IT WAS a subdued Rodney Eade who fronted the media after his side's 88-point belting of Hawthorn at Docklands on Saturday night.
The premiers were kept goalless in the first half for the first time since 1979 as Eade's Western Bulldogs smashed them, kicking 13.10 to the Hawks' four behinds.
Eade agreed it was one of their best performances for the year, but wasn't getting too excited.
"It's probably difficult to rate, but it was obviously an extremely good first half of footy," he said after the game.
"I probably can't remember in the past, but this year the half against Sydney was very good. It was 13 goals to two at half time, so it was probably very similar to that, but probably a little bit better defensively.
"So that was very pleasing. We executed very well. It shows you if you can use the ball well, probably the most important stat is kicking and handball efficiency.
"If you can use it, it beats everything else."
Eade wouldn't comment when asked whether his side was terrific or if the Hawks were terrible, but he did agree that with seven of the first term's nine goals coming from marks, it made life tough for Hawthorn's backmen.
"I just think we were up and going early – we got our hands on the ball first, and if you can hit targets it makes it very difficult for the defenders," he said.
"I think we were able to win the stoppages and if we'd not hit the goal posts as many times as we did, it might have been a bit further."
As always though, Eade was looking for better and said that, like every coach, he would point to room for improvement.
"It's a standard line we're going to use, but I think we can improve," he said. "There are some individuals who can get better, and I think the consistency of our defensive pressure.
"I think we're getting better, but we're still not where we want to be. I think the top two (St Kilda and Geelong) have set the standard in that area.
"At times our decision-making options weren't the way that we play and train. We went outside the parameters a bit, and that was a bit disappointing.
"I think what happens when you get that far in front you look for the perfect option instead of taking the first option, or the option that we train for.
"It's more about being able to execute the way we want to execute."
