Q. With considering the likes of Mercuri, Blumfield, Heffernan etc for the VFL game this weekend - is that a sign you are not happy with their form?
A. I think we have to consider getting our VFL side in the finals this year and I think they have a good opportunity to make it. Some guys also need to get some a lot more ball and get out there and run. When you are building a team together, you just have to make sure you are moving up and down together. We just have to make sure we lift our performance. I am thinking we should have performed better and had eight or nine wins on the board. Even with the injuries - we are all playing at our best and I think we could lift. Seven-five is probably reasonable but it is not what I would have thought.
Dean Rioli will play in the VFL this week and he will get a game under his belt – so it is pretty handy to have that game. David Hille is another one who will play in the VFL and Andrew Welsh - I just don't want to put them all in. Some players might not be able to play - it will depend on the doctors. I would like to see a really good side out there in the VFL but it probably can't be too many players because we play on the following Friday. So we have to be careful of that.
Q. Will you have a chance to have a break over the split round?
A. I haven't got much time to have a break unfortunately. We have a game against Melbourne next Friday and Melbourne play this weekend. So I will probably go down to Channel 7 on Saturday for a short while and then head out to Optus Oval. Then we have a big game at Box Hill on Sunday. To all the Bomber fans in the east we hope to see them on Sunday because we haven't been over to the east and played much since they closed Waverley.
Q. How much of a break will the players have this week?
A. They had a break last week - they had Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday off. We are training and working in Sydney.
Q. You are off to Sydney tomorrow with the team - who is going on the trip?
A. Nearly all the players and the staff except for Robert Shaw are going. About four or five of the other guys won't be going because of work commitments or exams. We are doing two clinics up there and then take North Shore for training and then we have a sponsors function.
Q. Is this something that was organised prior to the match up there or has it followed on from the success of the Round nine match?
A. We think Sydney is an important part of Essendon's future and the AFL's future in Sydney. We think we can keep working and providing assistance to the Sydney Swans and the NSW football league. You don't often get a break to be able to assist the NSW football league - we have done that by playing the game at North Shore oval in February each year - that is a sell-out game now. We play 15 a side, which is really a fantastic experience for our game. This trip is just another part of it.
Q. How is Matthew Lloyd and what is he doing to build up strength in his hand?
A. I think we will just build up and see how it is - it is not his kicking hand which is good. The first thing will be him picking up a tennis ball and soft rubber balls - start getting strength and grip into the hand muscles - the muscles he hasn't been able to use for a while.
Q. An injury cloud has been over Gary Moorcroft and Cory McGrath - will they play?
A. They will all play in the VFL. It will be a pretty good game - it will be the best side we have had in the VFL for a while.
