Q.Is that the key - to shut down those mid-fielders?
A. It will be a part of it. Kerr is probably one of the best young players in the game and doesn't get written up as well as the others. When you look at his stats, he has probably had the ball more than any of the young kids playing AFL. He just seems to slip under everyone’s guard.
Q. Is that a job for Heffernan?
A. It could be. We have brought Heff back in, so he would want to grab his opportunity.
Q. Will James Hird play?
A. I doubt if Hird will play. I really don't think he will play - we can't take that risk. If he was confident, he would say I am playing and he hasn't done that. He would have to do something special out on the track.
Q. What about Peverill - another big job for him this weekend, because he is likely to get Cousins?
A. They are round about the same running capacity. Cousins is a very exciting player and he deserves to be Brownlow favourite.
Q. A big key for West Coast is its ruck division...
A. It is. Gardiner is probably in the best three young ruckmen in the country. Last time we played them he dropped back to centre half forward and got a couple of early goals, so we have to watch that.
Q. Who is your likely option to come in for James?
A. Probably Hunt or Forster-Knight.
Q. When do you let them know?
A. Probably tonight.
Q. Do the rest of the team know that Hird isn't playing?
A. They can gather that from the way he is moving.
Q. Is it a one week thing?
A. I hope so.
Q. Will there be any regrets if you lose, given that he is very close?
A. Well you have to take that decision on board. We don't have the double chance, so we just go with the flow and move on. In actual fact, it will be good to get through the final without Jim. It will give the players an opportunity to have a look at themselves. Like the Kangaroos without Carey this year.
Q. It is a big game just to be having a look and see how the team goes without James....
A. Well you can't help that, that is life.
Q. If it was a Grand Final would you play him?
A. I doubt it. He would want to, but it is whether the other selectors would risk him.
Q. You said after the Carlton game, the team needs to improve quite a bit - where is the improvement going to come from?
A. I think Rioli, Blumfield and Heffernan will be pretty good for us - they are experienced players. They know what the roll of the dice is come finals. So there is at least three good players coming back plus Alessio.
Q. How much does finals experience count?
A. It does a little bit because players do get nervous. Very rarely do you see a kid run out there and he is best on ground in his first final.
Q. Are we any chance to see a re-kindling of the jacket waving?
A. I don't know - I think the fans will. I cop it everytime I go over to Perth.
Q. Would you like to see the fans do it again?
A. Why not! It is good for the game.
Q. What about the other players that are coming back into the side - Rioli and Alessio?
A. They will both train tonight and I will see how Alessio goes.
Q. Did you expect the turnout at Windy Hill today, for Dick Reynolds?
A. More than anything it was for all the people that live around Essendon that probably couldn't get into town. Dick was born and breed in Essendon, played at Essendon and coached at Essendon. What a fantastic goodbye to do a lap of honour in the end.
Q. Were any of the players emotional?
A.I told them not to get too emotional or over the top about Dick passing away. He would really want us to play well. It is a pity Joel isn't fit, because he would be out there. One of the great things in the end, is that we drafted his grandson and he played for Essendon before he died. I think that is as good as send off that he would want from our club.
Q. Do you feel drained by the week?
A. No, I am pretty right. I have been through a fair few big weeks in my life.
Q. What does this compare to?
A. It is a pretty big week, but it is a week where we have made the finals and we should be pleased that we have got there from where we were three weeks ago - we were tenth. It was always going to be one of those seasons where it was always going to be close, with the group of players we did have out. We chiseled away and we got to fifth.
