Were you happy with the way the players responded after quarter time?
It was really pleasing. We were disappointed with that first quarter. It was the last thing we expected. We thought we'd planned and prepared. But to Carlton's credit, they jumped out of the blocks. Teams often do that. When you come to Subiaco, what do you nee? You need a strong start, the coaches would have preached that all week. We're aware that was the case. We adjusted accordingly at quarter time. I thought from there we played very well, and they persisted and fought out. They defended quite well, I and we were reasonable going forward with our ability to score. Again, the young group led by senior players - it was a reasonable performance. 

How do you get that one bad quarter out of your system?
I don't know. We're working on it. Hopefully, it comes from maturity. It comes out of the learnings. We jumped out of the blocks really well last week against the Tigers. They're the best starting team in the AFL, and you saw that against GWS. And we came out one-point in front. So we're capable. But Carlton planned really well. They did some stuff. We've just got to get better at thinking on our feet a little bit.

Did you give them a rocket at quarter time?
No rocket. You tend to vent a bit in the box, and let some stuff down. But I went down, and there would have been four key points. Our coaching panel - David Hale, Anthony Rock, Michael Prior, Simon Eastaugh and Mark Stone - we sort of discussed four key points, and they were all interrelated to the whole team. So I just stood in the huddle and delivered those points. There was no raised voice. It was, 'This is what happened, this is what we've got to do, let's get to work'. From then on, I thought we did that.

When they went down to two men, did you sense a chance to run them off your feet?
To be honest mate, I don't look at injuries, I don't look at heat. Because when you lose and that happens, no one gives you any allowances. It's all hyperbole isn't it?

What did you think about Hayden Crozier’s contribution?
I haven't driven into individual stats. I think there was some good performances. I remember some specific moments. I thought Brady Grey was in a big 50-50 ball, and I thought Walters' chase down - they're the things I remember. I think we can get to the stat sheet. Small forwards are paid to kick goals. That's their role, that's their job.  We pick them - chase, tackle, kick goals. I thought our collective endeavour and our even contribution across the board was important in the end.

Connor Blakely had it 33 times and another big game are you delighted with how he has progressed this season?
I couldn’t tell you about the numbers he was on Murphy, I think they shook hands and said goodbye its not exactly how we want him to play. He knows that and he was a little bit disappointed in some respects. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But again we don’t really want to individualise I thought it was a collective performance, you guys can make your own judgments as you do when teams paly well or they play poorly and when players play well or they play poorly, I’m not here to validate your opinion. I haven’t got to individualise. I am more looking at are we organised in front, are we organised behind. Sometimes you lose that individual piece. I know Lachie Weller got to work, there were lots of people that had moments but I couldn’t tell you who our best player was.

You touched on Michael Walters’ run down does that symbolise the work ethic of the guys?
AFL is a game of skill, but it’s a game of mental toughness and work rate. Leigh Matthews had the great quote, “The team that works hardest without the ball and lays the most effective tackles most often wins.” It’s not rocket science cause offensively your natural talent will kick in. Everyone wants to run and receive and kick but the mental toughness and working hard without the ball. We are seeing teams fluctuate from week to week and really good teams because it’s a hard aspect to deliver on week to week and that’s why when you become a great team that’s what makes you great, your ability to work hard week in, week out. We’re chasing that and we need to improve as you eluded to we only played three quarters. We want to get better and get mentally stronger and physically more capable on delivering that.

Ross you are fifth now and just percentage that’s keeping you out of the top four. Are you surprised you find yourself here?
I’ve never looked at the ladder, playing good football, training hard, delivering on action it takes care of it’s self. Wins are a by-product of delivery on what you need to. We are certainly not looking ahead, we will review the game, prepare like it’s a grand final every week and take the learnings out of it. Results are feedback, clearly there were results earlier in the year that gave feedback and we need to adjust. These results are giving feedback that we should keep doing some of the stuff. So, it’s a simple as that.

Adelaide next week, how much of a litmus test is that going to be?
No, I don’t think so I wouldn’t say it’s a be all and end all game. It’s another part of the home and away series. It’s an opportunity to grow.

Injury wise how well did you come out of tonight?
Unscathed, but we could wake up tomorrow and there could be a scan. There were pretty heavy conditions, we were of the understanding that the rain was going to ease off and the wind was going to drop in the second half and I think it went the opposite.

From all reports Hayden Ballantyne had a good hitout for Peel in the WAFL, is he going to need another game?
I just finished an AFL game, he has missed a bit, we have performed well. We will get to it during the week.