""It was one of those nights where you just have to make things happen as a forward and I wasn't able to do so. You have to get in front and make a contest because it wasn't a free flowing kind of a game. I probably didn't do that, so it was probably disappointing on my behalf.""
In almost identical circumstances to last season, Port Adelaide ended Essendon's season in the second week of the finals. Lloyd missed out on the corresponding final in 2002 with concussion, but said there is a lot more positive feeling this year about the season ahead. ""I am a lot more excited now about the list than I was 12 months ago and where the side is heading. I felt that the coaching staff made a transition in the team throughout the season and instead of finishing down 13th, 14th or 15th, we have finished sixth and in doing so have brought on a lot of players,” Lloyd said. “If we can pick up a class mid-fielder, which probably everyone would love to get, and probably someone who could help David Hille. We are one or two games off top spot so we are definitely not far from.”
The team will meet at the club this morning for their final team meeting for the 2003 season. The players will have fitness testing during the week and then have a two-month break before resuming pre season training in mid November. ""Mentally the season takes a lot out of me more so than physically. I am just looking forward to mentally having a break and resting the body up a bit. If I don't have any operations, in a months time I will play in Perth and in Melbourne in the International Rules series. We are also off to Cancun in a couple of weeks also on the footy trip,"" Lloyd said.
