AT one stage in the last quarter against Geelong on Saturday night we were within seven points so we were still right in the game, but our poor ball use cost us.

We had a number of turnovers and we also missed opportunities to score and capitalise on their turnovers. We just didn’t punish them the way they punished us, and they were a lot more efficient going into attack.

A lot of the stats like contested possessions and clearances were positive for us which is a really good sign against a top four side, but at the end of the day if you have poor ball use you are not going to win the game.

We had a lot of inside 50s early in the game but when the game was in the balance it turned.

I think we were minus 10 in contested possessions in the last quarter and that is an indicator that we didn’t play the game right out to the end, which obviously cost us as well.

Geelong were basically more efficient and harder in the last quarter which got them the win.

But we think there are positive signs. Half the team on the weekend had played fewer than 50 games - we have got a long way to go but we have definitely improved on last year.

Now we have the bye and that means there is a two week block to really work on those areas and get them right for the big game against Carlton here at the SCG on Friday April 29. We’re looking forward to playing Friday night footy!

How do we feel about the bye? Well on one hand you want to try to right your wrongs and get out there and get a win as soon as you can.

But if you look at the positives of the bye, we have four training sessions over this week and next to work hard on our ball use and get the basics right.

I think we’re doing the hard work during games, but we need to fix up the finishing touches, so we’ll do that and get some confidence going into the Carlton game and get our season rolling again.

We’ll do a lot of skill work and I’m sure blokes will spend extra time out on the track after training. If we have one or two or three things we want to improve on, we stay out there and do it then.

I often do that with the other midfielders - we do some ground ball work, and then ground balls where you kick for goal, then some in-close touch work to make sure we are sharp. And we always finish off with a few shots at goal so we can walk off feeling good!

I haven’t had the contribution I would have liked over the last four weeks. However I feel I’m playing a role for the team and working hard on the areas where I think I need to improve my game.

It’s important if you’re not happy to go back to the basics on the track and to do everything possible to make sure your preparation is right leading into games.

I’ll head to Melbourne this weekend to see the family, catch up with some mates and enjoy a short Easter break.

See you at the footy on Friday week.