of but not a great deal is purely down to the work of Brad and Danny Daly our forward-line coach. He's done a power of amount of work with bodywork and positioning. Sometimes as a coach it is difficult if you haven't played that position to teach but Brad's work with Danny has those guys playing some pretty good footy. You only have to look at the development of Vickery this year has been a great positive for us.
Maher: I know you'll have a gut feel as to where you're at but to finish off those last couple of games well against Adelaide and North is going to send you into the offseason in a good frame of mind.
Yeah it is and those two sides are playing some good footy as well. It's funny how towards the end of the season there's some sides spiraling down while others are coming up and we're probably like one of those. So we've got some important games coming into the back end of the season and we look forward to win them as well.
