As it happened: Swans pip Cats; Lions thump Power; Suns stun Pies; Saints thrash Hawks, GWS pummel Crows

Q: Tom Hawkins was spotted three times in the last quarter, two missed set shots and one dropped kick. Are those moments you look back on, the ones you are talking about there?
A: I think so. When you have Tom’s experience and he’s been so good for our footy club, I think I have said a few times our footy club owes him more than he owes us. He - he’s delivered so many times for us. He didn’t have a good night tonight. I think - how many points did we kick? 16. Yeah. So, what, there were two or four especially, the Swans took some really good shots. Their execution was good. That’s where the game sort of came back even you say what did they change? They played a bit more one- on-one. They pride themselves around the contest. Again, I’m not around the contest. Again, I’m not a huge one for stats but the contested possession we were plus 35. I don’t think it’s right to say you know they fixed up the contest and they played better from there. But they play a good style of footy. I think they have some confidence and we always knew tonight was going to be tough, even after getting off to a good start.

Q: What about Brad Close’s game tonight? Two goals and presented himself well?
A: He’s become a good player for us. Sometimes the stats can tell a misleading story about guys that play in that position. He does a lot of things that we acknowledge that don’t necessarily show up on the stats sheet but it was good, good to see him get on the end of a few goals. That always helps your confidence when you are playing that sort of high-forward position which can be a bit difficult to be consistent in.

Q: Luke Parker was reported for rough conduct on Brad Close when he came to tackle him got him high. Any signs of discomfort or anything else?
A: Don’t think so. I wasn’t aware of that. Didn’t cross my radar. I think - I can’t really comment but we do get the feedback if there’s an adverse issue for one of our players and I didn’t hear that.

Q: Chris, how bad is Miers? He came off at half-time.
A: We think it’s a cork to his lower leg. That’s the hope. That’s the optimistic prognosis. But he just - he just couldn’t function. He’s a tough little man. And he wanted to have another crack at it but he just couldn’t move.

Q: One final one on the Jeremy Cameron non-mark, is it the sort of thing you will seek clarification or as you say looking at the vision?
A: It’s clear. I think it’s not for me to speak on behalf of the AFL and what they should do. They have had a recent history of coming out and admitting their mistakes which is the right thing to do. Again it’s difficult to say on one hand and I think we all agree with this - umpires don’t determine the outcomes of games and there’s a whole range of decisions across the course of the game that could be controversial. We wouldn’t focus on the last one and clarify the last one. That seems strange to me. In my mind if you are going to explain yourself explain yourself over the entirety of the game rather than you know building pressure on umpires who you know with, what was it four points the difference and 10 seconds to go in the game. That’s a split-second call and if he made the wrong one I think we say, “Isn’t that surprising it doesn’t happen more often given how difficult the job is.”

Q: What is the overriding message to the players after what you said in here they did so many
things right?
A: I generally wait. I don’t speak to the players straight after the game because I don’t think there’s anything that needs to be said that can’t wait until we’ve got a better sense of what actually happened. But I mean off the top of my head now, I suspect it’s going to be a season with lots of ebbs and flows. I just don’t think there are easy games out there. So, when you play pretty well without really executing, I don’t think it’s a - it’s drop our bundle I think it’s a six-day break into the best team in the competition at the MCG on a Friday night. We can’t afford to wallow in our self-pity for too long.

Q: Describe the last minute. Rowbottom gets stuck with the football. We think he will be pinged. We thought the ball travelled 15. Cameron didn’t hear it. Hayward didn’t hear the umpire early. The last 60 seconds though.
A: I honestly can’t, you know - the boys just got it done. There was multiple occasions where they could have won the game. Somehow we stuck to it and got over the line. Super happy.

Q: We have to talk about the match winner. Tom Papley loves those moments. He wants the ball in his hands. Is he the best celebrator you have seen Tom Papley?
A: He could be second to Justin McInerney tonight. He gave plenty on the wing there. Really plenty of carry. We love it.

Q: We saw Brett Kirk on the ground, John Longmire on the ground, Nick Blakey who played in the reserves all involved. Tell us what was said from John out on the ground and the broad mood?
A: Not much was said. We were hugging each other. Open arms for the last 10, 15 minutes. We just came out of something then. All positive. We will obviously do our review on Monday, but at the moment it’s just all happy vibes.

Q: 5-2 after seven rounds Ollie it’s a wonderful start to the season.
A: Yeah, obviously winning the first four was something that we, you know, really wanted to do. We got challenged the last couple of weeks. For this group to put their hands up, obviously Geelong came off a big win last week. We know it will be a big challenge on our deck. Pumped.