Lowther on the Takeaways from the game

We had multiple players rolling through different roles, the bench jam packed full of players that needed to get on.

There is a bit of stress around trying to improve as much as we can in the short period that we have got.

Credit to the Bombers, as I said to our players post game everyone is going to get better, everyone is working to get better.

We had long off seasons, long preseasons and Essendon have clearly improved in that time.

They beat us around the contest, our second and third quarters were pretty good but it was a lesson learned around coming out prepared and ready to go from the start.

Practice games give us different scenarios to train and work on live, which was good for us and some of our young players got their first experience which was great. 

Lowther on the importance of a practice game

The aim of these games is to dust the cobwebs off firstly.

Last week gave us part of that but again today when everyone comes here with a bit more of an official preparation, just getting back into the mindset of playing with the intensity that is required.

It is opposed to a training type session where you play against yourselves for a long period, but we still got smacked between the eyes at times.

These games are a chance to wake up and realise it is time to play.

It is also a chance to trial a few different things, we have some Irish players who can play in different roles so today gave us a great chance to try some stuff up forward. 

Lowther on Kate Kenny's impact

She has been good, she is bringing her Gaelic skills to AFLW.

She is very accurate in front of goal, she is a professional off the field in regards to her preparation and training habits.

She showed today that she can handle to AFL footy with no problems, took a nice contested mark in the goal square and looked very clean.

She is a student of the game, if she doesn't quite get something she will study it to the nth degree until she gets it right.

Sometimes the game can be chaotic, you have to accept that part too.

She has been brilliant, she has some of her family over at the moment as well and I am excited to see how she goes this year. 

Lowther on having a healthy list heading into round one

We have managed a long offseason pretty well.

Georgie didn't play today, she could have played but just nicked her quad a few weeks ago.

She is well and truly on the road to recovery, she will be available for round one.

Darcy Moloney will be available as well, so bar one or two players we are in a pretty good position to pick our best team.

Competition is important amongst the group, so it is a good headache to have.