Q. Is it an injury where you could put an injection in there?
A. Yes it is. But I would decide against that. I will have to give it until tomorrow, but I don't think he will get up.
Q. It is a big match to bring Sam Hunt is in for his first game?
A. He has played consistently well and is very, very quick. He has been here for a couple of years and we just have to make sure that whatever happens we have to keep developing young players to give us our next opportunity to play in finals.
Q. Will Alessio get up?
A. Should be okay. He has moved quite well and gone through the drills.
Q. Is Hird alright?
A. Hird has been battered that much over the years and to me that is one of the major reasons we would be interested in getting Carey. A lot of people don't realise that Hirdy has copped a fair bit and he may only have one year left. So that is one of the major reasons and people just don't understand that.
Q.Is all of the Carey stuff, a bit of a distraction from the finals?
A. It probably is but the deal in the end is that he is a fantastic player and he will pick his club and everyone will get on with it. All of the clubs in the finals they won't worry about it. We are trying to win for 2002 and I think everyone is in the same ball park.
Q. There won't be players looking over their shoulder wondering if they are the one to go to fit him in?
A. No more than coaches. Coaches are always looking over their shoulders! No matter what club Carey ends up going to that will happen. It happens every year - Damien Hardwick went and we got two kids. Paul Salmon went and we got Wellman and Barnard. All of those things happen.
Q. Are you happy with the way they have trained this week?
A. We have to be bright and positive. We are in a situation where we have had a pretty tough draw. We have played the fifth team, the first team and the third team and now we are coming up against the fourth team. In fairness to everybody else’s comments about the team - we have been at it and been beaten by sides ahead of us. When you think about it, Collingwood have beaten Richmond and Carlton and we've beaten Richmond. However, Collingwood beat Richmond better than we did.
Q. Your contract includes a bonus for the finals - is that incentive?
A. I am not worried about the bonus, I am just trying to get the team in the finals - that is the main thing. My wife takes all my money, so it doesn't matter.
Q. Can you do damage if you get into the finals?
A. We could - I have no doubt about that. We have three or four boys that could really inject a bit of freshness into the side. Up to half-time last week, we missed five or six goal opportunities and could have been at least level with Adelaide and we really stuffed up the third quarter - it is as simple as that. We came out and kicked four goals in the first eight minutes of the last quarter. We have had our opportunities, but blew the third quarter and we are not going to do that this week. If you don't play 120 minutes, you give an opportunity to the other side.
Q. It could be a bonus finishing in the bottom four of the eight because you won't have to play interstate?
A. I will be happy to get into the finals and if you have to go interstate that is the way it is. They have to come away and play other sides. We probably have the better draw - Melbourne clubs - because we don't have to fly away as often as them. We can't complain about that. If you have to play your first final interstate, that is life.
Q. Any sympathy for John Elliot?
A. I think it is very important for footy in Victoria that Carlton are always up there. It was five years ago that we were 14th. You can work your way back from there. 14th and 16th are pretty close to one another, so we probably got the splinter of the wooden spoon or the handle, but in the end we didn't get the whole spoon. There is not much difference between 14th and 16th.
Q. You two have an interesting relationship over the years....
A. It has been a good relationship - debating, arguments and fun - definitely not boring. I am a Carlton member and I will have to vote for John (Elliot).
Q. You would support him?
A. Yes - I am a voting member of the Carlton Football Club.
