Did you deserve to be as close as you were in the last quarter?

The scoreboard's, the scoreboard. I thought they made us pay with some poor stoppage work early, sort of getting past the ball and better defensive positioning. We knew Adam Treloar was a threat coming in, so there were a couple of young players down there so the chemistry of positioning, so we were made to pay there. I thought we were a bit helter skelter with our ball use and lack of composure at times, but that improved after half time, it was something we spoke about. Then our ability to get to them and close them down, they have some pretty good foot skills, but we were pretty effective with the ball when we got it forward. I'm not sure what to make of your question, sometimes there's numbers and there's numbers but clearly the critical piece was turning it over centre back, which hadn't been an issue all year but its raised its ugly head in the last two weeks. Sometimes it's just execution, sometimes it's about working together, sometimes it's about the opposition pressure. So it's a combination of those things but it was frustrating and disappointing. Our attack mid stoppages has been a strength all year, they counter punched us four times and that was that positioning stuff and accountability piece we spoke about. We came here to compete today on the back of last week and I think if Collingwood have changed a bit and got some stuff right, if they got it right early in the year they would probably be in a better position. We are disappointed and frustrated... it's a frustrating game, even when we were making a run at it. Even in the third quarter there were a couple of quick kicks out of stoppages where they just took uncontested marks, it's just poor positioning really and working together. In saying that we fought on, bar some fundamental skill errors that could have been closer. I thought they deserved to win, we could have pinched it a bit and probably, as we are developing, too few are carrying the load. So we are a bit reliant on our very best. We need a few more to step up around the edges to be factual. 

How much does it hurt - Bradley Hill running into an open goal and missing?
It was more than that though. I think it's easy to get stuck on that but I'm more concerned about the first quarter myself. Our starts haven't been well, I think we're a bit ‘rip and tear’, that lack of composure, them getting out on us, us turning it over. That's where, under the heat of the battle, games are won and lost in first quarters, not when Brad Hill is running into open goal. It's easy to focus on that but my concern is getting the bulk of it right and at the minute, we're not getting the bulk of it right. But we had another debutant (in Luke Ryan) and Hughesy (Ethan Hughes) will learn from that (game). He knows he's got to get better with the ball and adapt to the tempo, same as Brady Grey and (Matt) Taberner and those guys. That's where I'm at. We understand there¹s no silver bullet here and we've got to work our way through it. But again, I thought once we got a bit composed, our leaders around the ball stood up against quality - (Nat) Fyfe, (Lachie) Neale and (Michael) Walters and, Stephen Hill went to half back. I thought Joel Hamling got moving and (Michael) Johnson, just a bit of that method, that consistency of method I would think. You've got to keep your head around you and not just go off on individual bets even though you are trying to do the right thing.

How close was Aaron Sandilands?
There was a bit made about it early in the week. I thought it was a real possibility. As the week narrowed, it became less so. Sometimes you have internal stuff you're banging around - I'm pushing harder than some. Sometimes you just give everyone the longest opportunity. 

Was the slow start extra disappointing,  especially after last week?
No, it just highlights just because you talk about something, it doesn't make it happen. You've got to action it. We changed our training. It's not all about effort. It's about composure, and keeping a cool head at times. I don't think we did that.

Is Aaron's absence a big factor?
Not at all. Clearly you'd like your best available. I'd imagine they'd (Brisbane) have a few out. To progress in this competition, you've got to be no excuses. There's going to personnel changes all the time. That's been our motto here, our belief. Nothing I've experienced in the last little while has changed my philosophy on that. I would think everyone has to play their part and stand up. 

Is he a chance for next weekend?
I'd have to work through the week and give him every chance, but we want to improve our footy fundamentally. It was two issues - turning it over centre back. And it was a combination of factors - sometimes we were out, and just couldn't hit a target.  And their pressure was good. And then unusually they scored heavily from their defensive stoppages. I've had a look at the vision, we've already identified the problem. But when you put those two things together, you're going to be under pressure. They spread the ball really well, and we're disappointed we didn't close it down and didn't spread it as well as we wanted to.

Your ball use had been better up until two weeks ago?
As I said, it's a combination of the three. At times when it works you look dangerous. But not enough composure. You can't just blast your way through, you've got to pick your way through at times.

Ed Langdon and Stephen Hill looked like they got their knees checked during the game?
(Ed) seemed to struggle. He was fine during the week. We're backing our young players in. Could we have put in a more rigorous fitness test - maybe. But we really like what Ed's done. We put some heat on him to try to finish the game strongly, but he was a bit distressed at the end. That's part of that strong mind stuff of AFL footy, and he's been really good with it. We'll support him. Clearly it's been going up and down, we haven't handled it quite right in the end. We need to look after him, because you don't want to grind your good young players into the ground. He'll need some looking after I would think. He was a bit frustrated, and it puts pressure on the team too. But Stephen Hill finished, he was fine. He's still building a little bit. I thought his second half ­ there was a lot to like.

How do you think Luke Ryan went?
I'll go away and look at it. We're rapt we played him. I think he's got a future. As long as he works hard and stays level. You've got to find your bit in AFL footy. Once you understand it's nothing but hard work and sacrifice, you can make your way. That's yet to be determined.