On the BYE

It was a good opportunity for all clubs to have some days off. Everyone went their own separate ways and caught up with family, took a deep breath and recharged for the second half of the year. We had a solid training session on Saturday, we trained Friday, and again today. We’re back into it and looking forward to this week’s game against Port.

On maintaining momentum after the BYE

Staff and players needed to have a few days off, reset and refresh, come back in and attack it. We got stuck into Port very quickly. Since around six they’re the number one defence in the competition, they're five and two since that time. After a slower start to the year, they've been playing some fantastic competitive footy and so that sharpens up your mentality very quickly. Over in Adelaide as well, there's a number of things that we are looking at, we are mindful of and respectful of how Port Adelaide have been going.

On Harry Cunningham, Tom Hickey and Colin O'Riordan

They hopefully should be all available for selection. They all trained today, we're expecting them to train on Thursday and be available this week.

On playing two rucks

We’re conscious of making sure with Tom (Hickey) in particular, that he gets some good training under his belt. That's the number one aspect for us and, the selection things take care of itself after he gets some training under his belt.

We'll see what he does this week and Thursday, and how his toe pulls up is important. We'll make a decision on whether he needs another week’s training or whether he can play this week, and if it’s this week is it in reserves or seniors. We’re very conscious that he's missed a fair bit of training this year, let alone games, with his knee and his toe, so we'd like to get some training under his belt first and foremost, before we worry about whether we play two rucks or not.

It's not just about the two rucks, it's about the whole team mix – what the team looks like, the balance of the team, it’s all really important. Obviously Lance will come back into the team, he trains Thursday and he he'll be playing this week which will be good for him. How the rest of the team looks is something we will work through. Obviously Sam (Reid) played very well, he had 10 tackles as, as much as his importance was forward to the ball and hitting the scoreboard and in the ruck, he had 10 tackles which we were thrilled with. Logan was dangerous in our forward half, we’ll weigh all that up and make the right call according to what the team needs.

On Lance Franklin

He returned to training and did some high-speed running that he really needs. I’ve spoken about it many times that it’s a very important part of his program. He was able to do some high-speed running and some more gym work, so he had the break but also had a couple of weeks to get himself right physically for the back end of the year and hopefully that will play some dividends. He was out there training today and trained quite well, he’ll have another sharpen up on Thursday and hopefully be ready to play Saturday.

On Port Adelaide

They’ve been a very good team, and still are a very good team. When you’ve been deep in the finals as often as what they are they’ve got many strengths. They’re very even, as mentioned their defensive actions are outstanding, they’re very hard to score against. They’ve got a midfield and a forward set up that can really hit the scoreboard. Their best footy is as good as anyone’s going around and has been for a few years now. They’re a very good, well rounded footy team. We go to Adelaide with a job ahead of us, we understand what their strengths are but we’re also confident if we play with our intensity we’ll give it a really good shake. We’re really looking forward to it.

On Peter Ladhams

Peter will play, he’s been good for us this year just like Tom (Hickey) was very good for us last year but has been injury interrupted this year. Hick’s had a few niggles this year, he’ll get on top of one thing and another pops up, but we’re hoping he gets a good run at it the second half of the year. Peter has been very important for us, he’s come into the team and has been improving every week. He had a disrupted pre-season with some tendonitis issues in his knee as well as coming over here and getting used to living here, but we feel like he’s settled in really well. He gets to go back to Adelaide and play the old team this week.

This is the first time he’s face his old team, but in the end I don’t think it really matters that much. It’s about concentrating on your processes. I’m sure he’s still got some strong friendships back there as any player that leaves a club would, but ultimately it’s about your preparation, being professional and getting the job done.