Q. Will you give Jobe any special instructions on Friday night?
A. Play the way he normally does - that is why he has been recruited to the club. He has a good feel for the game and I am sure he will be a little bit nervous but after that - a couple of whacks and a few fists and somebody falling on him he will wake up and land the reality that it is AFL football and it is a bit quicker and the players are a bit bigger - this is life after the under-18s.
Q. Was there something timely with bringing Jobe in with the season in the balance?
A. No. He would have been in earlier if it wasn't for injury. We played him in the Wizard Cup and he played quite well. Unfortunately he has been injured for probably seven weeks. It is pretty awkward to put them in after seven on the sidelines when they haven't played. We just wanted to get him playing three or four VFL games and he was best on ground up in Bendigo last match.
Q. Essendon supporters are absolutely delighted that Jobe Watson is playing - what are your feelings about what it adds to the game?
A. It is terrific for the club and the fans that have followed Tim from when he was 15 and half years of age. It is an opportunity to see a young kid come through.
Q. Do you see Tim Watson as being one of the most beloved of Essendon players of his time?
A. Yes, he would be close. A lot of people dearly loved watching him play. The only time he ever got grumpy was when he got reported for having a go at Libba and that is when he was becoming an old grouch.
Q. Have you ever seen as much pressure on a bloke playing his first game?
A. Well I expect him just to be a good footballer. The pressure will build up and he will probably have a bit of nervousness and tension. He is a pretty laconic sort of guy.
Q. How much time will he have on the ground and what sort of role will he play?
A. I am not quite sure yet. I will have him on for bursts.
Q. Is there parallels between him and Gary Ablett junior?
A. I would say Ablett is a better player at the moment.
Q. I mean in terms of the pressure and expectations?
A. Absolutely.
Q. Jobe's debut is one of the most anticipated father/son combinations. Gary Ablett junior's debut was a story the entire footy community took some interest in.
A. The kid has been sensational - how he has never won a Rising Star nomination has got me flabbergasted. He has done everything you would want him to do. When he played against us in a practice match against us in Albury this year and he did just three things and I thought he is going to be a superstar. If Jobe can play anywhere near a top young kid it will be great for our club.
Q. Is this game extra special with Ablett and Watson playing in the same game and it is not that long ago since their fathers were playing?
A. There is no doubt about that. We are nearly going to go in with two grandsons and father/son combinations - with Reynolds and Hird and Fletcher and Watson.
Q. What are your expectations of Hird given he has had five weeks off?
A. Play a good role. He will always try his hardest - we know that. He is just a very, very unlucky player - he has probably missed three years of his career through accidents. We just want him to play well and enjoy his footy and play as long as we can get him to play.
Q. Do you see him needing one or two games to get his match fitness back?
A. We might use him and Watson off the bench that might happen.
