“We are here to win football and we are planning to win our final three games and see what occurs from that - starting with Adelaide tomorrow,” Knights said.
“We were a touch disappointed how we played our first half of football last week. It is not how we have been playing for the past eight weeks but we are fully wound up for this week’s game and we look to play aggressive football for the next three weeks.""
Speaking to the media as Mal Michael announced his retirement today, Knights said the club is going through an exciting time where they will not only recognise club greats, but also develop the younger players on the list.
“We are in a really exciting time at the club,” Knights said. “Mal is going to play his last three games at the club and Jason Johnson – who will play for Bendigo this week but will come into the side the next week – will get to play the final two games with the Essendon Football Club.
“It should be a celebration and really good time for the Club because of the warriors they have been.
“We will continue to not only send off champions at the club but give younger players opportunity at senior level.”
One lucky recipient of the faith Knights has shown in his youngsters is Rhys Magin who has been named to play his second game of AFL against Adelaide tomorrow to replace the injured Heath Hocking.
“Young Rhys Magin is the perfect example of us giving our players opportunity,"" Knights said. ""He will play for the club tomorrow and it will be good to give him another opportunity at senior level.”
Knights ruled out Mark McVeigh for the Round 20 match, saying he is still one week away despite wanting to don the Essendon guernsey this weekend.
“Mark wanted to play tomorrow. He trained on Wednesday and deliberately got himself involved in tackling drills and threw people on the deck and jumped around and wrestled to indicate he was right to play,” Knights said.
“When I went up to him and spoke to him, he was a little disappointed that he won’t play tomorrow but in saying that, he will definitely will play the following week.”
