Q. What do you think of the Anzac Day clash?
A. I think Anzac Day is about a lot of things - it is great to touch base with the younger generation and the people that have been to wars overseas. It is definitely a bridge building exercise that we should be doing and we are. From the point of few getting the AFL and the RSL on better terms - they have achieved that. We love to think the spirit of the Anzacs and the spirit of the players and the Australian people that follow the game - Anzac Day is a great day to remember what has happened and what can happen.
Q. In the past you have used videos to motivate your players on Anzac Day - will you be taking a similar approach this week?
A. I will probably look at one or two small things. It is one of those situations where you don't want to be too far over the top but you want to place it where it should be respected.
Q. Where does it sit in the football calendar now?
A. Probably around a preliminary final. It is not a knock out final but it is a big game. You would probably place it up there in the top three games of the year.
Q. What sort of crowd are you expecting?A. I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere between 80-90,000 people went. It is a 2.10pm start and lets hope it is a great game. We don't play a lot of games at the MCG this year so we will be looking forward to this one. Coming off night games - we are really looking to playing in the day time at the MCG.
Q. What players will you look at bringing in?
A. We will look at Rioli, Bannister, Bolton -these types of players that have been playing well in the seconds. We will look at three or four players.
Q. When you have a short week is it a good idea to bring in some fresh legs?
A. I think it is all about time on the ground and who has had time on the ground in the last month. Alessio we have been bringing back not through the VFL because we have been a little bit short in the ruck department. We have bringing him back through half games. Whether that is right or wrong - that is our situation in the ruck at the moment.
Q. Joel Reynolds played again - were you happy with his performance?
A. I think Joel is a player that needs game time. It is pretty hard standing in the forward pocket next to Hird and LLoyd - no one would really know he is out there. I think he will be the youngest player to play AFL this year. He is a quick player and you have to start their career sometime. At the moment he has been in for a couple of games and had an opportunity to have a taste of it and that is important for us.
Q. The blockbusters have been under attack a little from clubs that aren't involved in them - this match is probably the definition of the blockbuster - how do you feel about it?
A. A blockbuster comes about by people creating their teams to be very good. Here is a classic case on a Thursday where you have two teams that are in good form. Essendon and Collingwood got together with the idea to make sure it happens on Anzac Day and that is good for footy. You can't blame us for other clubs crowds being down - it is not our business at all. We have suffered from playing so many night games at Colonial - our membership is down. What do you want to do - you can't have it all. You put two other teams on Anzac Day and they might get 35,000 there - so is that what you want in footy? It is up to the clubs - Essendon and Collingwood to make sure we have good side - the pressure is on for all of the staff.
We are very proud of the crowd figures for Anzac Day - I think the average is 85,000. You don't get that in a final! It is good to see the MCG getting that sort of crowd.
Q. Is Damien Peverill playing better than what you thought?
A. Damien is a great story for kids that don't get drafted the first few times. He got knocked back seven or eight times and that is just a marvelous achievement to come into footy and perform the way he is.
Q. Would he be leading your best and fairest.
A. He would be up there in the top six.
Q. Have you been happy with the continued form of David Hille?
A. David has been an excellent player for us. It is great to see him starting to settle in and progress in the game.
