Q. Brownlow betting has been thrown into chaos with another Brownlow favourite Hird, going down - what are your thoughts?
A. I don't have a bet on the Brownlow, but you would have to say a lot of people would have burnt a lot of money over the last six weeks. Players are getting suspended for one week, Hird is out injured, you've lost Akermanis and McLeod - someone is going to rake up a lot of money. My advise to the fans out there is to hold off for a little while - see who is going to be available to see who is going to be available in the last six or seven weeks. It is probably too early at the present time with a lot of top players getting one week. We might have to look at the Brownlow one of these days - and I know I have been harping on it for a while - I don't think we have readjusted in the game. Maybe you have to be suspended for three or four weeks and really do something awful. I think we really have to look at the whole scene of the Brownlow medal.
Q.Do you think a one week suspension means you can still win the Brownlow?
A. I think the way we have tried to clean the game up and made it very clinical - I think there is a lot of people out there perhaps saying we might have to adjust sooner or later.
Q. You visited James Hird yesterday in hospital – how is he?
A. We hope to have him back on the track when the medico's agree. I am not going to rush him back. I went and saw him yesterday in the hospital and he wasn't looking that great at all. Personally I think he should stay in Perth for maybe a week or two and have a break with his wife. It was a pretty nasty injury so he should get himself right. We have also lost Matthew Lloyd so we have our backs to the wall at the moment and we need everyone of the Bomber fans there to help this club get through this next month.
Q. When do you expect to have Hird and Lloyd back?
A. We would be looking at them to be back after the break at round 13 or 14.
Q. What did you make of Neil Mitchell's suggestion that Hird may have played his last game?
A. He just needs time out - I would say Hirdy would listen and take it all in - I think we play Melbourne around round 13 or 14. Neil Mitchell might just motivate Hird to get back to play against Melbourne.
Q. Is this the type of injury that could end Hird's career?
A. I would not have thought so - he will have a little scar on his forehead. We did it with Mark Harvey - we put him in the backline and then Mark Harvey went on and played in a premiership at centre half back. We might move Jim into defence and play him in a different way for a while. We will consider it.
Q. It gives you a different option playing him in the backline...
A. Of course it does - a brilliant player and he is rebounding. The one thing we learnt out of the last match was Pavlich's rebound running on Jim. We might have to look at restructuring our forward line and of course Paul Salmon won't be far off.
Q. Are you looking forward to playing Carlton?
A. Of course I am – a big game, a lot of players out, backs to the wall both clubs - it is going to be a sensational game.
