Missed Bucks’ Presser? Here’s the key takeaways

Getting ready for the trip to SA
The Pies travelling party entered isolation on Wednesday evening and will complete a fly-in, fly-out mission on Saturday.

• “The only change for us is that we’re flying tomorrow morning as opposed to this afternoon.”
• “Half of the group ended up staying at the hotel (Thursday) night and the others quarantined at their own homes. Tonight, we all go to the hotel, a bit of a lock in there.”
• “We have travelled well in the past and look forward to the challenge that presents. In this environment nice to be able to play in front of a crowd."

Inclusions featuring Elliott and Lynch 
Jamie Elliott comes into the line-up having been sidelined with a leg injury, while Max Lynch will get another opportunity to show what he's got in the ruck in the absence of Brodie Grundy.

• “Jamie will really help us in front of the ball. Missing him the last 10 weeks has had an impact. He’s a dynamic player. Very happy to welcome him back.”
• “Max Lynch played a game last year, he’s had a long stint on the list and will get his opportunity as a primary role."

Game Style
Bucks said that the key focus for the group remains on building that forward connection.

• “We’ve definitely been able to possess the ball more over the last four or five weeks compared to earlier in the season. We looked at attacking in a different way and we weren’t possessing the ball as often.”
• “The piece that’s been missing is that connection going forward, something we’ve worked on the last couple of weeks. We just haven’t been able to convert our opportunities, where it be accuracy or that connection inside forward 50 to kick a score we believe we’re capable of.”

Mid-season draft pick up - Ash Johnson 
Ash Johnson is one of two players picked up by the Pies during Wednesday night's mid-season draft. 

• “I haven’t seen him run around yet. He’ll come across early next week and will go through a process of screening and review.
• “He’ll have a chance of run around with the boys mid next week.”

Young players progressing well 
Bucks said a positive aspect of the season so far is what the younger players have brought to the side.

• “Getting your foot in the door is one thing, doesn’t matter if you’re pick 1 or 100, you’ve still got the same opportunity in front of you when you land in an AFL environment.”
• “It’s our job to make the most of opportunities of those individuals and their talents. But it’s also the individual’s responsibility to make their career their own.”
• “Most of our boys have really dug in and are looking to be their best.”
• “To have debuted seven and got as many games into those players, has been a really positive aspect of the first half of 2021.”

Coming up against the Crows 
Bucks said the Crows are going to present another strong challenge for the Pies come Saturday afternoon, but it's something he feels his side is prepared for.

• “Adelaide are playing some really good footy, their energy is high, they love a high tempo game so they’re going to pose some real challenges to us."
• “With the squad we’ve got, we always believe we and come across and win, we set our players up to win.”
• “Whilst we are building for medium and long term, we go into every match wanting to win that match and wanting to display our best footy and that’s our endeavour for tomorrow.”