With just two days until Opening Night senior coach John Longmire appeared in a press conference. There's plenty to unpack including the team's midfield depth, improving the contest and Sam Reid's return. Scroll below to stay informed. 

On Opening Round

 “We’re feeling great. We’re back on the SCG today and the anticipation that has been built in the past couple of weeks leading into this game has been awesome. We’re really looking forward to the start of the season.”

On Taylor Adams

 “He’s been okay. He understands with his experience that while he would have loved to be here that these things happen in footy. He’s pulled up okay actually and in a brace this week, but that’s as a precaution.”

On midfield depth

 “Our most experienced midfielders are out but that doesn't mean we haven't got the numbers. We feel like we've still got a good quality of players to go through that midfield group. They'll be young but we're confident in that midfield group. They'll have a big challenge this week against the Demons and their experience, but we’ve had a good preseason all and so we're really looking forward to the challenge ahead.”

On improving the contest

 “During different times and certainly in different parts of the game last year we were actually pretty good at it and then we just dropped away in other parts. Our aim is to get that more consistent over the course of the four quarters and we think we can.

"We think the addition of obviously Brodie around the ball will be good. That gives us another contested ground ball player around there but also over the ground we feel like we've done some work on that over the summer.”

On James Jordon

“He’s been terrific. He's had a great pre -season, fitted in really well. He's a really young fellow and he's played a bit of footy. He comes from a good system and he's had a good preseason. So, like all of our players, we're all looking forward to putting the preseason behind and getting to the real stuff.”

On team selection

 “You’d think I'd have it organised after six months of the preseason wouldn't you? But you always wait until your final training session. We had a couple things bob up last week after our last training session.

"We had to make some late changes. We’re just mindful that we need to get through today and then it'll be settled by lunchtime today.

On the players that missed last week’s practice match

 “We expect those guys to come back in and they'll be equal quality players for us. They’ll come back in this week, Opening Night, can’t wait.”

On the backline

 “We'll look at what Melbourne have got. We've seen them obviously play the last couple of weeks and how many talls they had. But we've been pleased with what Matt Robert’s been able to bring. It's a midfielder that goes back.

“It's not unusual for those really good midfielders to go back and do well and he's done really well for a young player. He's been fantastic this preseason. Lewis Melican played well last week."

On the talls

 “Brodie’s ability to play in the ruck and get some big minutes is really important. And against Max Gawn this week, it's a big contest and in the middle of the ground. That allows hopefully our other guys to spend a bit more time in forward post.

“But we also like to make sure that we might have three talls there at different times, but we might go a bit smaller as well. Melbourne have got some great intercept markers down there, but we've got to make sure we've been the ball to ground and get to work.”

On the message to players

 “You try and simplify it and try and boil it down. We understand what Melbourne can do well and they’ve been deep in the finals the last few years. They’re an A-grade team. Really high quality so we look at their strengths, but we can’t forget ours either.

“We’ve put time into that and work over the summer in some areas. We need to see how they work out in the next few weeks. Some things will take some time and some adjustments that we’ve made. We’re mindful that we get the balance right on what Melbourne do well and what we do well.”

On Sam Reid

 “He’s had a couple of games and we’ve allowed him to work into his season and come to speak to us about when he feels right and ready to go. He hurt himself in the preseason last year and so we’ve allowed him to build in and go at his own pace. He knows what he’s able to do and what he’s not able to do. He’s feeling pretty good at the moment and so he’s played the last couple of games in our VFL team – looked pretty sharp – so hopefully he’s not too far away.”

On Harry Arnold and Aaron Francis

 “Harry has a back [injury] at the moment so he’s been out and will be out for a few weeks with a crook back. And Aaron had a bit of a sore foot and will hopefully play back in our VFL team this week.”

On Opening Round as a concept

 “It’s fantastic. It’s a great concept to have the games here and a good opportunity for the code in this state to have a couple of opening games. Hopefully it’s the start of many more unique opportunities to come and we’re really looking forward to it. It’s terrific to showcase the game in the northern markets and a wonderful opportunity as a footy club and a code.”

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