Q. From a selection point of view how frustrating is it not being able to get near our best side out there?
A. It is not frustrating at all - all sides are equal. We faced a side on the weekend without Primus, Francou, Cornes and Dew. I reckon that is pretty even. I think what we are seeing at the moment is with salary cap restrictions we have been forced to play some kids that probably aren't quite there. We came up against a very experienced side on the weekend - in terms of age and games played they are far in advance of us. While passages of our play were creditable including our comeback to get within two and half goals with plenty of time left - we are realistic to understand that we are not the same side we were. We are a very good chance to make the top eight like a lot of sides. Already there is three of four clubs that are clearly above other sides.
Q. Is it a matter of fact that it is going to be an up and down season for the Bombers?
A. I think we have been disappointed by the fact that every time we look like turning on power football - and we have done that with four very good wins this year - our next real big challenge we haven't been able to come to the party. In Fremantle we got back into it from five goals down and on the weekend we had a creditable fightback to have a quick burst of goals. We are going to sleep in fazes of the game. I think Fremantle kicked six goals in 15 minutes and Port did the same. If it hadn't of been for that burst and Tredrea's influence it would have been an even ball game. Having said the negatives we just need to get some things right and we will be okay.
Q. Apart from Tredrea’s seven goal performance what do you think the different between the two sides was?
A. They got 75 possessions off their interchange bench - we got 25. They were able to introduce players of the calibre of Schofield who is a premiership player and our concern is that we are introducing some young kids. We got a good plus out of Bullen on the weekend but when you have got season campaigners coming off the bench and the stats back it up it is a significant contribution from the interchange bench. It probably put too much pressure on Jason Johnson and Joe Misiti who had to go and find the football - who in doing that exposes himself to a hard running mid-field.
Q. Cory McGrath was fantastic in the third quarter when he kicked three goals. Do you see him playing a forward role against West Coast?
A. On that form the quick answer is yes but it is ironic to think we have picked Cory to be a support player in our mid-field and he is playing up forward. He is doing very well in the areas we don't want him to be! We need him to play in the mid-field. He started in the mid-field and he got a mismatch with a couple of their midfielders so we had to take him off and make some adjustments. Then we brought him on and he was fantastic. While we are delighted with him, we need him playing as well in the midfield as he did up forward. Bullen came into the midfield onto Stevens and made a huge contribution. Cory was picked as an experienced midfielder and the bonus was that he was terrific up forward for us. I am really pleased for him but we need midfield depth and midfield run.
Q. As a coaching panel - what do to stop a player like Tredrea who is beating every player you try on him and finding the goals?
A. Probably Fletcher was going through our heads! We tried three on him - Bolton started and got beaten. I thought Wellman curtailed him to some degree but it was very, very difficult. They organise space for Tredrea and the delivery of the ball was fantastic. They were able to do that by using Gavin Wanganeen in and around the mid-field and playing across half-back. We obviously have to pick up Wanganeen and that opens up their forward line. A very good move and not much you can do about it. Tredrea played very well and it is a difficult situation. We were very pleased with McPhee on Burgoyne and we didn't want to really let that one go.
