Q. Malthouse played on the under-dog factor last weekend, where do you think you are heading into this match?
A. We beat Collingwood by nine goals three weeks ago, so we are a better side than Collingwood.
Q. Is the pressure on Port?
A. I don't live in Adelaide and I don't coach Port, so it is up to them. We know that we have to play our best football to give us any chance of winning. We are there with a chance and that is the way I look at it.
Q. Will the finals experience that you have be a factor?
A. I have no doubt about that, it was a factor on the weekend against West Coast. To be able to bring four or five grandfinal players into a side makes a difference - Rioli, Heffernan, Blumfield, Alessio - they are pretty handy players. You don't have to teach them experience, you just have to let them get out there with their knowledge and give them the confidence to believe in themselves.
Q. How does Lloydy look?
A. He wasn't that well on Saturday night. We will play him if he is well and capable of playing - it is as simple as that. Players health is the most important aspect. When it is all said and done, Collingwood won over there last weekend without Nathan Buckley and Buckley has probably had a better year than Lloyd.
Q. What about the skipper - will he play?
A. I think James Hird will play unless he breaks down this week. We did the right thing by leaving him out last week. He will train all week.
Q. Will it be a nervous wait with Fletcher facing the tribunal?
A. I can't comment on that.
Q. Can you win without Fletcher?
A. The deal in the end is - who has got the best list that can actually win this final. We have a pretty good list of players. We have a few out already - Mercuri and Solomon, but so have they. It is a hard tough game, but we are into the final six and it is level pegging.
Q. I know you can't comment on Fletcher, but history shows that you have struggled without Fletcher..
A. I think we are a better side at the moment than what we were earlier in the year. I think our form over the last month has been pretty rock solid.
Q. Lucas has proven that he is another defensive option?
A. I think we have been working on our tall backline players for some time.
Is Mercuri finished for the year?
A. No. He will train and try and get up. Each week we have been taking a risk with a player. I didn't think Rioli would play at this time last week. He had been in bed for a few days and had one light training run. It is good to get Alessio three games in three weeks, so he is just getting up.
Q. Leigh Matthews had some words today about the national competition about the fact that Adelaide are playing in Melbourne when in fact they are higher ranked than the Demons...
A. I think the AFL are very tied up with this contract with the MCC, so it is very awkward for everyone. Like I have often said, I don't believe in long-term contracts.
Q.
A. The heartland of the game is in Melbourne - there is no doubt about that. In all honesty, if you want Adelaide to play a home game, then Adelaide could have played Port and Essendon could have played Melbourne. You will get 40,000 - 50,000 more people to those games at $40 - $50 a ticket - which is about two million dollars. Adelaide and Essendon are pretty similar teams, so it wouldn't matter whether Port played Essendon or Adelaide.
Q. But you don't play 22 weeks for the crowds...
A. Yes, but all of the money get divided between the clubs. This is a time to make money, as well as being fair to clubs like Adelaide. Port definitely should have a final in Adelaide, but I think Adelaide have been dudded - I agree with Leigh Matthews.
