WIN, lose or draw, the coaches always have plenty to say as they dissect the game in the immediate aftermath. 

Whether they just won a thriller or were on the wrong end of a hiding, the coaches' post-siren comments are compelling viewing. 

See what your club's leader had to say in their post-match press conference. 

Carlton v Hawthorn

Blues coach Michael Voss: "There is a fair bit of determination with the group throughout the night. Moments… take contested marks, maybe there was an inside 50 they didn't quite hit or a goal we don't quite finish. Often these games come down to moments."

07:54

Voss post-match, R2: 'Often these games come down to moments'

Watch Carlton’s press conference after round two’s match against Hawthorn

Published on Mar 20, 2025

Hawks coach Sam Mitchell: "I think the maturity of the group and how we've handled momentum this year shows some growth. When you see the progression of the team over the past couple of years, there have been things that we've worked on and seen improvement in. I think that's why I'm rapt for the players."

09:20

Mitchell post-match, R2: 'It's been a pretty solid start to the season'

Watch Hawthorn’s press conference after round two’s match against Carlton

Published on Mar 20, 2025

Footscray v Collingwood

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge: "Give the boys credit, they hung in there. Even though the scoreboard was in our favour at quarter time, I didn't think we had a grip on the game. I thought Collingwood was in control of it. We only had 10 inside-50s (at quarter time), but at one stage we had seven and we'd kicked 3.4. We just didn't get the ball in our forward line enough."

11:47

Beveridge post-match, R2: 'I feel like it's still one that got away'

Watch Footscray’s press conference after round two’s match against Collingwood

Published on Mar 21, 2025

Magpies coach Craig McRae: "[Brody Mihocek] got a back spasm yesterday. He was in the squad, but he came in hobbling around. That's most weeks for Brody. Potentially, in the past, we'd have put Brody out there because he's a guy that fights through that stuff. But we had Mason ready to go and I thought Mason came in and did play a role for us."

08:57

McRae post-match, R2: 'I thought Mason came in and played a role for us'

Watch Collingwood’s press conference after round two’s match against Footscray

Published on Mar 21, 2025

Essendon v Adelaide

Bombers coach Brad Scott: "They challenged our defence. Our defence across the ground - forward, mid and back - wasn't up to it."

10:06

Scott post-match, R2: 'Very frustrating to go inside 50 and lose critical contests'

Watch Essendon’s press conference after round two’s match against Adelaide

Published on Mar 22, 2025

Crows coach Matthew Nicks: "We found a way to take our game to another level, which is a good sign, but we had some confidence coming in with regard to the MCG. It was nice to back that confidence up ... it was a step in the right direction."

11:47

Nicks post-match, R2: 'If we get an opportunity to manage a player's loads, we'll do that'

Watch Adelaide’s press conference after round two’s match against Essendon

Published on Mar 22, 2025

Port Adelaide v Richmond

Power coach Ken Hinkley: "Footy does crazy things sometimes. You have to turn up and do what you have to do. Today was one of those days for us."

08:43

Hinkley post-match, R2: 'We were pretty ferocious with the way we went after the opposition'

Watch Port Adelaide’s press conference after round two’s match against Richmond

Published on Mar 22, 2025

Tigers coach Adem Yze: "There's going to be noise if we have a good win, and we will. We'll be riding that rollercoaster of emotion. Our first half was just not up to standard. They dominated clearance, kicked 8.7 from clearance, dominated territory. We only had 17 inside-50s (for the half), and you're just not going to be able to compete against good teams with those numbers."

05:17

Yze post-match, R2: 'They beat us in all facets in the first half'

Watch Richmond’s press conference after round two’s match against Port Adelaide

Published on Mar 22, 2025

St Kilda v Geelong

Saints coach Ross Lyon: "They threw a lot at us and we knew they'd come. We would've liked a bit more composure but we take those lessons. It was contrasting halves, but a lot of positives to take out of it."

08:13

Lyon post-match, R2: 'Would've liked a bit more composure but we take those lessons'

Watch St Kilda’s press conference after round two’s match against Geelong

Published on Mar 22, 2025

Cats coach Chris Scott: "Sometimes you can look at those sort of games and focus too much on what you're not doing, and don't give enough credit to the opposition. Forget all the cliches that you hear from commentators who don't know what they're talking about around intensity - I just thought they were clean."

11:03

Scott post-match, R2: 'We gave ourselves a chance to win. That's the positive'

Watch Geelong’s press conference after round two’s match against St Kilda

Published on Mar 22, 2025

Brisbane v West Coast

Lions coach Chris Fagan: "It was hot and humid ... I don't know the reasoning, but I think it's pretty tough on players. You'd need to ask the AFL about it. I don't think I've been involved in a game that's started at 12 o'clock, ever.That's 20-odd years, so (it's) unusual. They were pretty cooked and you could tell just walking out onto the ground after - probably a record number of cramps, I don't know. I haven't seen that many of our blokes struggle like that. I'm not sure we'll be doing too much training this week. We'll be recovering to get ready for Geelong (on Saturday)."

09:42

Fagan post-match, R2: 'I knew that was coming today'

Watch Brisbane’s press conference after round two’s match against West Coast

Published on Mar 23, 2025

Eagles coach Andrew McQualter: "We try to bash the theatre out of this game sometimes, don’t we? He’s just having a bit of fun. Sometimes that’s good for the game, I think. Harley’s still learning the game, he’s still learning how to be the best footballer he can be and the best teammate he can be and we’re going to support him and work hard with him."

09:20

McQualter post-match, R2: 'He’s just having a bit of fun'

Watch West Coast’s press conference after round two’s match against Brisbane

Published on Mar 23, 2025

North Melbourne v Melbourne

Kangaroos coach Alastair Clarkson: "I thought 'X' (Xerri) was fabulous in the ruck against Max and that's where the ascendancy came from. I think we had four centre bounce goals in the last quarter and that really broke the back of the Melbourne side ... in a game where it was only two or three goals separating the sides for the bulk of the day."

08:38

Clarkson post-match, R2: 'It's one game ... but winning form is good form'

Watch North Melbourne’s press conference after round two’s match against Melbourne

Published on Mar 23, 2025

Demons coach Simon Goodwin: "I think (Max Gawn would) acknowledge that he got beaten by a really good opponent today. But you've also got to realise that in life there are other things that are going on. So we'll support Max. He's a great person, he's a great leader and there's a backstory to everyone's performance."

07:31

Goodwin post-match, R2: 'People have backstories, Max is someone we love dearly'

Watch Melbourne’s press conference after round two’s match against Fremantle

Published on Mar 23, 2025

Fremantle v Sydney

Dockers coach Justin Longmuir: "Players need to understand that the little things are the big things in those moments, and all our phases link into each other. We need to be better at closing out games than what we showed. We need to make sure that in those moments, while we would like to score, we need to make sure we're not left vulnerable behind the ball. We weren't good enough in those moments."

10:27

Longmuir post-match, R2: 'We weren't good enough in those moments'

Watch Fremantle’s press conference after round two’s match against Sydney

Published on Mar 23, 2025

Swans coach Dean Cox: "I think it's proven that when we play our best, we're good enough to beat anyone. We've still got areas that we need to continually work on, and there's going to be things that'll take time. "(But) we get a bye now. We get a chance to reset and we also get a chance to look at our game and how's that stacking up."

09:38

Cox post-match, R2: 'We're good enough to beat anyone'

Watch Sydney’s press conference after round two’s match against Fremantle

Published on Mar 23, 2025