Ken Hinkley on the performance against North Melbourne:
“There’s no hiding from it, we were really poor.
“It’s as bad a performance as we’ve had, probably in my time at the club. It was a critical part of the season.
“We have an opportunity again this week. We aren’t hiding from the fact that there was not one part of the game where we could say we were competitive or satisfied with.
“It was a number done on us by the Kangaroos. We should’ve been and had to be better, but we didn’t play the game we needed to.
Hinkley on the preparation for Saturday night:
“We spoke about and talked about the whole preparation.
“That’s what happens when you put in a performance like that - nothing gets missed in your analysis in what did and didn’t go wrong.
“We talked about everything in the lead-in to the game. We approached this game in the same way, we just had an absolute nightmare night.
Hinkley on the ruck contest against the Roos:
“They didn’t play anywhere near what they would expect of themselves.
“Goldstein was outstanding - clearly the best player on the ground - as good a ruck game as I’ve seen. He just dominated the game.
“I didn’t feel let down. Pete Ladhams is in his fourth or fifth game, Paddy - both of them - had been in good form.
“If we tried to second guess on selection decisions after every win or every loss, you’d either give yourself to big a pat on the back or give yourself to big a kick in the butt.
Hinkley on analysing the game against North:
“That’s not who we’ve been all year.
“I know the language around us this year is we’ve been a little inconsistent, but we’ve always been pretty honest in our performances.
“There has been one or two where we would say we weren’t at the level that we require. The players know that.
“They were very hard on themselves. It’s really good that they understand what was so far off the mark.
Hinkley on the connection between coaches and players:
“We are a footy club. We aren’t a coach and players. We stick together.
“We’ve done that all year. I will never say anything other than I’m part of the team. I’m a significant part of the team, and if anything, I should take most of the blame, and I will do that.
“I don’t shy away from that as coach of the club. I’m here to help the players, and the rest of the coaches are here to help the players to perform at their best.
“Clearly we didn’t get that out of them on the weekend.
Hinkley on his coaching contract:
“I’m quite happy to say my contract has clauses in it.
“Everyone’s contract has some type of clause in it, and if you don’t perform, you don’t deserve to get the add-ons of the contract.
“I am more than comfortable and accept the responsibility of performance. If we don’t perform that well, well then, it’s probably that time.
“From my point of view, I’m really confident that’s not the case, and I’m really confident in this group.
“I know and I think we can perform at a very high level consistently in the near future. I’m very comfortable that I will fulfil the entire part of my contract, and possibly more if that’s what we can do as a football club.
Hinkley on the media speculation surrounding the loss to North:
“It’s never pleasing and never easy to deal with disappointment and not performing at the level.
“I don’t care what town you do it in, it’s the way you should feel. Our game is great because of the passion is strong from members and supporters.
“It won’t stop me from doing the job I need to do and the job I have to do. We have a big game coming up this week, regardless of anything else, we expect to perform the way we should.
Hinkley on wanting the members to stand by the club:
“You’re a loyal supporter, and who knows what’s going to happen on Sunday.
“If you support your club, you support your club. I’ve always believed you don’t pick and choose. You have good and you have bad times.
“I’ve been a part of footy since I was 18. I’ve been in some incredibly good times and I’ve been in some incredibly dark times.
“But I do know when you get through to the good times, they are so worthwhile if you’ve felt some of the pain of the dark times.
