Assistant coach Dean Wallis is currently on his way to Adelaide in preparation for the team’s Round 8 match against the Crows tonight. Before he left for the airport, he found time to answer your searching questions in – ‘Ask the Coach’. Wallis discusses what Adam McPhee’s best position is and why Matthew Lloyd is such a great team player.

Q. Where is Adam McPhee’s best position? Obviously he can kick goals and take a strong grab in the backline, but where do you think he plays his best footy? I personally think he is the centre half forward we have been searching for and leave Matthew Lloyd in the goal square. (Maddalena Galli)
A. Under Kevin Sheedy, the playing group does not have set positions. Adam McPhee is starting to find his feet with AFL football and is starting to find confidence. He has been an asset down back and has also been played forward with great results. We have a luxury of being able to play Adam in a number of positions and at this stage will play where he is of most benefit to the team.

Q. Regarding the Bendigo Bombers – given that we have nearly a full list to pick from and are fielding a strong team, why are we struggling with our results? (Trevor Leach)
A. A few of Bendigo’s performances this season have been disappointing. It is a younger side and they are still coming to grips the VFL tempo and they are only a game away from winning. They have two wins on the board already and I am confident they will build on that winning record in the coming weeks.

Q. Aaron Henneman, a player with plenty of ability and promise who has been cut down with injuries of late. Why do the coaching staff persist in using him as a back up ruckman when he clearly is more suited to being a key position player – ie. centre half forward for instance! (Adam Matthews)
A. The games that Aaron has played this year has been in a key back position, which is probably where he is best suited. Last year when he was playing ruck, the team didn’t have Matthew Allan. Now that we have Matthew Allan and David Hille sharing the ruck work, Aaron will find himself playing in a key position, either forward or back. With a bit of luck, Aaron will be back playing this week at Bendigo and if his form warrants he will be up for selection the following week.

Q. Matthew Lloyd appears to be leading towards the boundary line on most occasions instead of leading straight up the ground. Is this because our forward set up is not providing space for him or a lack of confidence on Lloydy’s behalf? (John Halliday)
A. Due to the fact that Matthew Lloyd being the gun full forward in the competition for a number of years, teams come up with strategies to stop the supply and congest the space in our forwardline. Week in and week out, Matthew has to fight a number of opposition players to win his goals. Even though it is an honour to win a goal kicking award, he would rather win a premiership and not win the award - it is a team game.