We take a look at Justin Leppitsch's five big points from today's press conference.
On Carlton
“Offensively, we’re a little bit better than them, and defensively they’re better than us.
“We’re going to have to get that part of our game up and going.
“We’re actually a pretty good starting team but whenever that time comes where it gets a bit too hard, we’ve fallen away and that’s the reality of it.
“We have to grow out of that as a footy club and a playing group and a coaching group that we’ve got to be harder – harder to play against for longer – and that’s really all this game’s about.
“They’ll use this as their chance as well so I think both teams go in knowing that both a good win and a good loss is a good chance.
“We’ve got two more games at home – we want to win both the games for our fans really, we’ve got to give them something to cheer about this year.”
On Josh Schache
“He won’t play again this year, he’s done enough.
“He’s put a lot of weight and load through him this year and it’s a bit unfair on the youngest player in the comp.
“At one point I think he was top 10 in loads in the competition before we rested him last time so that’s a fair weight for a first year key to handle.
“He’s been terrific this year for the group; he’s given the supporters some hope.”
A priority pick
"I know the AFL's looking to change the potential draft system over time and how to help clubs, not just this year for us – you can always have knee jerk reactions – but there's always going to be a club in this position where we're at unfortunately.
"When you've got a young team and you know you need more young talent, you'd like them quicker.
"But you've got to feed the whole competition, not just the Brisbane Lions, so I understand too we have to do our bit and help ourselves out."
Coaching
“I love being a coach.
“What drives me is our young boys and helping them to improve, and their families and helping them feel apart of our footy club and taking them along the journey.
“I love coming to work, I love my boys – I’ve got three daughters so I feel like I’ve got 47 sons and I’ll work with them to get the results they want.
“No one wants to go really poorly like it has this year and I didn’t want that either but I don’t think it changes the long term perspective of where we’re going as a footy club.”
“To build something great you have to go through the bad times, I know it, I’ve lived it.”
The long term
“It’s not about me, it’s about the club and it’s about the playing group.
“We’ve asked a lot of our group this year, especially our younger brigade so the results haven’t been great but they’ve had to endure more than most and yet the results have not come.
“Our recruiting has been solid – our young players come in and they show a bit, they’ve got some good signs so the actual growth and talent of our list is pretty good.
“We’re making the sacrifices for the long term as a club and the rewards will come – I know.”
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