Stinear on the opportunities ahead

The core of our group is still really strong, so we are looking forward to the challenge against Essendon this week.

It is going to create some opportunities for those that have been playing good footy in the VFLW, so the alignment of that program with the AFLW has been brilliant. It was a good, competitive game against Port Melbourne and our players are getting good growth.

So we are comfortable bringing those players in, that they will be able to compete with the intensity required and perform their role.

A good opportunity this week, obviously disappointing to lose a few to injury and we will learn the full results of those shortly.

But we are feeling good about where the group is at and the scope for improvement, as we get to play Essendon this week. 

Stinear on the ruck stocks

We are blessed with a lot of tall forward options, even with Scheery coming back in. We have Jackie Parry, Aishling Moloney down there, and Chantal Mason.

We have got a good group of talls there, so we have got that flexibility to be able to take the through the ruck.

It is not their primary position, so that is probably our first point of call would be getting their support through there, like they did on the weekend. Aishling and Chantal carried that load in the second half, so that is probably where we will start.

Obviously Wales is a quality ruck for Essendon, that does play behind the ball a bit so that presents opportunities as well.

Hopefully our ruck depth isn't tested any further, but we will do our work at match committee and make sure we are not pulling too many players out of their preferred position. 

Stinear on the Cats' growth so far

I wouldn't claim to have built anything yet, but I think we are building towards being a tough and resilient team. One that can play in a system and have a method of play that is predictable, but you are then able to bring people in and continue that momentum.

I think St Kilda was probably a game where our method was on display for most of the game, and we were able to quickly wrestle back momentum.

But Gold Coast we were really inconsistent with applying our method. When we did apply ourselves, it looked like we had the game on our terms, but we weren't able to do that for long enough.

We certainly have got a long way to go, but confident in where the group is at.

They are playing for each other, they are valuing the little things and the fundamentals of the game, and there has been some really good learnings in the first three rounds. 

Stinear on Essendon

I think it was another tough and physical hit-out up in Darwin for them. I think there has been some good history between the two clubs over the years.

Madi Prespakis has got here game in really good shape, and their midfield with Kane and Nanscawen are going to challenge. Wales is always difficult to combat when you are trying to attack forward of centre, and they have got a number of forwards that can do damage.

They have got the talent there, and they going to be competitive and combative. Hopefully we can limit some of their better players, and we can really start to apply our game style for four quarters again.

Just trying to break through that inconsistency and play our way for longer, because I do believe it is good enough to win games, but the challenge is to be able to apply our way against an opposition team that is wanting to have it on their terms.