TonyK
CibbuanoInjuries no excuse for Pies
May 17th 2009 11:33
COLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse admitted his side should have performed better against arch-rivals Carlton at the MCG on Sunday despite missing five of its best forwards due to injury.
In the 51-point loss to the Blues the Magpies managed to kick just 7.11 (53) - their lowest against Carlton since 1966.
It was the first time since 1994 that the Pies had kicked two scores of below 55 points in successive weeks after kicking just 5.10 (40) against St Kilda last week.
The Pies were without Travis Cloke, Anthony Rocca, Dale Thomas, Alan Didak and late withdrawal Paul Medhurst but Malthouse believed his team under-performed.
"You are dealt a hand and you play with that hand," Malthouse said.
"I did (think we would be competitive with so many forwards missing) and I still think we can."
Malthouse said the Magpies let themselves down with their slow movement of the football.
"We went forward more than the opposition (45 entries to 41 overall) but they were quicker into their forward line and we were slow into our forward and sometimes that has got to do with the way we moved the ball," he said.
Malthouse admitted his players' confidence dropped after the Blues kicked five goals unanswered goals in the opening stanza but said at least his side did not fall apart despite the poor start.
"We just didn’t have the confidence to run it (the ball)."
"When we did we looked okay but it was infrequent."
"We played a good side that got away to a very good start and we didn't really put enough pressure on them in the first quarter and from there on we were on the back foot."
"At least they battled it out and tried to do the things we would like to see people doing."
"They tried their guts out, which on the scoreboard doesn’t show that because we were outscored every quarter but I don’t think it was through lack of effort."
Meanwhile, Malthouse defended under-pressure recruit Leigh Brown who was the subject of Bronx cheers from some frustrated Magpies fans when he took a mark in the final term.
The 27-year-old, who had stints with Fremantle and North Melbourne, had just five touches for the day and four of them resulted in turnovers.
After seven matches this season, Brown is averaging just nine disposals per game.
However, Matlhouse described Brown's form as 'fantastic' and said his versatility was a major asset.
"Brown has been fantastic for us. He's a competitor, he helps out in the ruck, he can go forward if we lose our forwards and he can go back if we lose our backs," he said.
Malthouse also praised veteran defender Simon Prestigiacomo who kept Blues spearhead Brendan Fevola goalless.
"I don't like individualising but he was terrific," Malthouse said of Prestigiacomo.
In the 51-point loss to the Blues the Magpies managed to kick just 7.11 (53) - their lowest against Carlton since 1966.
It was the first time since 1994 that the Pies had kicked two scores of below 55 points in successive weeks after kicking just 5.10 (40) against St Kilda last week.
The Pies were without Travis Cloke, Anthony Rocca, Dale Thomas, Alan Didak and late withdrawal Paul Medhurst but Malthouse believed his team under-performed.
"You are dealt a hand and you play with that hand," Malthouse said.
"I did (think we would be competitive with so many forwards missing) and I still think we can."
Malthouse said the Magpies let themselves down with their slow movement of the football.
"We went forward more than the opposition (45 entries to 41 overall) but they were quicker into their forward line and we were slow into our forward and sometimes that has got to do with the way we moved the ball," he said.
Malthouse admitted his players' confidence dropped after the Blues kicked five goals unanswered goals in the opening stanza but said at least his side did not fall apart despite the poor start.
"We just didn’t have the confidence to run it (the ball)."
"When we did we looked okay but it was infrequent."
"We played a good side that got away to a very good start and we didn't really put enough pressure on them in the first quarter and from there on we were on the back foot."
"At least they battled it out and tried to do the things we would like to see people doing."
"They tried their guts out, which on the scoreboard doesn’t show that because we were outscored every quarter but I don’t think it was through lack of effort."
Meanwhile, Malthouse defended under-pressure recruit Leigh Brown who was the subject of Bronx cheers from some frustrated Magpies fans when he took a mark in the final term.
The 27-year-old, who had stints with Fremantle and North Melbourne, had just five touches for the day and four of them resulted in turnovers.
After seven matches this season, Brown is averaging just nine disposals per game.
However, Matlhouse described Brown's form as 'fantastic' and said his versatility was a major asset.
"Brown has been fantastic for us. He's a competitor, he helps out in the ruck, he can go forward if we lose our forwards and he can go back if we lose our backs," he said.
Malthouse also praised veteran defender Simon Prestigiacomo who kept Blues spearhead Brendan Fevola goalless.
"I don't like individualising but he was terrific," Malthouse said of Prestigiacomo.
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