We catch up with VFL Head Coach Damian Truslove to review our recent performance against North Melbourne, talk standouts and preparations for this week.

Read the interview below.

Damian, we had a a 42-point loss to North Melbourne last week, what was your review of the performance?

It was obviously a disappointing loss, particularly our first quarter. We were seven goals down at quarter time and that was the game, the last three quarters were even with North Melbourne.

So the first quarter was really disappointing, we got done at contested ball and couldn’t get the ball back off them but the last three quarters, the boys showed a bit of character and fought the game our which was good.

The main positive is the way the team rallied despite the poor start?

The way the team responded after the first term was definitely the positive.

Our third quarter was really good, we kicked six goals in that term and got within 10-points.

But by the end of the third quarter, I think the boys were exhausted and couldn’t go on much further, but we fought the game out which was impressive.

There were a couple of good individual performances as well which was good.

Who were the standouts?

Lachlan McAndrew, his performances all year have been consistent and he has been really good in the ruck. He has been winning his hitouts, his follow up has been good and he has really taken a step forward this year and he is heading in the right direction. If he keeps going the way he is going an opportunity will arise for him at AFL level at some point so he has been really good.

Our captain Will Collis has just been digging in, fighting and scrapping. He is just a hard and tough player and leads the team really well.

Charlie Haley has been solid with his output from a VFL point of view and Max Geddes as well, is someone who understands our system well and is a good competitor.

And Nick Shipley has probably been our best player for the first three weeks. He just consistently finds the ball, finds a lot of clearances, tackles and just works hard for four quarters.

What did you make of Ryan Clarke in his return from injury? 

He was really good in his return in the midfield. He was a little bit slow to get going but his last two and a half quarters were very good.

We saw the level he can play at and he was hard and tough for the whole game and his leadership was really good on the day as well.

What did you make up Aaron Francis performance?

We played him up forward and he kicked three with limited opportunities, the ball wasn’t coming to him that much. I think we only had about 40 inside-50s but he really looked good in the air, his contested aerial contests were good and he grabbed those three opportunities to kick goals.

How much of it is about preparing the side for senior football if the opportunity arises?

We talk to the boys all the time about being ready; whether that is a VFL listed player or an AFL contracted player. Just be ready for your opportunity when it comes.

The positive about having so many injuries is that it gives guys opportunities, like Corey Warner and Will Gould on the weekend, to play at a higher level. We just have to training our system and playing our system and the guys that understand that will get the opportunity at AFL or VFL level.

How do we prepare for the Northern Bullants this week? 

I am excited about this week. The Northern Bullants are a hard and tough team, playing at home, and they will be excited to take us on.

They beat us last year, so it will be a hard game, but we are excited to get down there and try and play our system.

There will be some opportunities for guys off our VFL list, to come in and get an opportunity, and some different roles that our AFL players will play, so we are excited to get down there

It’s always good and exciting to travel and bond as a group, so we will get down to Melbourne on Saturday and look forward to a big hitout on Sunday.