Thomas Scare But Pies Rule

The Age

Saturday August 16, 2008

By Ashley Porter, Adelaide

COLLINGWOOD may have paid a price for an uninspiring 31-point win over Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last night, with Dale Thomas receiving a slight knee injury.

Thomas was met heavily and awkwardly in a fair contest with an opponent in the opening minutes of the second half, and spent most of the third term in the medical rooms receiving attention to his medial ligament in his left knee.

He returned to the field for the last five minutes with heavy strapping, and while Collingwood played it down as just a "corkie", and Thomas played with approval from the medical staff, there was concern in the Magpie camp.

This was Collingwood's 11th win for the season. Coach Michael Malthouse declined to say whether 12 wins would be enough to make the finals, but there was no doubt he was relieved by the win.

"When you get opposition like Port, which does not allow you to play at your best . . . and what was at stake, and we still have a very young side, if there is a 'W' next to your name in round 20, you take it," Malthouse said.

Collingwood played without the passion of last week, when it defeated St Kilda following the controversy surrounding the escapades of Alan Didak and Heath Shaw, but lifted its intensity late in the third term and held on grimly.

While the game was far from pretty, the premiership points were crucial to the Magpies as they virtually sealed a spot in the final eight, and kept alive their slight hope of a top-four spot.

Port made two key changes to its team - Dean Brogan (shoulder) and Daniel Motlop (abductor) were replaced by Toby Thurstans and Robbie Gray. Port officials later said Brogan and Motlop had been carrying their injuries for some time.

The Magpies led by only five points after an uninspiring first term in which both sides made many ball-handling errors. When the Pies looked like drawing clear late in the term, Port responded with quick goals, including one from yet another undisciplined Collingwood act.

And when Port snatched the lead 50 seconds into the second term, Collingwood needed special efforts. The first came from Ryan Cook, who kicked his first goal in what was his eighth game.

The second lifted the Pies enormously. John Anthony was hit hard in his left ear by the ball while smothering, and needed immediate attention from trainers. While being helped off, Anthony sidestepped to mark, and goaled from 50 metres. He then went to the bench, and to the rooms, nursing an ear ache and a strained left shoulder. He later returned, and was instrumental in lifting the Pies in the third term.

The third gem came from Travis Cloke, who ran down the members' wing, bounced the ball three times, and kicked long to Nick Maxwell, who outmarked two Port defender directly out from goal. The fourth gem of a goal, from Dane Swan, who had an absorbing duel with Kane Cornes, took Collingwood's lead to 24 points.

But, as in the first quarter, Collingwood failed to maintain its dominance. Port snared three late goals to reduce the deficit to seven points at half-time. Given the control the Magpies were enjoying against a seemingly ordinary side, it was an average effort, and more special efforts were needed.

Port was able to stay highly competitive in the first half largely because of the brilliance of midfielder Shaun Burgoyne, who earned the praise of Malthouse.

"Shaun Burgoyne was outstanding," Malthouse said. "Any player who has seven centre clearances by half-time . . . you are in trouble. We threw, I suppose, well, three or four different type of combinations at him. It was one of the best performances I had seen, up to half-time.

"I thought after half-time we were able to rein it in. He (Burgoyne) had two in the third quarter and none in the last. He either got sick of getting it (the ball) or we did something reasonably well. I reckon it was a combination of both."

Port, for the most part, didn't seem to know what it was doing. It lacked method moving into attack, moved the ball backwards and sideways, and generally faltered under Collingwood's unrelenting pressure. Port's willingness could not be questioned - it just lacked an effective game plan and skills. Most of its goals came from persistence and opportunity rather than class. Yet despite all these misgivings, Port remained in contention.

Tarkyn Lockyer, Dane Swan and Anthony lifted the Magpies in the second half, while Leon Davis kicked a spectacular goal early in the last quarter to virtually seal the win.

Davis was best on ground, while Shane Wakelin contested well in his 250th game. But to Port's credit, it persisted.

Given the positions of these two teams on the ladder, Collingwood must have been just grateful for the premiership points. And dare one suggest that Port, considering the early draft picks that await it, didn't seem completely shattered by the loss.

© 2008 The Age

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