TonyK
CibbuanoMagpies won't rush Fraser back
July 19th 2008 01:04
COLLINGWOOD won't rush back Josh Fraser despite the Magpies losing to the Kangaroos by 13 points at Telstra Dome on Friday night.
Magpies coach Mick Malthouse said Fraser would have to prove his fitness to the club's medical staff first before earning a recall.
Malthouse also said it was too simplistic to think that Fraser's return would fix a Collingwood forward line that failed to fire against the Kangaroos.
"We have to go through the medical staff before we start thinking about Josh. Josh has been forward before but never been a forward," Malthouse said.
"Until he starts to jump, the doctors allow him to jump, then he won't be mysteriously played because we lost today.
"He's out because of an injury, he's not out because we can't find a spot for him. Until we get full medical clearance, we're not going to play him.
"He's fit to play as a run around (in the VFL)."
Malthouse was critical of the performance of ruck duo Cameron Wood and Chris Bryan who were outclassed by Kangaroos big man Drew Petrie.
"We had two ruckmen rucking against a centre half-forward. And the centre half-forward has probably been best on the ground, second-best on the ground and third-best on the ground, I reckon, Petrie," Malthouse said.
"There's not much you can do about it. The two ruckmen are there with an opportunity to get their hands on it and the game was always going to be tight."
Malthouse said his side's delivery of the football inside 50 did his forwards no favours.
"You just can't kick the ball in the air and expect Travis (Cloke) to mark everything, especially when they're told where Petrie is going to lob every time," he said.
"We couldn't have kicked the ball better to him. I think he took 11 marks and I reckon seven times we picked him out."
Aside from fourth-gamer John Anthony who kicked four goals, Collingwood's forwards failed to have an impact.
"Quite frankly I thought our forwards were quite ordinary. I thought John Anthony made the most of opportunities, but really he's a young bloke coming through and lacks the knowledge to know how to help taller teammates," Malthouse said.
"The other forwards, quite frankly, were beaten badly. Four of our goals came from non-forwards."
Malthouse admitted that the loss could have been a lot worse.
"I thought we fought back pretty well in the first half to actually get ourselves in front," he said.
"Then in the first nine minutes of the third quarter they kicked four goals. Really, three goals (defeat) is a cushion compared to what it could have been."
Meanwhile, small forward Leon Davis, who was a late withdrawal with an ankle injury should be ready to face Essendon at the MCG next Saturday.
Magpies coach Mick Malthouse said Fraser would have to prove his fitness to the club's medical staff first before earning a recall.
Malthouse also said it was too simplistic to think that Fraser's return would fix a Collingwood forward line that failed to fire against the Kangaroos.
"We have to go through the medical staff before we start thinking about Josh. Josh has been forward before but never been a forward," Malthouse said.
"Until he starts to jump, the doctors allow him to jump, then he won't be mysteriously played because we lost today.
"He's out because of an injury, he's not out because we can't find a spot for him. Until we get full medical clearance, we're not going to play him.
"He's fit to play as a run around (in the VFL)."
Malthouse was critical of the performance of ruck duo Cameron Wood and Chris Bryan who were outclassed by Kangaroos big man Drew Petrie.
"We had two ruckmen rucking against a centre half-forward. And the centre half-forward has probably been best on the ground, second-best on the ground and third-best on the ground, I reckon, Petrie," Malthouse said.
"There's not much you can do about it. The two ruckmen are there with an opportunity to get their hands on it and the game was always going to be tight."
Malthouse said his side's delivery of the football inside 50 did his forwards no favours.
"You just can't kick the ball in the air and expect Travis (Cloke) to mark everything, especially when they're told where Petrie is going to lob every time," he said.
"We couldn't have kicked the ball better to him. I think he took 11 marks and I reckon seven times we picked him out."
Aside from fourth-gamer John Anthony who kicked four goals, Collingwood's forwards failed to have an impact.
"Quite frankly I thought our forwards were quite ordinary. I thought John Anthony made the most of opportunities, but really he's a young bloke coming through and lacks the knowledge to know how to help taller teammates," Malthouse said.
"The other forwards, quite frankly, were beaten badly. Four of our goals came from non-forwards."
Malthouse admitted that the loss could have been a lot worse.
"I thought we fought back pretty well in the first half to actually get ourselves in front," he said.
"Then in the first nine minutes of the third quarter they kicked four goals. Really, three goals (defeat) is a cushion compared to what it could have been."
Meanwhile, small forward Leon Davis, who was a late withdrawal with an ankle injury should be ready to face Essendon at the MCG next Saturday.
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