Fraser Set For Tribute Berth

The Age

Wednesday April 23, 2008

Martin Boulton

COLLINGWOOD ruckman Josh Fraser admits he's in two minds about playing in the Hall of Fame tribute match after a taxing pre-season campaign and opening five rounds of football.

The 26-year-old was one of several ruckmen named in the 40-man Victorian squad, but also said he would welcome the chance to have a week off when the game was played on May 10.

"It would be a great honour to play with that select group of players," he said. "There's some great names in there, so I wouldn't knock the opportunity back, but there's a part of me that would enjoy a break as well."

The final teams will be named on the Friday before the match at the MCG.

All players selected in the starting line-ups of 25 (18 plus seven interchanges) must play, unless declared unable to participate due to injury by the AFL's doctors.

Fraser's comments follow the Magpies' training session at Gosch's Paddock yesterday, which forward Anthony Rocca and Leon Davis sat out ahead of Friday's crucial game against Essendon. The team will have another training session tomorrow.

Rocca, who has kicked one goal in each of his past two games, has a poor record in the Anzac Day clash and was being carefully managed by the club's fitness and conditioning staff, Fraser said. "It's been a long campaign for us. Going to Dubai and playing (an NAB Cup match) and leading into the start of the season, we had some pretty solid matches," he said.

After kicking five unanswered goals before half-time on Saturday, the Magpies were overrun in the closing stages, with North Melbourne kicking six of the last seven goals to seal the win. Fraser said he believed the side was better than the two wins and three losses it had registered.

"In patches, we've been pretty ordinary, but we've played some pretty good footy also and we just need that consistency across the board," he said.

Rhyce Shaw, who has rotated through the midfield this year, echoed Fraser's comments about the demanding start to the season. "It's been pretty tough, but the nature of the way we play our footy (means) it's going to be pretty hard. One-on-one footy is the way we want to go, so that's just the way it is," Shaw said.

Skipper Scott Burns, who has missed the past two games with a calf injury, ran only a few laps yesterday but could return against the Bombers for his 250th match.

"We've still got to train Thursday and I dare say they (the coaching staff) will give him every chance to play," Fraser said.

© 2008 The Age

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