Summary
* Intensity and effort in training carried over to games. If the defensive effort across the ground is strong then the game will take care of itself. Positive signs over the past month.
* Connolly said over the past month the wins have been more about consistent play rather than bursts. Cotch said the coaching staff wants us solidifying leads and not trying to blow sides out of the water in half an hour.
* Always pressure from outside the four walls of the club but we knew from preseason what we expected from each other. We knew if we improved we can take it up to the better sides or at least the sides around us. Need to stand tall in the next few weeks when we play the better sides.
* Yes we have continually improved over 2011-12 but our aim is to play finals this year. Would be a failure if we don't. The quicker we can solidify wins against the top sides the quicker we can feel we can beat anyone.
* The key has been confidence in sticking to the plan and knowing it works. Still need to work on periods during a game and learning from instances where we let ourselves down such as the last two minutes of the Freo game earlier in the year.
* Cotch said he doesn't think we played amazing footy in the first half of the year. He said you can't put the bad loss to Essendon to one thing. They did a number on us and showed the areas we need to work on. To change that it begins on the training track and building that consistency in our play.
