Scott on Geelong's stoppage work

Well it was an issue in that game and statistically that was pretty obvious.

But for us generally, it is a little bit more complicated than just saying well that was an issue from that game, therefore that is all we should work on this week.

There is always a bit of a focus for us of looking forward to what the unique opposition present the following week, and trying to pass through what was really important from that game. There is a little bit of that, but more importantly sort of what we need to do in the lead up to this game.

I would like to think that we are at the stage where we review thoroughly enough, but always with a forward looking focus. 

Scott on the match-up with Jordan Dawson

That is an obvious part of it. I am probably the most boring press conference to go to, because I just don't make a habit of explaining to the opposition what our plans are.

But it is the obvious stuff for them, I mean they finished on top of the ladder last year and have had a few issues with some of their key players this year, which has made it a little harder.

But they just have quality everywhere, I think they are rightly considered a contender when they play their best.

Dawson is a difficult one I guess and he must be a challenge for their coach, it might be similar to some of the questions we have had over the years about where Dangerfield might play.

Dawson might be one of the best defenders, the best forwards and the best midfielders in the competition, but you have to choose to play him somewhere. 

Scott on the interstate travel

I think the overall number for basically all of the Melbourne teams is pretty similar, I haven't done that analysis relative to the rest of the competition.

Our draw is a little strange, but the interstate travel is not the strangest part of it. I think I might have mentioned it post-game as well, it is not necessarily good, bad or indifferent, but it is just an interesting observation that we are in a phase where we play a lot of the teams that were in the top six or seven last year and are clearly contenders now.

We play a lot of those teams in the top six plus Fremantle twice, before we play some of the teams that have struggled a little bit more.

That was really in reference to a question about where we think we sit in the competition, so that is the more detailed answer to say it is really hard to tell, because the draw is so confusing. 

Scott on whether planning is harder now than a decade ago

Much harder. My answer implies that we can plan for it, but it is more just an awareness of it.

You can say okay, this is a challenging period and certainly with the breaks too, I think we are on record of saying that there is enough notice when the draw comes out in October to plan for certain scenarios.

This one for example, I think we had a five day break into Brisbane and on paper it is a challenge, but we relish the chance to actually have time to plan for it and work through it. It was one of the reasons we think about managing our squad the way we do, but I think it is also a reflection of how even the competition is now.

Even when you look at the draw in October, even if you see some exposed form in the early rounds of the year, it is really difficult to forecast where some teams will be. If you play GWS earlier in the year, that is a much better time to get them than when Brisbane and Melbourne got them for example.

Carlton are a pretty good example as well, hopefully I gave them enough credit because I thought they were really sharp, and their good players played really well. I suspect right at the moment, now is not the best time to get Carlton but that might change.

I don't think it is who you play, so much as when you get them and there is a lot of luck involved in that. 

Scott on the form of players at VFL level

We have been thinking about it, but it wouldn't be a reaction to a loss. I don't think anyone should read that far into it.

There are a big group of guys that have been playing, in our opinion, AFL footy at VFL level. So we are thinking hard about how we can get them into the team, and what constitutes our best mix over the next three games going into the bye.

It is exciting period for us, I rate Adelaide really highly at the Adelaide Oval, then we play the Gold Coast who quite rightly should be considered a red-hot contender. Then Fremantle in Perth, so trying to find out best mix for those challenging games is high on our priority list.

I won't name them all, but we have just had some guys that can't be doing much more at VFL level, so we need to find a way to be proactive with them.