We are just trying to get there at the present time, but if we do get there we have the challenge to do quite well. The way the draw is over the next three weeks - there are eight teams, vying for four spots in the final eight and we are one of them - so our chances are still alive.
Q. Adelaide have been travelling along quite nicely?
A. They have done well because they have gone along quietly. They have had pressure on Ayres to do well and one thing in their favour is that they haven't had a lot of bad injuries, so they have had a fairly settled side, which is handy to have if you want to get into the top four. That has been one of our strengths over the last two to three years.
Q.Brisbane, Port Adelaide and Adelaide, look almost certain to make the top four, do you think Collingwood will hang in there as well?
A. I think Collingwood are still in with a good chance. They have put the performances on the board and I am pretty sure they will stay in the top four.
Q. Fremantle's Matthew Pavlich is out of contract at the end of the season and there is talk about his current market value - what are your thoughts?
A. I am not quite sure about the contracts at the current time - a lot will depend on clubs being told to only spend 92% of the salary cap. I think the top young players have to be careful where they sell themselves off to. They all should stay at where they start their careers, I am not that keen on letting players go. Pavlich is probably somewhere around $400,000, because you don't know with injuries. All of a sudden a young persons body changes shape after five years of playing. I don't believe in up front contracts - taking a lump sum of money, unless you are an absolute superstar and there is probably only five of them in the competition.
Q. What do you think about performance based contracts?
A. I think they are fair and they are honest. I am on one at Essendon if we make the finals. I don't mind a performance-based contract at all.
Q. What about the players?
A. I think if the coaches can have them, so can the players. It is all about giving our fans the happiness and the achievements that they wish for. I still think the fans dictate a lot of the terms. The players have had a pretty good innings over the last couple of years out of the agreement they have made with the AFL.
Q. It looks like Wayne Carey might go interstate?
A. I have always thought that Sydney may have the best opportunity, but you know what I am like, I just don't believe on giving up on opportunities of getting top players to your club. I know there are another ten clubs out there and I think there are one or two other ones that haven't opened their mouths that are keen too. I asked Eddie (McGuire) on television yesterday if Collingwood were interested and he never said they weren't interested, so that worried me!
