How did you rate this season?
There were mixed emotions. It was pleasing with what we achieved and how we went about it. All the areas and focus points we wanted to improve in were achieved; it was just disappointing with the result of the last game. If you take the emotion out of it and the disappointment of not making the grand final, it was a pretty successful season, and a pleasing one. Then you've got to put the other hat on and realise we want to go that one step further, and that's what we'll be aiming for next year.

Given how close you were to St Kilda in the preliminary final, and then how close the Saints were to Geelong in the grand final, did that further emphasise just how small the gap was?
It shows there wasn't much difference between the three sides. We were just the unfortunate ones that didn't make the grand final. The results of those games with those three teams involved were resolved by a maximum of two kicks in all three games. We're not far away. You can't assume anything; you can't assume we're going to be back there again next year to have another crack at it. There are a lot of good teams behind us. We still need to improve again.

You've said before the players were heavily motivated by their preliminary final loss to Geelong last year. How will they be affected by this year's loss to St Kilda?
Last year it was more they realised how close they were after the game, and this year, they realised that before the game and that's why it's hurt them more. There's a different mindset. They knew they were good enough this time, and they know they're not far away. It's certainly hurt them. They were certainly stung by the loss because they did work extremely hard. I've got no doubt it will strengthen their resolve again to take that next step.

You've said it's not just going to happen next year - where do you start to ensure you're in the best position possible?
It starts now. We're identifying areas we need to focus on, and then we have to maintain our strengths. For all the work we'll be doing, everyone else will be doing just as much. The first thing is, we need a good pre-season. We've had two really good pre-seasons, especially the last one, and it's been proven by us finishing off games well. That's the first point of call, after we get everyone right and ready to go.

Who made the biggest inroads this year?
The three biggest pluses we had were Jarrod Harbrow, Liam Picken and Callan Ward. They really added something to the team. Jarrod was probably the most pleasing because he'd been here for three years, and to be able to do what he did was a real reward for his determination and hard work. Cal we know is going to be a very good player. For him to take his opportunity this year and build on his six games from last year was pleasing. For Liam, we put him on the rookie list for the purpose he'd play because we haven't got a quick run-with [player]. He was then able to take his game to another level and was able to win the ball as well and use it reasonably effectively. There's improvement left in him, but we've got 12 months into him now and he'll get better.

Apart from Picken, will any other players be elevated from the rookie list?
We'll bring James Mulligan up. He had a disappointing year as far as injuries, but in this draft, there are very few tall players available and certainly no tall defenders. He's certainly not getting elevated on what he's done; it's more what we see as a future for him. We think he can play for us as a tall defender, which is what he was doing for Williamstown. We think it's a worthwhile punt for a guy who's six-foot-six and the quickest player in the club. It might save us having to go to the draft in two or three years.

It was obviously a terrific year for Matthew Boyd. 
It was great to see him win the best and fairest. He's really grown as a player and it's a great story with what he's been able to achieve and make All Australian. He's one of the better midfielders in the competition now. His leadership was fantastic this year, he really grabbed the games by the scruff of the neck, but also off field, he led the way at training and was able to challenge his teammates.

Has Boyd emerged as a bit of a front-runner in the stakes to succeed Brad Johnson as captain?
Time will tell. We'll see how it goes in 12 months.

Will Johnson definitely be captain in 2010?
I imagine he will be. I've had one preliminary chat with Brad but we've got to go and talk to the board as well, and David [Smorgon] as well, and see what the club thinks. I would think if Brad wants to keep going with it, there wouldn't be any real speed humps there.

He'll play his 350th game in round one. How have you rated his season?
I thought he had a terrific year. He finished fourth in the best and fairest after a very good year. In the previous year, he had a few little injuries that held him back a bit, but I thought his leadership was outstanding. If you add his goals and goal assists together, he was No.1 in the club. His assists and selflessness at times was fantastic. His ability to delegate at the right time and develop some younger people in the leadership group was fantastic. Over the last two or three years, he's taken that part of his football to another level and he's been quite outstanding.

Can both Jason Akermanis and Nathan Eagleton play on in the same side?
No doubt. Jason offers a lot, and Nathan showed in games this year, especially towards the end of the year, that he can still play some good footy.

Where do you see Andrejs Everitt playing next year?
The pleasing thing about him is he can play a whole range of positions; back, in the midfield, and in the ruck like he did in round 22. There are spots there for him; it's just really up to Andrejs for him to work hard enough to get them.

Do you think he's right to go now after what happened in the trade period?
I've spoken to him and I imagine he is. It's up to Andrejs; the side played well so it was difficult at stages for him, but it's up to him whether he wants to do the work. At times, he didn't do the work. No one gets a game on a plate, and if he's prepared to work, he'll get games. Liam Picken was a rookie and Andrejs was taken at No.11 in the draft. It doesn't matter how you got here; it's about the work rate and the work ethic you've got. Andrejs works in fits and starts, and if he can work hard enough and long enough, he'll get games because he's got enough talent.

How did you rate Jarrad Grant's year?
He was a bit up and down. He got the one game after showing a bit in the NAB Cup, and struggled a bit. He's his own worst enemy. His high expectations put a lot of pressure on himself. We're trying to take that off him a bit. We've got high hopes for him and we still think he's got some real talent. I think Barry Hall is going to be a real plus for all those young lads, Grant, [Jordan] Roughead, [Ayce] Cordy. They'll be able to blend in rather than be the key forward. It will be great for their development.

So you expect those sorts of players to get more game time next year?
I hope they would, but they'll have to work hard to earn that. Sometimes you play kids before they're ready just to give them time, but to hold their spot and get some consistent games, they have to perform and make sure their work rate is good on the training track. We'd like to think that Easton Wood and Sam Reid will also build on their games tally next year. Wood could get 10 to a dozen games next year, and Reidy more. We'd like to think he'll be more of a permanent player. Jarrad Boumann is still a project player. We were pleased with his development this year. I don't know if he'll play seniors next year but we see him as a longer-term project. Liam Jones will start first year next year after spending this year at Scotch College. He arrived very unfit and needs some full-time training, so he's got a bit of work to do. He's competitive and he takes good marks so we'd be disappointed if he didn't play regularly at Williamstown. He'll start here once his exams finish. Out of Cordy and Roughead, it will be more so Jordan that plays next year. He's a developing ruckman so if we get an injury, he'll get some games. Ayce still physically needs work. He's put on eight or nine kilos but he's got taller again. Kids that come in don't know what's required, and he said himself midyear he was getting tired. He's also coming out of the school system, so he's still learning. He may get some games.

When you announced Barry Hall's arrival, you said you didn't expect him to be the answer to your problems …
I don't think we've got that many problems in our forward line. That's not the reason we lost the preliminary final. We could have, and should have, won that. The main thing with Barry and why we were keen is that apart from his size and giving us a target, he's very team orientated. He'll fit into our forward system very well. If you're got another forward who has to be the focus all the time and has to kick 60 or 70 goals to actually measure their effectiveness, it would be detrimental to [Shaun] Higgins or Johnson or [Robert] Murphy. We've got a forward line where we don't rely on anyone in particular. Barry will fit into that extremely well.

Even so, do you think the expectation placed on your group will increase anyway?
It was going to be there anyway. To finish like we did this year, the expectation, and certainly the internal expectation, is that we'll make the grand final at least. It's out of our control what people expect but I don't think it should be an issue.

You must have been pleased with the shape Barry arrived in?
He's in good nick. He's cut out of granite. He's really keen, and we've been talking to him about not doing too much running and to keep off his legs a bit. It happened to Aker when he came here - when you finish mid-season and have a bit of a break before training, you come to a pre-season and end up being overcooked. We've just told Barry he doesn't have to be super-fit when he gets here, although he's already done a bit of boxing and weights. He'll fit into our group in that respect really well too, because he is such a good trainer and he works hard. If you've got that box ticked, you can come to any organisation and the players will accept you pretty readily.

Signing Brian Lake was obviously very important for the side.
There was never any particular thought of him going anywhere else. He's a key plank for us, he's a key component in the back end. If you lose some forwards, you can always manufacture some things but in defence, if you lose some key players it can be pretty tough to replace them. The other nine (Higgins, Will Minson, Dylan Addison, Tom Williams, Everitt, Callan Ward, Grant, Wood and Boumann), and later Ryan Hargrave, that re-signed were also important. Everyone has recommitted so that's a real plus. It's a committed group, they work hard together, so it's good to have everyone involved. Brennan Stack has also re-signed, which is another positive. He's got some talent. He's just getting used to what's required. His next step will involve him playing some good games for us, and we think we'll give him more games next year.

What is your draft strategy?
To get the best players possible. When you draft for a deficiency, you're drafting for the deficiency in three or four years' time. We'd like tall defenders when thinking down the track but there's not many in the draft. We'll take the best player there. There are some talented players in there that we won't take because we've got a lot of that type.

You've had success with [head of physical conditioning] Bill Davoren's fitness regime. Will you do pretty much the same thing this year?
It will be very similar. We've had a few discussions about it, and we'll modify it more individually, more so pointed with a few of the older players. It will be similar work and load. We're not going away anywhere; we were going to have a camp to Falls Creek but with starting late, we just need to get the work in. We might look at an overseas trip next year. We'll just hop straight into it. It gives us four to five weeks before Christmas and then the five weeks after New Year will be vitally important.

How have you been placed with player operations since the end of the season?
We've had a lot, in total 12. We've had four shoulders - Johnson (minor) Picken, Wood and Roughead (all reconstructions), three minor knees -Addison, [Adam] Cooney, Cordy, Murphy, two groins - Reid and [Stephen] Tiller, two ankles - [Daniel] Cross, one toe - Minson, and one finger - [Daniel] Giansiracusa. [Dale] Morris had that stress fracture in his leg but he'll just be treated by rehab and will be right to jog soon. Murphy is having a cyst removed from the back of his patella tendon, so he'll have a big couple of rehab months and should be right to run by Christmas. Higgins will be managed with his groin and will do some strength work and should be running soon. Crossy will be right to jog by Christmas, Will had a really nasty toe injury that came from a stubbed injury, and Gia has had a tendon reattached in his finger. Bob's knee problem is related to the one he carried all year. The patella tendon operation [he had before this season] is major. He needs a lot of strengthening work, as you need to load a patella tendon injury. He didn't really start after the operation until Christmas last year, so this time, we'll be able to get two or three months of good strength into it before he can really load it running-wise. He'll do some light jogging in early December. Our biggest ones are Reid and Tiller. They had the bone-shaving operation and will be in rehab for four months. They both had problems with it during the year. Sam hurt his in the first game this year and then played in pain for the rest of the year, and after we dropped him for the first final, he played at Williamstown and couldn't run. Stephen was up and down with his body throughout the year as well so they thought it was best to get it done.

What about someone like Tom Williams? Do you need to change the way he's managed given his history with injuries?
He still needs to get his fitness up. Because he's been injured a lot, he's done a lot of weights and has got himself too heavy, like what James Hird did. He's got to get to a stage where he can maintain his strength but not have his size. The fact he got back and played a couple of games at Williamstown late in the year was pleasing, so he should be right to go.

So you'll nearly have a full list back training when you return in November?
Tiller and Reid will be the only ones who won't be able to start. We're pretty happy with that; we thought we'd have three or four operations and it grew to a dozen or so, but we'll get them all back. You would think by early to mid-February, everyone will be right to go and available to play.