On the win…
“We’ve been challenged a few times throughout the course of the year. Early in the year we weren’t responding too well (to that), so it was really pleasing tonight.
“Some of our guys that haven’t played a lot of footy really stood up and helped with the momentum late. The boys contributing in different ways, particularly in that last quarter, was really important for us.
“In the scheme of things, it’s an opportunity to build some belief and keep the momentum going.
On the final quarter…
“We just thought we lost a little bit of composure in that third quarter. We felt like when we got the ball in our hands, or there was a ground-ball that wasn’t necessarily contested – we were just a little bit caught up in what was happening in that environment.
“The main message was to keep our composure. Last week we were able to settle and come again, but GWS didn’t hit the front - so for us to respond when Carlton hit the lead was a different circumstance and credit to our players for staying composed. We worked extremely well together.”
On Arthur Jones and Bailey Smith…
“Arthur was really important in that last quarter. The electricity in his legs and the intensity at that stage of the game – for him to have the wherewithal to be an influencer and have that assertive mind to create goals through winning loose footy. He was critical to proceedings in that last 30 odd minutes or so.
“Bailey’s been building – he had a bit of an interrupted pre-season. (With Adam Treloar out) we needed the boys to shuffle and impact in probably upscaling their roles, and Bailey was probably an obvious one that took on a bit more responsibility at centre bounce.
“They were all really great contributors at different times. It was tremendous for the boys to pull it together and really click in that last quarter. Great credit goes to all of them.
On the defenders…
“Liam has been so important for us this year. I thought between him, Gardy and Alex Keath managed that situation (with Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay) really well.
“In the first half, I thought that we left some score out there but our high defenders in Ed Richards, Bailey Dale, Jason Johannisen – their springboard and their rebound and overlap off half-back, plus the way they used the footy, set us alight a little bit.
“You don’t like to play that back-half counter-offensive game, but we just couldn’t get enough plays in our front third, and we couldn’t pressure their shape.
“We didn’t win in the way we would’ve liked to, but ultimately we’ll continue to go to school on those things and look to improve.”
