Q. Is playing Hird at half-back, something you will consider this week?
A. Yes, there is no doubt about that. Last week, we just wanted to play those two at different ends of the ground, because they had been out for seven weeks each and we didn't want to have 14 weeks of players missing at the one end. It worked out quite well.
Q. Did it surprise you how well he did play at half-back?
A. I think he would play well in most positions. He is a very adaptable player and from that point of view, we just have to make sure we keep recruiting that sort of player.
Q. How do you think Dustin Fletcher would be feeling after the tribunal decisions last night?
A. As you know I can't comment on tribunal decisions. We are disappointed to have any player outed and Dustin knows that and he was told that. We don't need players sitting in the grandstand, not playing that aren't injured. That is a discipline issue, from not only myself at Essendon, but every coach would be saying that. That is all I can say about a coach to a player.
Q. Chris Heffernan was cleared last night by the tribunal because he was supposedly messing around with Alvey (Western Bulldogs) - did you have a word to him?
A. Have you had a look at Johnson and Browne - they were nearly kissing one another. I had word to Mark Johnson. Sometimes mates playing out there - you don't want it to get like schoolyard footy where you whack someone. Some of these blokes all knock around together and they probably go to some of the same nightclubs together. So we need to keep an eye on that too.
Q. Are you worried about an overall discipline problem with your side?
A. No. I think Essendon over the last 20 years haven't been too bad.
Q. Do you think players are too matey out on the ground?
A. I never liked the opposition at all, ever. That is the way I look at it. You go out to play, so as far as I am concerned, they are all the enemy. You play the game to win!
Q. What do you think about the AFL possibly changing the Anzac Day fixturing?
A. I think they tried that once before - it might have been a State of Origin game and they got 30,000. I would be pretty weary.
Q. Would you be upset if other games were played on that day?
A. No, that is not my decision. The most important thing from our point of view is that Essendon continues to play Collingwood on Anzac Day and if they want to play another game somewhere else that is fine. Maybe they should play the interstate Derby's all around Australia, but that might be a nightmare from a fixturing point of view. It will be interesting to see what the RSL think because it is a joint venture with them as well. It is not only about the footy, it was sitting down with Bruce Ruxton at the time and saying at where can the AFL and the RSL have a great match together.
Q. What do you think about other clubs talking up player prices in a bid to draft them?
A. In the end footy losses and the fans loss because they see their young superstars walking out because of 100,000 extra, which you lose half of anyway. I have been down that track for the last 35 years of my life.
