PAIN OF WEAK DEFENCE

Q I am too young to remember you as a player but your reputation was of a hard-nosed defender that did all the dirty work. How hard was it for much of this season when your players did not show that same attitude? A I think we have improved defensively through the season and I think a big part of that is us playing together more. There is an awareness and a toughness now. Melo Trimble (right) and Devon Hall came in and were two young guys who had not played in the league before. I do not think guys know how good the league is until they are here. And, I think seeing it on a daily basis, they have seen it now and they have stepped up over the season. It is going to be great for them over their careers. Us playing together more and being together has helped us on the defensive end. Guys have taken a stand more and Melo and Devon have done that. They have tried to do a better job, as have some of the other guys. But yes, it has driven me crazy when we are not great on defence. There has been games when we have not been good on defence and offence. Sometimes we are good on both too. It is a process. Q We see it in the AFL where a rookie coach will get a senior veteran assistant coach to help them. Is that something, in hindsight, that you would have liked? That is not a knock on Jamie O’Loughlin and Brad Hill who are youngish as well. A Jamie has been great and I trusted him before I got the job, working together at the World University Games. Brad has been great, too. But, to answer your question, I touch base with loads of coaching friends over the season and that input has been important to me. You need that input from people you know and trust.