We Can Give It A Shake: Wakelin

The Sunday Age

Sunday August 17, 2008

Chloe Saltau, Adelaide

A VIRUS-AFFECTED Shane Wakelin said after his 250th game that Collingwood was still capable of sneaking into the top four and inflicting some September damage after regaining self-belief and reinventing its forward line in the fortnight since "crash-gate".

The only worry for Collingwood was a knee injury to Dale Thomas. The club said he had a corked knee, which was heavily strapped when he returned to the field for the last few minutes of Friday night's game against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.

Thomas appeared to move freely yesterday, but the injury will be monitored ahead of Saturday's clash with Sydney at Telstra Dome.

Wakelin had the chance to ice the Magpies' 31-point victory over a depleted Port Adelaide with a final-quarter goal, but by his own admission celebrated prematurely and had to be content with a solid contribution from defence.

Just as the Port defenders targeted young Magpie forward Chris Dawes before the first bounce, Wakelin said he and his fellow backs tried to assert their physical superiority over Port's young players.

The 20-year-old Dawes did not kick a goal on Friday night, but took the Magpies inside 50 three times, and has quickly struck a productive partnership with Travis Cloke, who claimed six contested marks and booted four goals.

"We were trying to get into some of their youngsters as well. I suppose what goes around comes around," Wakelin said.

"We have been probably screaming out for that third tall target, and Dawes has come in and played a role for us. From that point of view, it's been fantastic. He keeps coming up to the ball and for a young kid to do that is a massive positive for our side. If John Anthony can keep playing his role as well, it will be very important to the structure."

Wakelin said 13 wins might be enough to scrape into the top four, depending on the form of Sydney, Adelaide and North Melbourne. Collingwood plays the Swans and Fremantle in the last two home-and-away rounds.

"Next week is massive for us," he said. "It will determine how far we want to go in September, really. Depending on how Geelong go against Sydney (last night), we're still an opportunity for that fourth spot if we keep winning.

"It all depends on what the Kangaroos do, and what Sydney do and what Adelaide do. And if we can sneak into that top four, then anything can happen.

"We got a fair bit of belief back last week, it was just nice to back up again. They (Port) had a fair bit of quality in their midfield so from that point of view they gave it a good shake."

Wakelin picked up a virus during the week of his milestone, against the club of retired twin Darryl, and was chaired off the ground after overcoming a flat first half.

But the 34-year-old could not say for sure whether his durable body would carry him through another season. With Simon Prestigiacomo grounded with a foot injury for most of the year, Wakelin has been crucial to Collingwood's fortunes. "I picked up a virus actually, of all weeks," Wakelin said.

"That took a little bit out of me, so I struggled a little bit with the body, but anyway you do that at 34 years of age."

FAST FOOTY

COLLINGWOOD

5.3 9.6 13.7 16.10 (106)

PORT ADELAIDE

4.4 8.5 10.12 10.15 (75)

GOALS

Collingwood: Cloke 4, Swan 3, Anthony 2, Clarke, Cook, Fraser, Maxwell,

Thomas, Davis, McCarthy.

Port Adelaide: Ebert 2, Thurstans 2,

Cassisi, Surjan, Gray, M Westhoff, Pearce, K Cornes.

BEST

Collingwood: Davis, Lockyer, Swan, Cloke, Clarke, Fraser.

Port Adelaide: S Burgoyne, Boak, K Cornes, Lade, Cassisi, Surjan.

INJURIES

Collingwood: Thomas (knee).

Port Adelaide: Motlop (thigh),

Brogan (shoulder) replaced in selected side by Gray, Thurstans.

UMPIRES

Stevic, McLaren, Wenn.

CROWD

23,694 at AAMI Stadium.

© 2008 The Sunday Age

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