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THIS was the media conference Brad and Chris Scott had to have.
As the brothers prepared to become the first identical twins to coach against each other in AFL history, they were not - however much they might have preferred it - going to be left alone to prepare their respective North Melbourne and Geelong sides for this Saturday's clash at Skilled Stadium.
So they came together for a joint media conference at AFL House on Tuesday afternoon to sate the interest of the rest of the football world.
And that interest was significant, judging by the size of the media contingent that packed into the Mike Sheahan Media Centre to hear from them. There were more than 30 reporters, cameramen and photographers.
Their enthusiasm was not dulled when the conference was delayed 20 minutes by Chris' late arrival.
Ironically, the occasion fell on the Scotts' 35th birthday. Predictably, the first question fired at them touched on this, asking whether they were doing something together to celebrate the occasion.
It brought laughter from the room and smiles from the Scotts.
Asked - with knowing scarcasm - whether they had been looking forward to the media conference, Brad said, with tongue firmly in his cheek, it had "been a real highlight on our calendar".
However, as much as competing against each other was old-hat to the siblings, they could understand other people's interest in their fledgling coaching rivalry.
"It is the first time that two identical twins have coached against each other so I understand that's of great interest," Brad said.
"But when you're 35 years of age and you've been constantly compared with each other and spoken about as one instead of as individuals, it probably starts to wear thin after a while."
At the start of the conference, Brad, who grabbed a one-year coaching head start on Chris when he took over as North Melbourne coach last season, did most of the talking.
It prompted one reporter to ask Chris whether Brad spoke more than he did when they were kids.
"Not that I know of," Chris said. "This is a little bit different. I'm normally his senior but he's the experienced one at the moment so I'll let him take the lead."
Perhaps adding to people's anticipation of this Saturday's clash is the fact the Scotts never played against each other during their AFL careers.
While Brad started his playing career with Hawthorn before he was united with Chris at the Brisbane Lions, in the only year he played senior games at the Hawks, 1997, Chris was absent from both Lions-Hawks games.
However, for as long as the Scotts can remember they have been competing against each other in one shape or form. So, for them, Saturday's clash will be nothing out of the ordinary.
Nor it seems will it be for their mother.
"Mum's been put in this situation many times, so she just wants us both to do our best and as long as we do that she's always been happy," Brad said.
Chris interjected, saying: "She barracks for North Melbourne apparently". He was referring to Brad's comments to that effect in The Age that morning.
It got a laugh from his interrogators, but Brad did not back down, saying their mother had all sorts of North memorabilia, scarves and caps.
Envy is clearly not part of the twins' relationship.
Chris said he wasn't jealous of Brad being given a senior position before him.
"I don't want to go into our relationship too much, but I don't think I've ever been envious of (Brad's) success in my life," he said.
Likewise, Brad said other than wanting to swap the Kangaroos 1-4 start to 2011 for the Cats' 5-0 start he was not envious of the talented side Chris had inherited at Geelong.
"I think I've been happier for (Chris') success than my own. That's the way it's always been throughout our lives," he said.
Besides, Brad said he was very confident North would one day be in a similarly strong on-field position.
Similarly, there won't be any gloating by the winner of Saturday's coaching clash. "We never been the type of people to engage in one-upmanship," Brad said.
That would be to make the clash about themselves and that's something they are clearly loath to do.
"I don't think it would be a very good message to your players as well, or to your club and your supporters," Chris said.
"There's a bit of interest in us. We understand that, we're prepared to accept. But, gee, this game is a lot bigger than the two of us surely."
Brad concurred: "It's got nothing to do with me versus Chris, it's got to do with Geelong versus North Melbourne."
The brothers admitted while they normally limited their football talk to generalities, this week they had been even more guarded.
"Even sitting up here now there are things we've got at the back of our minds that we might say at other times but we might not say this week," Chris said.
Much to the Scotts' relief, some football questions were asked.
The matters raised included: Geelong's chance to win a record-breaking 25th consecutive game at one venue, Skilled Stadium, against North Melbourne; the possible impact of the bye on the Cats; North's poor recent record against the Cats; and the likely ins and outs for both sides.
But soon enough talk returned to the Scotts and their coaching rivalry.
Chris told of how both their coaching philosophies had been heavily influenced by their time at the Brisbane Lions under Leigh Matthews, primarily in respect of football fundamentals such as winning contested possessions.
But, as coaches, Chris and Brad both said they also admired the players who could do the spectacular things they never could, and were now drawn to such players.
Chris nominated Daniel Wells, Brad named Steve Johnson.
Finally, the room fell silent. No more questions. The Scotts were free to get back to what they know and love. Competing. It just so happens this Saturday it will be against each other. But that's something they, at least, are used to.
As they prepared to depart the podium, one final question rang out: "Was that as bad as you thought it was going to be?"
"It wasn't good. It's the worst (media conference) I've done," Chris joked.
