ASHLEY Hansen has been very impressed with how hard the AFL group has been training over the last 10 weeks. 

Speaking to the media on his first few months at the Blues, Hansen spoke on who is in contention for Round 1 and what the structure and style of the group might look like in 2022. 

Here's what he had to say. 

On Sam Walsh: 

"I think we’ve got a bit of depth in the [midfield]. The guys are excited after a long pre-season of 10 weeks to start playing some footy together and certainly the addition of [Adam] Cerra and [George] Hewett helps us there.

"'Walshy' will be missed but it’s probably a good time of year to have one of these injuries, so we get it out of the way nice and early. I think our message for the whole season will be for those guys through the midfield to share the workload: I think the silver lining with all this is that other guys are going to have to step up.

"When 'Walshy' is available for selection, hopefully he adds to a group that have built a chemistry and connection over the first month and are going pretty well."

On Harry McKay: 

"We’re confident that Harry will be right. At this time of the year, you take a tentative approach and it’s a very individualised program because the eye is on Round 1. We’re confident at this stage that he’ll be right.

"Historically, last year, he only played a quarter or two throughout the pre-season — clearly I wasn’t here, but he played really well in Round 1. We’re confident that with the work he has done, the way we’ve prepared as a group with our training that he’ll be right to play games straight away." 

On Charlie Curnow and McKay: 

"They’re a dynamic duo when they get going, just with their athleticism, their height and their natural ability. They’re going to complement and give natural direction for our smalls too.

"That front six is going to be an incredibly important unit to be efficient and work together and those two just give that great direction for our smaller guys and for our mids knowing where to kick it.

"It’s pretty exciting: they haven’t played much footy together, so I’m looking forward to working with them. 

On the playing style: 

"The way you attacks complements defence and your ability to turn the ball over, and how you defend allows yourself to score hopefully in good areas of the ground. It’ll be a balanced approach. We’re going to be strong in the contest, I think that’ll reflect ‘Vossy’s’ playing style and the way he likes to coach.

"It’s going to be one of creating foundation and building that over time. We hopefully feel that when we’re playing in Round 23 is going to look different to Round 1 because we’ve added to it over the course of the season and gotten more consistency through it." 

On the attitude of the players: 

"I think we’re confident at the moment. We’re still forming a lot of relationships, we’ve been together for 10 weeks: it’s amazing how quickly that period of time goes when four new coaches come together with a group of 44 players, but we’re really excited at the buy-in the group has had and the direction that we’re heading in.

"They've done everything we’ve asked of them and probably more, and there’s a level of determination among the group to be good and to compete. From a coaching perspective, we couldn’t ask for much more. 

"They’ve certainly challenged one another on the track and there’s quite a few that have led the way there, but that’s where our training standards have to continue to rise so the behaviours we have at training are the ones we have on game day." 

On Sam Docherty: 

"He’s still in contention for Round 1. It's really encouraging for selection to have a player of that calibre ready, and I think the spirit that he’ll give the group from what he’s been through will be a huge boost. 

"He’s been so transparent and raw and quite emotional with the group to talk about his journey, I think it really balances out football and what it means to a lot of people.

"Having him back, a former All Australian, to add depth to our group and create another weapon for us to use in multiple roles, is really encouraging from a coaching perspective and I know the playing group are looking forward to playing with him again."