What about Nathan Thompson and his future? How have you seen his contribution this year?
At the start of the season, I think I said if he can kick 25 goals he would have played his role. I think he's kicked 29. He's missed three or four games, he's come back off a knee reconstruction, being a key position player which is always tough. So I've been pleased with his year. He's had a few niggles, but you would probably think that he's still got a hell of a lot to offer, particularly towards the end of this year.
You suggested in recent weeks that Drew Petrie would make a good captain. Adam Simpson has got one, possibly two years ahead of him. In your mind, is that the succession plan?
I think Drew's got all the characteristics to make a good captain. Whether he's actually named captain or not is another thing. Adam will be the captain for as long as he plays. He won't step aside a year earlier. I think I did that with Adam and Anthony Stevens, and Adam and I have spoken about this. It stunted his growth as a captain in his first year because he had the previous captain just sitting out there.
For you as the captain to earn the respect of the playing group is always difficult … and I think that I probably wouldn't do that again. If Adam decided to give it away at the end of this year, No. 29's (Brent Harvey's) going okay. There obviously isn't a reason why he couldn't be a good captain either. I think that we've got a few guys just underneath Simmo or probably a few years off Simmo that could captain the football club.
What has impressed you most this year? Take that how you will.
It’s been a really funny year, at times a bit frustrating. At times very joyous, with some of the wins that we’ve had. I haven’t really given it too much thought to be honest.
[Once you know you’re playing finals], you can actually do some damage. I suppose that’s probably been my biggest message to them probably the last seven weeks, eight weeks. That we’re a capable side, we work hard and we play well together. You can match any side out there, but you can’t match any side if you’re on holidays in September. And they’ve probably taken that on board a bit and thought, ‘Do we want to be on holidays in September or do we want to actually be playing?’ So it’s really interesting, [we’ve] had an interesting year.
What about the emergence of Matt Campbell and Lindsay Thomas?
They’ve been extraordinary really, second-year players. Last year I think they played 12 and 14 games respectively and maybe only kicked 20 goals each, or not quite. The way they’ve gone about it this year … they just work hard. We never talk to them about kicking goals, the only thing we talk to them about is putting pressure on; getting fitter so they can spend a little bit more time in the midfield, which they’ve done this year and which has allowed them to play more game time.
The boys enjoy them and what they do, and they’ve got great respect from the playing group. Some weeks they kick goals, which is a bonus. Some weeks they don’t, but every week they put pressure and for them to come in and do that, particularly given their backgrounds, has been an absolutely wonderful effort.
There is a wealth of forward options coming through – Robbie Tarrant, Josh Smith, Michael Wundke. Do you consider the club is well-placed in that regard?
Yeah, we are. Because you look at it and you throw Todd Goldstein into that, because what he allows you to do is play Petrie maybe more forward. We’re really pleased. Robbie’s just started back after a shoulder reconstruction, Josh has played really well in the VFL at times this year and got his opportunity for a couple of games.
Michael Wundke I think has kicked nearly 40 or 50 goals in the VFL and had a pretty good year as a rookie. And we did debate about putting him up and putting Jesse Smith on the long-term injury list before the cut-off date, but we didn’t do that. Michael’s had a pretty good year so you would think that perhaps he’s got a future at the footy club. He’s a very efficient footballer. Michael Wundke coming in is going to put pressure on Aaron (Edwards), it’s going to put pressure on Corey Jones.
Robbie Tarrant’s going to put pressure on David Hale and Hamish and Goldy and Drew, so from that aspect we’re pretty good. But maybe we’ll throw Robbie down back and have a look. You never know, he could turn out to be a key defender for us.
What will you need to achieve this year to deem it a success?
You can measure success in a lot of different ways. Even right now, I would have thought that we’re closer to winning our next premiership than we were when we finished last year – regardless of where we finish this year. I just think that with the talent that we’ve brought into the football club and now playing, is coming through, is the closest we’ve been.
We’ve still got a long way to go. We want to go as far as we possibly can, absolutely. And if that means playing in finals, winning a final, getting to a preliminary final, getting to a grand final, that’s what we’re after. But, again, it’s up to the boys.
Click here to read part one of Laidley Loud and Clear
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Click here to read part three of Laidley Loud and Clear
