Benny Gale on 3aw pre-game:
* Spoke about Higgo (see other thread).
* Warned about complacency. Saw Port's second half against Adelaide. If we're off by 5% we can be beaten.
* Too much navel-gazing about the state of the game. Believes the game is in good shape. Plenty of good close games.
* Been in the game a long time and has learnt you can only control what you can control. We focus on the club environment. Believes mental illness is a significant issue in footy.
* Supports a midseason trade period. Believes in freeing up the labour market in footy as it can be a bit rigid.
* Encouraged by loss to Adelaide with a young side. Showed our culture to be very strong. Building some momentum since then but still a lot of work to do.
* Last time we defeated Port at the 'G Benny played and "got a kick" lol. He added we've hardly played Port here.
* Doesn't know if Geelong has a case (re: home final at Kardinia Park). The AFL sets the fixture. If you were Geelong's football department you'd probably want it but finals should be about maximising crowds. The MCG isn't a significant home ground (for us) as people think as every man and his dog plays here.
* Rance's chance of playing this year - 'Don't know but thinks unlikely'. Alex is way ahead of where he was expected to be. He believes he can and so he should.
* We like to play a key ruckman (Nank when fit) and then have someone else to give him a chop out. We've used Grigg and Caddy in the past. Mabior has been a real find and has given us something to think about. Soldo has been solid.
* When we were deciding on our coach (2009) we had a diverse group of people on it (eg: Lindsay Gaze). Got the decision pretty right you would think
. Caro added it was a close choice between Dimma and Hinkley from memory. Benny added that people skills was an important criteria in the decision making process and that's still just as important now.
* The state of Tasmanian footy does concern him. Thinks about it more than he probably should.
* AFL CEO job? I'm just focused on today. It's flattering to be considered by other people to be fit for that job but he's learnt in his time in footy to only focus on the now.
