On the positives taken from Round 7

"We started the season really well and that's our third loss of the year. So we are obviously very devastated to not get the win away, but there are a lot of learnings to take from the game. And although we walked away feeling pretty disappointed, there was a lot of hope for the group that we played the way we wanted to play. I think the group really is proud of the way we showed up, were able to defend the ground and move the ball the way we wanted to."

On how tight the contest was

"I think we really have been working hard to eliminate another team's momentum and that really tested us on the weekend, especially coming out and kicking two goals quite quickly. But we've done it before, we've been able to stop teams momentum, so we really truly had belief that no matter how far a team got in front of us, we were able to pull that back. Especially playing as a collective, we couldn't really rely on individual moments or individual performances to pull us through and we all had to come through together. I think we sort of knew that we could come back from a one or two goal advantage and then just try and even it up at the contest."

On the key to preventing momentum 

"I think Scott does a really good job of looking at the stats and looking at what correlates against wins and time in possession and total pressure. So being able to really execute that and keep the ball in our forward half and then inside forward 50 just obviously places so much pressure on their defensive system... So being able to keep it into our front half will be super important this weekend, not only to have better scoring shots, but to show that we are there to play."

On Ally Morphett

"Ally is obviously a huge part of our team. She's an Australian ruck, so we absolutely admire her. Obviously, I loved on the weekend being able to step up and play as a primary ruck and play more forward time. Hopefully we can get Ally up for the weekend...even if we lose Sofia Hurley or Morph or even if Chloe goes down, I think everyone steps up..."

On facing the challenge of North Melbourne

"We haven't really dove too much into what's going on this weekend. I think we'll review the game on the weekend first and then we'll go into this weekend. But all respect to North, they're a phenomenal team and they're obviously undefeated and previous premiers for a reason.I think going into this weekend, we just want to fight. The odds aren't going to be probably for us and we're happy with that.

"We hunt and that's what we do so well as a team. I think when we're really pushing for something and when the odds aren't in our favour is when we just absolutely go for it. So this weekend I just have full faith in the girls to just go out there and just bring effort and intensity and everyone plays their role. And if we're connected as a group, I think that's more important than anything out there."

On team mentality

"I love and I think the girls love being the hunters. Being the hunted is something probably not quite as comfortable for us because there's a bit of a target on our back. But we love just being able to grunt and chase. The hunted obviously has its privileges and it's an opportunity. But I think this group really loves that sort of underdog mentality. And that's probably why we had so much success in 2023 because we sort of had no right and we did go out there and we just played with such fierce and freedom mentality."

On Sarah Steele-Park 

"Sarah Steele-Park is just one-of-a-kind human. She's one of the most caring and genuine souls I've really ever met. So I was so proud... It was so awesome to see her go out and play her game. And, you know, credit to her. She actually did so well on the weekend. Like she we come up against a really quality opposition and she stood her own so well.

"You don't sort of realise how much time and effort and love she put into the program before. So I feel like making her debut was just it was as much all of ours because we've been with her the whole way."