Agonizing anticipation: The primary focus for the Blues following their victory over the Giants.
Finally, he could indulge in Taylor Swift’s newly released two-hour album, which had come out the day before.
“I’m a huge Taylor Swift fan. I planned to listen to it, but the catch was I heard it was a breakup album. I’m happily engaged, so I thought, ‘Maybe I shouldn’t listen to it before a game’,” Pittonet shared with AFL.com.au, sporting a grin.
“I’ve decided to save it for [Sunday], so I’m relieved I won’t be doing it after a loss with all the heartbreak. It would have been quite fitting; I’d probably have spent four hours in the shower listening to it, and I don’t want to upset my fiancée.
“But that’s my plan for tomorrow, spending the entire day locked in a room, fully immersing myself in it. I don’t think I’ll be interacting with many people; it’ll be a good way to recover and switch off.”
Pittonet’s 2024 season experienced a setback due to an ankle injury, but the Blues have recently opted to field two ruckmen (with Tom De Koning partnering him) over the past couple of weeks, especially against the physically imposing Reilly O’Brien and Kieren Briggs.
“It’s a significant challenge. I believe teams striving for success need to have depth in their squad,” Pittonet remarked.
“Our perspective is that we want to make it work. I think we complement each other well and collaborate effectively with the other big guys on the field.
“It’s more about sustaining what we did against the Giants and maximizing our impact. If we can do that consistently, it becomes a logical choice structurally. It adds a bit of pressure to maintain that standard and ensure we’re consistent throughout.”
De Koning, benefiting from Pittonet’s presence in the ruck, scored three goals, achieving a personal best, while also being a viable third option in attack alongside Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.
