How do you assess that?
Take it and move on. Started really well, jumped out, it was really high tempo. I think there were only 50 around the ground stoppages. A really open game, really quick. A really hard surface, Etihad. We had a corked calf come off, (Luke) McPharlin, so he was a cork. We had a couple tighten up through the calves so we just spoke about controlling the tempo of the game. We just kicked it around, it just meant we didn't go in as much, didn't score and lost a bit of ascendency in the last quarter. When the game was up for grabs I thought we were fantastic so it was never in doubt from there I wouldn't have thought.

How bad is McPharlin? Any doubt with him?
Well if you think you're corked you are probably in some doubt.

How serious is it?
It's by degrees isn't it. I said it’s corked, it’s serious enough that he might miss. I'm not sure I can elaborate much more. What are the other options? (Michael) Johnson? I think he’s a good option.

Is he likely to come back though?
He was super today. He trained this morning and trained really well. The plan has been to bring him back this week, regardless of whoever it was so we’ll decide whether we bring him back through Peel or we bring him in. That¹s a decision we’ll make in the course of the week.

Any other injury concerns today?
No, pretty good I think. There was some tightness so we backed it off a bit. We were playing on really quickly, particularly the second and third quarter so we just slowed it right down in the last and lost some momentum. They were pretty good the Saints, to keep coming, young group so they’ll be pretty pleased with their finish. We were pretty pleased with our dominant start, particularly at half time. Really in the third quarter we won, so we won three out of four quarters. So I think coming interstate, they’re a dangerous team, they¹ve knocked us over the last couple of times. But they’re a team in transition, we¹re a team on top of the ladder. So you¹d think you come away interstate and win well and we did.

You put Aaron Sandilands and Jon Griffin up forward and they took some strong marks up there. Was that a focus?
Well that’s a byproduct of what we wanted to do, push forward, every team does it. Their ruckmen pushes forward and it becomes an athletic contest and decision making. But they were pretty strong weren’t they, they were good marks. We’d like them to push some pressure on the opposition like they did, they were good.

What did you think of Alex Silvagni’s game?
I thought he was solid wasn’t he. As Alex does, a couple of big collisions so really pleased, come in, fill the breech, grab an opportunity. Because we’ve been under pressure with our tall back stocks all year really no (Zac) Dawson, no Silvagni all year. Then we lost Johnson for a significant amount of time. I don’t think it’s been glossed over but it¹s not a sexy story to write. From our end to see Alex Pearce grow, he’s going to be a really good player that young, at either end. I thought he was really good again today and (Garrick) Ibbotson has grown, (Chris) Mayne we’ve used down back so it¹s really important that they’re coming back at the right time of year.

How eager are you for next week’s game?
No more than this week to be truthful. I know it’s going to be written up. From our end, we just want to keep improving our footy. I’ve never really got caught up in the derby. I think, what’s important is the State does, the whole town does. All the media get caught up in it and write about it. We are excited about that but internally we need to stay focused and really prepare in the same manner. That’s what we do every week to be truthful. There¹s four games to improve our footy, and that’s just another one. We are in pretty good shape. (Nat) Fyfe will play as it stands today, if that changes we’ll let you know, Johnson will play, as long as we select him. So we continue to build.

What’s the feeling like in WA with you and West Coast on top of the ladder?
I dont know, it’s a very exciting time for WA footy isn’t it. Two really strong clubs, one and two on the ladder, but with plenty to go. I’m here to represent Fremantle. I’m not sure the eastern states are too happy the WA teams are on top. But it’s incredibly difficult from Perth, I think we need to acknowledge the challenges we face but we use no excuse and take what’s put in front of us. We work really hard and both clubs have worked really hard and you know there’s a fair bit of the journey to go yet.

You can draw level on the head to heads in derbies?
Yes, it’s pretty exciting.

It doesn’t mean anything to you personally?
No. I think it¹s for our fans and members. They were the establishment club, we were the little kid on the block. We are growing, we¹ve still got a bit of growing to do. It¹s just another four points to be won, I think the four points are important for both teams but no more or less.

They have some guys in doubt, how do you prepare?
I always prepare for their best.