Injured Burns Runs Out Of Time And Prays For A Magpie Win To Keep His Season Alive
The Age
Friday September 5, 2008
COLLINGWOOD captain Scott Burns could still play again this year if the Magpies beat Adelaide, but his bid to play in tomorrow's first elimination final was dashed last night.
The crucial ball-winner failed to recover from a corked calf muscle, which also kept the 33-year-old out of last week's loss to Fremantle.Dale Thomas returns from a calf injury after missing two games, but Burns' absence leaves the Magpies without an experienced finals player for the cut-throat match at AAMI Stadium.Football manager Geoff Walsh said Burns ran out of time to prove his fitness, but should be fit and available if the side progresses to the second week of the finals."History tells you that in finals, if they're not 100%, more often it backfires on you," Walsh said. "Hopefully, we can put our best foot forward on Saturday, do well and if we get through, he'll be available next week."He's experienced enough to know he probably ran out of time (and) he's not going to put the side in jeopardy by playing if there's any doubt in his mind."Walsh said Thomas, who replaces Danny Stanley, did everything he needed to during the week and trained well on Wednesday after missing games against Sydney and Fremantle in the final two rounds.Adelaide forward Jason Porplyzia's troublesome shoulder forced him out of the line-up. Porplyzia, who has kicked 32 goals from 18 games, was replaced by ruckman/forward Brad Moran.Adelaide coach Neil Craig said there was too much risk associated with playing Porplyzia. "The state of (his) shoulder is a bit different to how it was for most of the season," Craig said. "He can play, but there are now more situations where he is limited in what he can do. It came back to his ability to perform and the risk of going into an elimination final and possibly being a player down."North Melbourne brought back veteran forward Nathan Thompson from a three-week absence for tomorrow night's elimination final with Sydney at ANZ Stadium.Ruckman Hamish McIntosh was dropped, along with forward Corey Jones and Gavin Urquhart, to make room for Thompson, Jess Sinclair and Ed Lower.McIntosh returned from an eight-week injury lay-off to play in the Kangaroos' recent losses to Geelong and Port Adelaide.The Roos will rely on All-Australian candidate Drew Petrie and David Hale to share ruck duties against the Swans.Dual Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes and Ryan O'Keefe return for Sydney, while first-year player Patrick Veszpremi and former rookie Heath Grundy were omitted. Barry Hall will play his 150th game for the Swans since moving from St Kilda in 2002.Geelong named Max Rooke, David Wojcinski and Andrew Mackie in a 25-man squad for Sunday's first qualifying final against St Kilda.The Saints have lost Sean Dempster (knee) and named Xavier Clarke, Andrew McQualter, David Armitage and rookie Jack Steven in a 25-man squad.
© 2008 The Age
