Early Match Has Burns' Return In Doubt

The Age

Tuesday September 2, 2008

Michael Gleeson

THE weekend of surprise results not only cost Collingwood a top-four position, it also possibly cost Scott Burns a chance of returning this week.

While the Magpies captain may yet recover in time from a corked calf muscle, the scheduling of the match for Saturday afternoon in Adelaide, rather than a possible Sunday game in Melbourne, could be the difference in whether he makes the match.

Burns is a 50-50 chance to play this week against the Crows in the first elimination final, according to football manager Geoff Walsh.

"He has certainly improved a lot quicker than we thought and . . . as he has tried to run the last four or five days, it has loosened up a bit and he has pulled up OK. He has been pulling up quite well," Walsh said.

"I think the fact that under one of the scenarios over the weekend we went from a Sunday final to a Saturday final, the one less day won't have helped him. With the one extra day he might have been a better chance to play but I think 50-50 would be a reasonable assessment."

Collingwood, routinely beaten in the clearances this year, will be eager for Burns to return this week as he is one of the few Magpies seemingly capable of getting first hands on the ball and clearing it from a stoppage.

The Magpies look certain to at least welcome Dale Thomas back into the side, having missed the past two games with a calf injury. "I reckon it would be unlikely he would miss," Walsh said.

Ben Johnson, who has not played since the round-17 loss to Essendon after being dropped because of form and fitness issues, will be available. Johnson was rested from the VFL side at the weekend but trained yesterday.

"He had a sore knee and a sore shoulder. He had a jab in his shoulder a couple of weeks ago to play but he is fit again now and will be in contention to some extent this week. How strongly, I suppose is up to Mick," Walsh said.

Shane Wakelin missed the most recent match with a sore groin and while he didn't train yesterday, at his age (34) that is not unusual. Wakelin will be looked at in the final two training runs before a decision is made on his availability.

Collingwood coach Michael Malthouse, in an email message to members, yesterday said no regard would be given to the age of players. "I believe playing young players isn't anything to get caught-up in. Age is nothing. It's reflective but you can't look at age and say it's a reason why you can't make it and a reason why you do make it," Malthouse said.

"You just to have the same responsibilities for the younger players as you hold for the older players. There are no concessions given. And there definitely cannot be any concessions given in the finals series. All players are picked on merit and they are expected to hold up."

Anthony Rocca will be mindful of the coach's comfort in sticking with young players, such as Chris Dawes and John Anthony, and will be hoping he has sufficient credits with the coach as he presses for a finals spot.

While he will not be fit for the first finals match, Rocca is back running again and is pushing hard to be fit to return. "If we had a couple of weeks of a finals campaign he might be a chance," Walsh said.

© 2008 The Age

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