On the challenge of facing Fremantle away:  

“They’re the top side, so it’s stating the obvious...but (they are) the benchmark in the competition. 

“They’ve been an impressive, really well-balanced team, and they do damage all through their lines.  

“They’ve been tested at different times. Recently, even Sydney gave them a significant test early, but they’ve been able to hang in there and then come over the top.  

“So, to beat Fremantle, you've got to play the minutes and that's our huge challenge. 

“In the game just gone for us, we burned a lot of opportunities, we didn’t convert our set shot chances – we won’t be able to afford to do that against Fremantle.  

“We’ve got to have a pretty watertight game and we need a really even spread from all the boys who get picked to play.” 

On nullifying Murphy Reid’s impact: 

“Murphy is just one of their playmakers. I think the thing with him that everyone’s noticed is the bang for his direct involvements offensively is pretty significant. 

“His decision-making and the way he uses a footy, he doesn’t need to touch it that many times to impose himself. 

“He’s only one of a glut of playmakers that they’ve got, so we need a spread from our guys. 

“Last time we were moving in the right direction in the game against Fremantle – it's not too long ago. 

“As I said earlier, we’ve got to sustain that. It was a good template for us, but we just need to improve it a bit to give ourselves a chance. 

On Fremantle’s other playmakers and how to limit them: 

“We could go through the whole team. We could go through all their midfielders, all their threats up forward, their small pressure forwards and their half-back spring-boarders.  

“Right across their team, they’ve been able to establish a foothold on an imposing game, and that’s why they are on top of the ladder. 

“Ultimately, it’s about our own resourcefulness and our empowerment. 

“We’ve learnt some lessons in the last sort of 9-10 games - Sydney in particular and Adelaide. They’re two teams, like Fremantle, that have got the wherewithal to take the game by the scruff of the neck if you drop your guard for any period. 

“Hopefully from those games, we’ll be on edge about our concentration levels and maintaining a level of intensity for the duration. 

“It’d be great to be the first ones to be able to pull it off (beating Fremantle at Optus Stadium) if that’s what the equation is. 

“No-one’s infallible and that’s the way we’ll treat it.” 

On the potential of playing a wildcard final: 

“The wildcard system I’m not a fan of, purely because historically the 7th and 8th team could still win (the flag) winning four games like we did in 2016. 

“Whereas now, 7th to 10th have to win five in a row...so I’d prefer the old system. 

“If that’s what your lot is, if you end up as a wildcard team, then the four teams that get there in that capacity, I’m sure they’ll all have the belief that they can churn and win those five. 

“But it remains to be seen. 

“We want to finish as high as we can. Destiny is in our own hands – if we win all four, then we definitely feel like we will be in that top six. 

“If we drop one, it’ll put that at risk.” 

On Buku Khamis:  

“I know Buku loves it here. We’ve nurtured him since he was a young fellow and he’s playing the best footy he ever has. 

“We understand the pressures from the outside, with the overtures and the contracts and the monetary attraction and different cap space and all that. We get it that players are going to leverage themselves.  

“But we know he loves it here, and I’m expecting him still to be here next year.”