Every Word Rohan Smith Said on Injuries, The Joneses, and The Talls

Question: “Rohan, what’s the update on Taylor Duryea, first and foremost?”

Rohan Smith: “He’s got a little knock to the neck. All the scans have cleared him of any injury. He feels ok, which is a real positive for us.”

Q: “So, what’s the next steps from here? Straight back into training?”

RS: “Yeah, see how he recovers. We’ll talk to the doctors as we get inside. As I said, the scans are all clear, which is the most important part. He's just going to have a little bit of a rest now and he’ll probably, introduce himself through training this week and hopefully be right for Round One.

Q: “What about Ed (Richards)?”

RS: “It's just a corkie. So, I was just giving him a little bit just down there before just coming off with a corkie. But yeah, it was a big, big one. But he'll be right he’ll ice up and he'll be sweet.

Rohan Smith addresses the playing group during the 2020 2nd Elimination Final between St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs. Source: Getty Images

Q: “Just on Taylor (Duryea). How much of a relief is that anytime you, hear of a neck injury?”

RS: "100%, like anytime a player goes down with injury, once they get their scans done, they're clear. It's just a load off your mind.”

Q: “It’s the first time a lot of us have had a look at Liam Jones. That was sensational. The closing speed doesn't seem like it's dropped off at all.”

RS: “No. That's one thing that Jonesy’s really brought the whole preseason is he speed and competitiveness and he was terrific today. I think he took nine intercept marks, he read the cues of the kicker really well and he comes forward and you know he's always looking to help out a teammate as well. And you know, he was a really positive player for us today.”

Q: “How much has that transformed the backline having him to lock him in there at full back?”

RS: "Oh, look it's obviously really handy for us but, like with Gardy (Ryan Gardner) not playing today you really need to step up. Alex Keath went down a little bit during that second term as well. So for Jonesy to really stand up today and in really difficult conditions as well and play big game time, it was brilliant.

Q: Did he come off the ground?

RS: "He came off the ground a couple of times. He did, yeah. We’ve got to try and look after him a little bit, but it was great to see him just play such a great game."

Q: “Hayden (Crozier) and his hand?”

RS: "Yeah, just (a) dislocated finger. Just popped through the skin a little bit as well. So, they popped it back in, probably have a couple of stitches and he’ll be OK as well."

Q: "The forward line and all the talls down there, how did you see that function?"

RS: "Yeah. Wanted to have a look at it today and the four talls really played well. You kick 22 goals in a game, at times we looked really dominant in the air, which is a great sign for us. They worked really well together as well. There was a couple of times where they flew against each other, but that's terrific. It shows their competitiveness, their willingness to fly in the air, but the synergy I think and the cohesiveness that they had in our forward line was outstanding."

Q: "Do you think that's the way you're going into Round One with those four talls in attack and in the same down back?"

RS: "We'll have a look at it during the week obviously with Matt Spangher and Bevo (Luke Beveridge) and the coaches, but just off looking the at the game today was a pretty positive sign.”

Q: “Does that bode really well for Marvel games as well? Four key talls at your home ground?” RS: “Under the roof? Yeah, it does and you see today, difficult conditions. The wind was a little bit swirly as well and the boys still were able to compete really well in the air. So yeah, it does under the roof, just probably a little bit more positive for us."

Q: "And is there an instruction to the players that, if you're in trouble, just kick long because you do have size? Is that a strength you can capitalize on?"

RS: "Yeah, it is. It's not necessarily a directive for us. We say to the players ‘play on instinct’. If there's a player out, we always use that player. But we always got to know that there are there's four talls down there, or three talls down there at some stages. And don't be afraid to kick it to 1v1 or 2v2 contest for sure."

Q: "How's Cody Weightman tracking?"

RS: "Yeah, Code’s was good. We just didn't want to risk him today. Yeah, he just had a little bit of an adductor issue during the week and in the last couple of weeks and, he trained well on Wednesday. But yeah, we just didn't want to take the risk with him."

Q: "OK, So for Melbourne (Round 1)?"

RS: “Yep. Should be right. Yep.”

Q: "Arthur Jones a chance?"

RS: "Yeah, he's a chance. He played really well today. With playing the four talls or the three talls up there at one time, you really need that speed and competitiveness around their feet if the ball does come to ground. Also, a little bit of the pressure as well. And he did it well today."

Q: “And Josh Bruce as well? Down back?”

RS: “Yeah, Brucey came on a little bit earlier than what we thought that he would and showed some really good signs as well. Brucey’s been around AFL footy a long time. (He) started off down back then went up forward and now he's gonna finish down back. So, you know it's good signs for him today.”

Q: “And the restationing Anthony Scott on a wing. He looked really good. What's his summer being like?”

RS: “Oh, his summer’s been outstanding. The thing with Scotty is he's got a really good tank, so he can get up and down the ground, but he's also got some speed, uses the ball really well. He hit the scoreboard well today. He had a little bit of a split of time on the wing and up forward. I think he kicked two or three, which is a great result for us and he was very, very good today.”

Q: “And (Oskar) Baker as well?”

RS: “Yeah, Bakes was great. He started off on the bench and we weren't gonna bring him on and with the injuries that we had probably forced our hand a little bit to play forward and he kicks the first goal of the game. So you know to do that was outstanding and (a) really good addition for us this year.”

Q: “And just the captain (Marcus Bontempelli) as well. Has he looked this good at this stage of the year in the last couple of years?”

RS: “Oh, he’s a pretty good player. Yeah it's why he's one of the most dominant players in the competition because he dedicates the way that he does to prepare himself to be the best player that he can be and he's had an outstanding summer. I don't think he's missed a session. He came back early with the 1-5-year players and he just really sets the standard every single week. He's just an outstanding person.”