That was one of the biggest comebacks in VFL/AFL history. What are your emotions after that?
In the second half, it looked like you threw the magnets around with Reef McInnes being substituted on and Jeremy Howe and Nick Daicos being shifted up forward. Did that give you the mix up you needed to get the game back on your terms?"That was a struggle. It really was a struggle. There's so many layers to it. North Melbourne's incredible want and desire and youthful enthusiasm. I think they kicked 14 goals, 2 [behinds] from set shots and 18 goals, 4 [behinds] and two of those rushed. They played right at a level of a team that's not down the bottom. That's reality, so you argue at different points of view but their midfield was exceptional, their work rate, their energy. I've always had huge respect for Clarko, everyone knows that but there's a lot of excitement I'm sure for North out of today. They've set a standard for themselves".
Were you surprised Will Phillips was subbed out considering the strong tagging job he was doing on Nick Daicos?"We had to try something because their mids were dominant. Their pressure was really strong. We were scoring okay going inside 50 but we weren't getting it there enough. We had to try some things. We've got some flexibility in our team. Billy Frampton goes back, Howie goes forward. We just thought we'd have some experience forward and then Nick [Daicos] was getting tagged heavily and we thought we just put him forward and get him to do a couple of things. Chip away, chip away. We're still a long way down at 3QT. For everything we were doing to get the scoreboard a little bit more in our ledger, they [North Melbourne] were scoring when they went inside 50 so it was a struggle".
Can you take us inside half time. What was discussed in the rooms and how did you turn it around?"I'm not sure what their thinking was, so I won't go into things I don't know".
You said you were 'chipping away', Clarko described it as "Russian roulette" footy when you're trying to win?"There were pretty simple messages. They had had 60 uncontested marks and they were kicking the ball through us really easily so we had to improve that. We showed some footage around that. There was some stark vision that I showed around our pressure and players in the screen that really weren't involved in it. They were there, well, their jumpers were, but their intent wasn't there. That's not a level that we expect or want. We were no chance to have any chance in this game unless we got that part of our game right. In ball movement opportunities, we showed some footage of ways that we could attack them that we weren't missed opportunities, so it was around defence and pressure and the way we can move the ball".
How proud are you of Nick Daicos to fight through the tag and be a significant player in your win?"You have to take more risk, that's reality. When the scoreboard is against you, you got to take more risk so that provides opportunity to turn the ball over. We do have method in that though, I don't think we just go and make it up. We've practiced this over and over again. We've been in positions regularly, probably more than most that we've got a good method for that. The players can go into that mode of transport, but again it's not without risk".
How close was Nick Daicos from not playing? You made the decision to hold back Ed Allan from playing VFL."He's a marvel, isn't he? He was sick yesterday. He was a chance not to play. When you come into training and Nick has gone home sick, you [think] 'Oh God'. You know the old like-for-like magnet, we don't have one of those. I didn't sleep that well and didn't really want to check the phone this morning to see if he was going to be OK and getting tagged well. They've been doing some good jobs on him in the last couple of weeks but he just finds a way to get into game. It's through work rate. You watch his work rate contest to contest and I'm really proud of him".
How important is that game for Lachie Schultz?"I don't know, I didn't check my phone. I just wasn't interested. We had to have a conversation with Ed [Allan] yesterday when we left 'to be ready mate, we're not sure what's going to happen'".
Who's taken the better mark this year? Jamie Elliott or Bobby Hill?"He's been getting toward this. His last month playing a bit of a slightly different role, a bit more of a key forward for us. His marking presence has been on display this week and last week. Doing a lot of off the ball stuff that most don't see, but we acknowledge and rewarded. He got rewarded on the scoreboard today, he kicked 4 [goals]. He's growing in confidence week by week and we really love and value what he does for us".
You will be in the top 4 for the first time this season despite a slow start to the season and coming back from 54 points down today to win this match. What does this overall package do for the belief of the team heading into the second half of the season defending the Premiership?"That was a good one wasn't it? Bobby [Hill] is one of those players in our team that been doing so many things for others and then working and working and then funnily enough his GPS in last quarters is the best of anyone in our team and we acknowledged that yesterday. He's setting up others for goals and goal assists and every now and again he's sort of sitting there [thinking] 'I wouldn't mind a little lick of the ice cream here and there', but he just keeps doing the stuff the team needs and today he kicked 5 [goals] and 3 in the last quarter. When the game is there to be won, he just turned it on for us. He's another one we love and appreciate".
Who do you expect to get back?"We get back to work when we get back to work. We have the bye now, so we reset. I mentioned to the boys this is not a full stop, it's a comma. We need to take a breath. The ladder position will be what it will be. But we've had a really tough stretch here. The last five or six games, we are fighting hard and you guys know the magnets don't look the same. We're throwing guys around, there is young guys playing roles that we've had 300 game experience in and a makeshift forward line for most of the last six to eight weeks and we've only lost one game in that period, which ideally stands us in good stead. Today was a lot of good and then a lot of work to be done too. All it does is gets us to now"
On Monday, you alluded to Brayden Maynard experiencing some personal challenges. He spoke about it on the TV broadcast. Can you give us your insight on how challenging it has been for him to play in the last two weeks?"I think there's quite a few at the gates ready to jump out of the blocks post-bye. I don't know exactly all of them, but I think Mihocek probably would have played today. I think Jordy [De Goey] has really taken huge steps forward so I think he'll be a big chance to play. Pendles I'm not sure. Maybe or maybe not. Checkers, I said that didn't I?".
You mentioned the guys coming back and you've only lost 1 game in this period. What does it do for the confidence of the guys after this good run you've had with these experienced guys close to returning?"Oh did he? Respectfully you can see why I didn't say anything because it's not my place to speak about other than make you aware that this young lad is dealing with a bit. We wanted to honour Bruzzy today. It was his 200th game, but Bruzzy is more than that. He's a spiritual leader for us. He cares for others more than anyone in our environment and so today was an opportunity to care for him and appreciate him. At 3QT, I was pretty pointed. I thought the only one honouring Bruzzy was him and I pointed to the other 21 or 22 [players] 'come on, pull your finger out we owe this guy so much, he does so much for us'. It was nice to carry him off with a smile in his face because he deserves it".
What did you make of Tew Jiath?"It builds belief. It does. It shows that Kreugs can play a role for us. Others have gotten more experience. There's a lot of belief in the group, absolutely. Our best is really hard to play against, but there's no guarantees in anything. Better magnets if you want to call it that doesn't guarantee anything. We still got to go and get the job done. We've proven in the last period that we haven't needed Pendles and Jordy to a certain degree. The others have been able to do a great job for us so we value contribution that our group looks like it has more depth, but it will still be challenged for the rest of the year".
Will Oleg Markov be available post-bye?"Showed some signs. I think this is what I was thinking, we'd see little moments for the young lad. He looks like an AFL player. Got huge AFL traits. He'll be better for the experience. I think he's going to be a really nice player for us and wasn't sure how much of the traits we'd see today because he's right at the start of his journey. It's a good day and proud day for his family and I'm sure there's many more games to come".
You've exposed a lot of youth in the last 6-8 weeks, but Harry DeMattia hasn't featured yet. Is he close?"You'd think so, yeah. He jarred his back like I said during the week so he'd be another one to add to the list [to return]. I think there's a couple of more, but I can't think of them at the minute".
https://www.afl.com.au/video/1153261/fu ... 8521196001"He's warming, he is. He had a bit of time off with that finger and missed a lot of footy so he's been playing on the wing for us and his best game was last week versus Casey [Demons]. He's warming towards opportunities and whether they come, time will tell".
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