Q. Is Port Adelaide pretty much the toughest test at the present time in footy?
A. They have just played so very, very well. They went up to Brisbane about a month ago and got beaten like we did - I think Brisbane and Port are probably the one / two at the moment. We are probably just hanging in there in the middle of the eight and the eight can stretch from eighth to fourteenth at the present time. It is such an even season and we just have to make sure we keep every available player in the paddock and also try and win every game we possible can - and get through the middle part of this season.
Q. Given what happened to Solomon you would probably love to have Hardwick now?
A. We couldn't afford it - it is as simple as that. It is not a decision I like making but the best thing we could do is go and get Reynolds and Welsh. They will both play - we have got two out there for Hardwick in the same match and that is the only way I can look at it from a business point of view. That is if you want to bring business into football. Damien Hardwick was just a fantastic player for Essendon and it will soon happen to Port where they will loss some of their good players one day and Brisbane - so we will see what happens when the boot is on the other foot.
Q. You have given Port Adelaide a number of players and coaching staff...
A. I think there is seven there who have been through this club and there would not be one you would not want to have back - they have all been fantastic. But when you are developing the game and you are going from 12-14 clubs to 16 clubs and Port Adelaide is one of the last two clubs, you are going to lose staff and playing personnel, when you are developing a 16 team competition. That is one of the issues we have had to confront at the club - we lose talented people all the time and Port's probably been one of the benefits of it. But in many ways I think Port have always had their own soul and spirit and they have been able to build up from perhaps Fremantle who has come in with a different sort of philosophy and structure.
Q. Port seems to be doing everything right at the moment....
A. They didn't get off to the start of the season like they would have liked - getting beaten in their first two matches - but apart from that they have played very, very well. We will put up a pretty good show - we are hard to beat at Colonial. We were only a kick away last week - some people say we were lucky - but if we had have kicked two or three very simple goals from 20m, we may have snatched that win.
Q. You have only lost one game at Colonial Stadium - do you feel you have a home ground advantage there?
A. Definitely - I don't think the MCG is much of a home ground advantage because so many other clubs play there so often. I think Colonial can be a bit of an advantage and definitely Footy Park is an advantage over there.
Q. Will you rest Fish this week?
A. Not necessarily, but it won't be long before he has a break and if we have to rest him we will. We only really have him here to support David Hille and Steve Alessio because we do get injuries in the ruck. If Paul Salmon plays 10-12 games for Essendon, it has just been an absolute bonus for us this year. That way we also get a year under Simon O'Keefe, who is probably our third ruckman.
Q. Are you going to make many changes?
A. We might make one or two but not many - we try and keep our kids in the side and give them all the confidence they need. If we are in there with a chance later in the year, we know that we have developed the right sort of players to give us a chance in 2002. I don't like changing the team all that much and the players that came in last week, contributed quite well.
Q. Are you happy with the way Hirdy is coming along?
A. I have never really thought he will be back before the Melbourne game after the break. My mind set is more on his health than playing footy for Essendon Football Club at the moment. It is a pretty serious injury and whilst the fans and the footy world would like to see a class player like that back, as far as I am concerned - we want to get his head right.
Q. Have you discouraged him from pushing himself to come back early?
A. When he comes back he has to be spot on - we won't be rushing him back.
