A: From where we've finished I don't think you can ever be pleased, but there's probably been a lot of other things we've been able to get out of this year. The depth on our list was something we came into the year wanting to get, and by default we ended up getting it through injuries and that sets us up well for the future. I think we've seen the emergence of the next wave of leaders that is going to lead this group forward, which has been pleasing.
I think we've also spread the load a bit rather than being so Jonathan Brown reliant. We haven't been able to get the wins, we've lacked that bit of finish at the end of games, but we've got the emergence of more goal-kickers, which is another pleasing aspect with Browny to come back. We've been hugely competitive in all of our games pretty much.
There was probably three games that we walked away being not competitive enough, so we're becoming more resilient and tougher in games and over the course of the season. There was a few positives, but to counter that, we couldn't finish the games off and that cost us a lot of games.
Q: You mentioned the improvement of the team's competitive nature - what was different from last season?
A: I think that's largely attributed to our pre-season and the work the guys did in our culture area. We re-established our trademarks and went over what we really value. We really put the acid on each other to make sure we wouldn't accept inept performance individually and as a team. I think the resolve in that area was really really good and it underpinned us through the whole campaign.
Q: Did you have to revisit those things during the season? You got off to a slow start and your job was under scrutiny as were a lot of the players. Did you have to go back and remind yourself of those standards you talk of?
A: We did that right throughout the whole season. It was something we spent a lot of time on so we did revisit it and emphasise it and reinforce it and make it better throughout the year. It was good the players could fight through that. For us it was a little bit of being able to say that we are doing things differently and we're aware of the mistakes we've made and we're moving on. If the first half of the season was looking at the past, the back half was about looking at the future.
Q: You're one of the most competitive players in the past 20 or 30 years - four wins only can't have sat too well with you?
A: I hate it. I hate it with an absolute passion. I think the players are at a point, from what I've observed, the closer we got to the end of the season and after chatting with every player post-season, there is a genuine quiet hunger among the group. We're not anticipating winning a Grand Final next year, we're not shouting from the treetops there, but I think there's a firm view we're heading in the right direction. The people involved will make the right changes and find the right mix and the right talent that can get us there in the end and I did feel that amongst the players before they left.
Q: Is it fair to say round one probably set the tone for your season?
A: I must admit after the first round we basically had a match committee straight after the game, which we don't normally do. Given the significance of the injuries (to Brown and Brent Staker) we had to come up with a plan straight away because the players needed to know there was one. I must admit, I think we struggled early with that. There was some good performances that weren't quite finished out, but there was some really poor ones there in the first six or seven weeks, but slowly but surely they started to open up more and drive things themselves.
It was really significant but I can't emphasise what a great opportunity it was for more players to get more games and expand our depth and get more players through. It gave us a great chance to look at our whole list. That impacted our season in terms of where we finished on the ladder, but in terms of where it sets us up for the future, hopefully it has helped us do a few little things towards that.
Q: You didn't win until Browny came back in (in round nine) and you only won once in 12 matches without him … can you explain the hole he leaves in the team and what did you learn without him there?
A: It's like taking Chris Judd out of Carlton, it has an impact. He's a very important player for us. What we got out of it was that we didn't have to rely on Browny as much (when he did play). We also got a very good spread of players at the back end of the year. With Browny there we can only get better.
Q: You talked about exposing more players and giving them opportunities, did any players surprise you this season and perform above what you might have initially thought they were capable of?
A: I thought Sam Sheldon was really good. Niall McKeever was certainly one that surprised me a bit. For him to be able to play nine (10) games and be able to get the growth in himself through those games, he got better almost every single game he played. His last game wasn't great but he was one that really surprised me. And Sam Sheldon, with the year he had the year before, he had no confidence whatsoever, but then slowly over the pre-season he regained that and he had an impact on our season. So there's a couple of players. Pearce Hanley, I thought he was really good. We expected Pearce to go to another level [but] I think the level he got to was a nice surprise. Patty Karnezis coming in, I expected him to be a good player eventually but his ability to find goals or be in goal scoring range was really important so we had a number of surprises.
Q: You mentioned the two Irish boys there. I know you recruit them hoping they'll be a success, but does it still surprise you they've adapted so quickly considering they hadn't even picked up a ball until a couple of years ago?
A: Niall, it's only his second year so he's been a rapid rise. Pearce has probably taken a little longer and had a few other things to adjust to to get himself absolutely right. He's worked on his professionalism as a football and wanted to get better. It's been very rewarding to see those guys come through with their hard work.
Q: At the other end of experience, you traded for a lot of experience a couple of years ago and those guys are always under pressure. What did you think of the response of guys like Andrew Raines, Matt Maguire - who you roasted after the Geelong loss - and Amon Buchanan?
A: It's been good to have that group. I can't fault them the way they've approached things. Staker has had his knee issues. I admire Amon Buchanan, he has not had a lot of opportunities but he's turned up every single week and keeps cracking in every single week. They've all had varying impacts on the group. Rainesy is the more permanent one there where he's had a genuine role he's performed exceptionally well, but the one thing you can't fault is that they've really been important in the locker room.
Q: You gave up a lot of fourth-quarter leads and said it was composure more than a lack of fitness …. In saying that, will you do anything different in pre-season to make sure the team runs out matches better?
A: We'll be able to spend a bit more time to get that fitness next year. A better terminology would be the strength of their running and also those late game situations. We need a lot more composure and have to put some strategies in place where we face those scenarios and how we work through them.
Q: Quite a few clubs are going overseas to do altitude training - is that an option?
A: At the moment we've decided we'll send six or seven guys over there to do some work early in the pre-season. We're still at a stage where we can make big gains by being where we train. Don't underestimate the significance of being able to train in the Queensland heat and humidity, it makes it very hard to breathe! It's hard to be able to train at that level. We think we'll get enough gains out of this pre-season and this summer with our heat and in the future we'll look at going to altitude.
Q: You said you might send six or seven, is that the more experienced guys?
A: Yeah, the experienced guys. They've been around for a while and we can monitor their loads and if we can change the stimulus of their training and break up pre-season training for them, they're probably at a different stage to where a lot of our other guys are so we'll work them that way.
Q: So is that Browny, Merrett and a few of those guys?
A: Yeah, Blacky, Merrett, those guys …. Jed Adcock.
Q: Where are you sending them?
A: Arizona.
Q: I guess they'll be able to give you some feedback on any benefits in the future?
A: That's what we're hoping, for sure.
Q: Just a couple on player movements. Towards the end of the season Luke Power retired after continual discussions with you. You've also had talks with former teammates like Daniel Bradshaw and Michael Risschitelli that eventually saw them move - how difficult are those discussions with guys you've played football with?
A: Some of the hardest, if not the hardest. It's always hard when you've got history with people. You obviously want to factor that into these situations, and in Luke's case you look at that more than anything else. The timing, was it the right time, how do you do it? I don't think there's a perfect model. The thing you've got to do is be honest, be transparent, keep the dialogue happening, and I find that's the best way to be.
Q: There's been mixed reaction to Luke's departure - some saying he had another season to help guide the youngsters and others said it was the right time - are you happy with the way it all panned out?
A: It was Luke's decision, it was his choice so I don't have an issue with it. The discussions I had, Luke was aware of everything that needed to be on the table and he made a call. Luke made a choice and we move on. I think Luke handled himself exceptionally well and I think it was handled in a very open manner. I certainly think the way the decision has been made is in the interests of himself and his future and that's fair enough.
Q: Another player in the headlines has been Mitch Clark. How hard have you pushed to keep him? How important is he to Brisbane's future?
A: For me, he's a required player and he's a very good player. The best way you describe it is you don't give them away, let's put it that way. When you've looked and recruited and made some of your projections based on who you think will and won't be here, it's important we get adequate compensation whatever manner that looks like because we have factored him in that way. He's going to be a big part of the group that leads us into the future. Whenever you've come in with that sort of planning there's got to be a good argument to suggest why you shouldn't keep going down that path. We've heard nothing further so we'll wait and see what happens there.
Q: So I guess you're going to play pretty hard with Fremantle come trade time?
A: I wouldn't say hard, I'd say fair. I'm speculating here because we haven't talked to them on that level yet and we have to wait until we find out what is on offer. But to use a current expansion term, he's a category one player. He's not a second round draft pick, that's for sure.
Q: Being a non-traditional footy state, is it hard to maintain players or do you think that 'go-home factor' is less of an issue now than it once may have been?
A: I think it's less of an issue now. Generally players are reasonably happy. While it's always a conscious thought, and in this instance it's proven correct, the fact is our proximity as a football club and we have many levels of people from other states. It's always a constant reminder of how we do things and what sort of support we can put around players to make sure they stay and that we have the right environment. Sometimes you can do everything right and not be able to keep the player and I'd think in this instance that's probably true.
Q: Looking to next season - you're without Staker for the year and if Clark goes that's a huge hole with big men. Do you think young guys like Aaron Cornelius and Bryce Retzlaff can step up or will you look from outside from the draft or trade?
A: You're exactly right and that's why it makes it harder. That's why it makes it hard because we're not now just looking at one club but we're looking at a type of player too, which makes it hard.
Q: Looking at the draft, you've got pick No. 8 and a couple in the late 20s - what sort of players are you likely to look for? Are you looking for a big fella or the best player available?
A: We haven't drafted up a strategy yet but I think most clubs would, depending on where their list is at, some might come in with a position specific player in the first round, but other than that we have to go with the best player, I think. If he happens to be a small, we get that, a tall, we get that, and as the draft goes we can assess whether we've got enough of each and whether we need something else. But our approach early will be to get the best player.
Q: You've had discussions with Neil Craig coming to the football department - where are they up to?
A: We've had some chats with him and we'll continue to have dialogue where necessary. It's a pretty important position for us. We'd like to fill it, we've earmarked Neil as the applicant we'd like to have. It's a pretty important role that a lot of clubs are trying to fill. If we can get someone of Neil's experience that would be beneficial to us as a footy club.
