Shaw Primed To Return For Pies

The Age

Saturday August 23, 2008

Martin Boulton

WITH key players injured or suspended Collingwood has Rhyce Shaw in the frame for a possible return against Sydney at Telstra Dome tonight.

Shaw served a two-match ban for his part in a late night drinking session that ended with his brother Heath, and forward Alan Didak being suspended for the rest of the season.

Heath Shaw and Didak were fined $10,000 and banned from playing again this year after lying to the club three weeks ago when Heath crashed his utility into two parked cars in Kew. After initially lying about Didak's involvement the players revealed he was in the car with Heath.

Rhyce, who was drinking with his brother and Didak before the accident, was fined $5000 on top of his two-game ban for drinking while recovering from a back injury.

Having recovered and served his suspension, he trained with the team yesterday and coach Mick Malthouse said afterwards he was "pretty close" to playing.

He said defender Simon Prestigiacomo, who has not played since round 19 last year, could also come into the final 22 tonight. Shannon Cox is the other emergency player. "Any of the emergencies are a chance to play and that's why you name them," Malthouse said.

"We're not going to waste time putting someone on the emergency list if they can't play, so the three boys on that list are ready to go."

Forward Anthony Rocca could also return before the season is over, with Malthouse declaring "he's up and running" and making steady progress since having ankle surgery two months ago.

The coach said his veteran spearhead would be a valuable option if the side was playing in September.

"It will be touch and go, but if he gets the all-clear, he's ready to go," he said. Malthouse is confident Rocca could slot back into the side without returning through the VFL.

"As much as (lack of match fitness) is a concern, it's not the be all and end all . . . you can still fit a lot of work into people on the training track.

"Anthony's been a pretty good touch player in the last two or three seasons (and) he's come straight in (from injury) and had really good touch."

Malthouse refused to weigh into Swans coach Paul Roos' plan to "mix things up a bit" after five consecutive losses against the Magpies.

"It would be silly to do the same thing over and over again and get the same result, we have to do things differently, " Roos said.

"Paul Roos is a very good coach," Malthouse said. "He's got a team that has performed very, very well playing a certain role for five or six years.

"If they're changing their game-plan or strategies because of us, we've achieved something that not many other sides have been able to achieve."

The Swans have recalled defender Leo Barry, young midfielder Kieren Jack and Patrick Veszpremi. Magpies' forward Dale Thomas (calf) was replaced by Sharrod Wellingham.

Malthouse said his players could draw confidence from previous wins against the Swans, but the past could also be a distraction.

"We know how we've played in the past, but that's yesterday and (today) is the game."

© 2008 The Age

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