Photo Gallery: Rd 8 2010 v Port Adelaide
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Bryce Gibbs said Brett Ratten was pleased with the players ‘gut running’ in yesterday’s game against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

“Ratts was pleased after the game, particularly with the way we finished the game in the last quarter. Having one less player on the bench from early in the first quarter we all knew it was going to be a big ask and that is one area he was really pleased with,” Gibbs said after a recovery session at Visy Park this morning.

“It is a real credit to the fitness staff here at the Club that we were able to finish the game off as well as we did,” Gibbs added.

There is no doubt it was a very positive step for the team, but just as Brett Ratten said after the game, Gibbs was also quick to acknowledge there is still a long way to go.

“It was a really good win. It is always good to win interstate and under the circumstances it was even better. It was a real positive step for the team and certainly gave us confidence. However we know we have a long way to go, we played finals last year and this year we want to win enough games to again play finals, that is our goal and we need to ensure we win as many games as we can.

“There is certainly no time to rest and reflect in the victory. It does make for a more enjoyable flight home but we have already been into the club this morning for recovery and will be back here in the morning to focus on our next match, Hawthorn at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

“You certainly cannot rest on what happened last week, if you don’t come to play at this level you get found out and we cannot afford to slip up.”

Asked about Judd’s influence on the team Gibbs was, as expected, full of praise and straight to the point.

“He is fantastic, if he is not getting the ball he is making the way for others to get it and he is a sensational leader.”

In a sign of the team spirit among the Blues, Gibbs was also quick to promote membership and support for this Sunday’s game at Etihad Stadium.

“I know we are around 3,000 members below the figure we had last year and we certainly hope our supporters join as members in 2010. Of our next eight matches, seven are Carlton home games, so there is no better time than now to join. Hopefully we beat last year’s record and we certainly look forward to a big crowd at our home game against Hawthorn on Sunday.”