The game – Adelaide 13.16 (94) d Hawthorn 9.13 (67) at the MCG, Rd 20, 2009 Toyota AFL Premiership Season
The stats – seven kicks, 15 handballs, three tackles, two clearances and one goal
What did you get up to during the day before the match?
I always go to the movies in the morning. Afterwards I have a bit of a run and then find somewhere to have a coffee and read the paper. Then I head back home and usually go to bed for about an hour, sometimes an hour and a half. I get up, have a bite to eat and clean up the house. Then I am on my way.
What movie did you see this week?
The Ugly Truth. It’s actually not a bad movie – pretty funny.
At the ground, how did you keep your mind occupied before the game?
I just get my ankles taped, get on the ground and have a bit of a look, a bit of a kick and then head into the team meeting. The atmosphere in the rooms was pretty good. The boys were sharp and vibrant and I think that was reflected in how we started the game.
What was your role in the first half?
Push onto the ball and try to give the side options around the footy and around the stoppages. As it turned out, I certainly didn’t do that very well. But I thought in the second half we lifted our game and our work rate. Unfortunately, it was all a little bit too late.
You kicked the opener as the side kicked the first five goals of the match. You must have been pleased with that sort of start.
Absolutely. Our first quarter was very good. The way we moved the ball and our intensity at the ball was first rate. Benny McGlynn was sensational all day. He set the tone: attacking the ball, hitting in low and hard and giving us first use. It was also nice to slot one early.
What were you thinking when the Crows clawed their way back into the game with a five-goal-to-nil second quarter?
They just got away from us. We were a little bit sloppy in the centre circle with our set-ups. Andrew McLeod got away from me a couple of times and gave them first use of the ball. They got a couple of goals from those stoppages, which was pretty disappointing. It really got them going and set them up for the rest of the game.
You spent some time on a red-hot McLeod. How did you go about countering his style of play?
He is very good at reading the ball. He would stand out of the stoppage a little bit and play almost a wicketkeeper role. When they bring it out the back, he is usually there for them, pushing it forward. He is a very, very good player. He has still got it.
You missed last week with a corked quad. Did you have any troubles with the injury throughout the game?
I felt fine. I did blow up early and was short of breath a few times. But as I worked into the game, I was fine.
I guess you knew it wasn’t your night when you hit the post with a running shot on goal late in the game?
Exactly. They’re goals you should be kicking with your eyes closed. It was a disappointing way to finish the night.
How did you rate your game from a personal perspective?
I was pretty disappointed with my game, especially early. I felt I improved in the second half in terms of my intensity and work rate. But my decision-making let the side down.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
