Sydney Swans senior coach Dean Cox addressed the media on Wednesday in his weekly press conference. He provided updates on injured players, spoke about the form of Brodie Grundy and the challenge of North Melbourne on Saturday.

On the win over St Kilda

"It was a really gritty, tough, hard-fought win, one that we probably needed, I think the way we started was impressive, handled their pressure well, scored off turnover and then to be able to play the second half the way it did and then to rally and then hold on and players stand up when we needed them to was really important. We've reviewed that and short break in the north, which is exciting."

On Tom McCartin

"He's been really good, from my point of view, I've spoken to him as soon as it happened that night. Obviously the next morning, he did a bike yesterday, he was doing one just before. He hasn't had any more symptoms, so that's the pleasing thing. He's been up and about, which is great for him and the footy club."

On Dane Rampe

"Dane's good, he had a really good session on Sunday, he's just got to get through training tomorrow afternoon. So if he does that, he'll be available and play."

On Robbie Fox

"Yeah, so Robbie will play, he'll tick training off and then be available to play, hopefully. So if that's the case, he'll have to play VFL, he's spent a fair bit of time out, so hopefully he does the last session, gets through that and then he's available to play VFL, which will be good."

On how long it takes to get back to match sharpness

"I think it depends on the player and how much they've done leading through match play sessions, whether it's our main training, have they ticked off a couple of them, have they done those whilst being restricted in contact. So it's all, the games are important, but it's also what load have you put them through and what specific training have they done. If they've done a lot of that leading through, well then not as long and also depends naturally how fit they are. Robbie's a pretty fit human being, so that part, they don't have to worry about building his fitness base up, that's always strong and it's just about getting back and getting the touch."

On Tom Papley

"He's been good, he'll be training again with those guys on Sunday, he'll build his program through the back end of this week and then hopefully train with the team next week. How quickly that gets back will be how he progresses through the next three to five days but yeah, he's got through everything he has to so far, which has been really pleasing."

On Brodie Grundy's tap down to Errol Gulden against the Saints

"Yeah, it's something that, and the good part about watching it is they spend so much time training it. Not just with Errol, but with all the mids, I think ruck-mid connection's really important and when you get it right it stands out the way it does.So, you know, it's not just about trying to win the hit out, I'm always about trying to direct it as closely or as efficiently as you possibly can to a teammate to bring others into the game, so he did that really well and it was a crucial time to get it done."

On Brodie Grundy's recent form

"Yeah, he's been, I think for probably about ten weeks. I think a lot of people talk about the month, for five or six weeks before that month, he wasn't beaten. You know, I think not only wasn't beaten, but actually played to his strengths and impacted the way he always has. So, you know, I think obviously his ruck work and his scrambling and intensity around the contest has been great, but I think his aerial presence, he's starting to have a little bit more of a say in that as well, whether it's behind the ball or when we need a bail-out kick. So, yeah, he's continually improving, he's open to that, he dives into that and he prepares as well as he possibly can to do that."

On his relationship with Brodie

"Yeah, we still have a close relationship, it's just probably not the amount of meetings, one-on-one meetings we don't have. We still talk about what should happen, how you do it, but also on top of that, he's built a knowledge of what to do, when to do it, what I need to adjust to really well. In games, if something happens, he can go to a different part of his game that he knows he needs to adjust. He's honest with that, I can speak to him about that, but he spends a lot of time with Benny Matthews and Mike Pike spends a little bit of time down amongst the footy club as well, so you can sort of get a good cross-section between three or four different people."

On whether the team leans into the hype of getting into finals

"No, the dialogue to, and certainly around the whole footy club, is we need to play our best footy.That's not, well that's hopefully for as long as possible, but it's also, you've got to focus on what's right in front of you and that's North Melbourne. You know, they've pushed sides and been in games for long periods of time, so we need to prepare them at their best and that's all we'll do. We don't look too far ahead other than planning for players and what their training programs look like, that's the only way we look two, three, four weeks in advance."

On whether it will be strange facing Luke Parker

"Oh, I think it always is, I think it always looks, feels different. But footy clubs move on pretty quickly from the personnel that has been here to new personnel and Luke was an amazing servant at this football club. One of the most respected players that have walked through the doors, so that certainly will be there. But it's also, he's a North Melbourne player now, we need to get the job done."

On Will Hayward

"I think Will's played enough footy now to understand what works and what doesn't. How he can impact the most and whether that's ahead of the ball, I think the most pleasing thing with Will impacting was a couple of the shots or things that he did that were selfless, like obviously the one to Lloydy, he could have had a shot, the mark behind the ball, but BJ slowing down and actually squaring up to Will. You know, we're just after his work rate and intensity, that's the first part. And, you know, for him to launch at anything he possibly can, because he's a different match-up and he's been doing that. He certainly did it last week and we need it again."