Medhurst Makes Most Of Being A Magpie For Two More Years

The Age

Wednesday August 27, 2008

Martin Boulton

FROZEN out by Fremantle, Paul Medhurst has flourished at Collingwood and this week signed a new two-year deal with the Pies.

On Friday the West Australian heads home to play against his former side before embarking on his second finals campaign as a Magpie.

"It's been a good 18 months," he said yesterday. "I'm loving my time here and looking forward to another two years."

He credits coach Mick Malthouse and a more settled lifestyle for his rejuvenation as a footballer.

"Mick's given me an opportunity to develop my game more than I could have at Fremantle," Medhurst said. "It's coincided a little bit with age, too. You get to a point where your responsibilities and priorities become a bit clearer and that's been a big thing for me."

The former Rising Star nominee has lined-up against his old club twice since switching clubs, but Friday night's match will be his first against the Dockers at Subiaco.

Asked about the reception he's expecting, Medhurst considered his response carefully.

"Anyone that's up to speed on the dynamics of the trade that went through (would know) I didn't have a whole heap of say in what went on," he said.

"If people bear that in mind they'll go easy on me (but) I wouldn't want to be sitting next to my mum if they do boo, they could end up with a lap full of chips."

The deal that brought him to Collingwood sent former Magpie Chris Tarrant to Fremantle and Medhurst considers it "the best move footy-wise I could have made".

He said he thrives playing in front of big Melbourne crowds - as his six-goal performance in this year's Anzac Day clash proved.

"I love the MCG, it's definitely my favourite ground," the 26-year-old said. "I love the big crowds too, so luckily at Collingwood we get to play in front of them every week."

Fellow livewire forward Dale Thomas could return from a calf injury on Friday, but with key forward Anthony Rocca (ankle) still out and Alan Didak suspended, Medhurst will play a crucial role in the Magpies' finals campaign.

"Our forward line has taken a bit of a whack without Anthony and Alan down there, so if he (Thomas) can get up it will be great," he said.

Skipper Scott Burns is still under scrutiny because of his corked calf. "With a young group, he's really the one we look to, not only because he's our captain, but because he's our most in-and-under player and that's going to be important against Fremantle," said Medhurst. "He's been important the last three weeks and he's really important on the weekend."

He said the inclusion of first-year players John McCarthy and Chris Dawes in the past month had "really lifted the group in terms of spirit" and helped shift the focus away from Didak and Heath Shaw's club-imposed suspensions.

"Anything can happen and we've shown that the last three weeks," he said. "I don't think many people gave us a chance against St Kilda; as the weeks have gone on our confidence has grown."

With a new contract secured he's focused on this week and September, but admits his chances in the Copeland Trophy have been boosted by leading the goal kicking.

"It would be great to win it," he said. "If someone said a couple of years ago 'you're going to win a best and fairest or be in the mix', I would have thought I'd made the transition back to WAFL footy pretty well."

? Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich has been ruled out of Friday night's game with a foot injury.

© 2008 The Age

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