TonyK
CibbuanoNew faces reinvigorate Pies: Malthouse
August 16th 2008 02:27
COLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse says the competitive spirit of young forwards Chris Dawes and John Anthony has helped reinvigorate his side.
Malthouse admitted his side had to reinvent their forward line given the loss of several key players.
“Given we’ve lost Rusling, Rocca, Reid and Dick – and we’ve elected not to play Didak – there’s four that would generally be part of our forward line, so we’ve had to reinvent the forward line," he said.
Travis Cloke (four goals) and Leon Davis (28 possessions) were instrumental in the Pies' 31-point win over Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Friday night but it was Anthony and Dawes who drew extra praise from Malthouse.
“Leon was terrific. He’s been terrific the last couple of weeks,” Malthouse said.
“He’s just starting to get over his ankle injury … He was what we needed today – that sort of finishing off power around the ground."
“I was particularly pleased with Chris Dawes – and Travis, Travis was fantastic."
Dawes collected just seven kicks, five handballs and three marks but Malthouse believes he still had an impact.
"The thing about Chris Dawes was that he was highly competitive, didn't go to ground and was also another target," he said.
"He actually gives Travis a little bit of leeway if you like."
Anthony managed just four possessions but chimed in with two valuable majors.
"Jack Anthony came in and we trained him up as a key back and he's kicked goals again, he's kicked goals in every game he's played, so he takes a little bit of pressure off," Malthouse said.
Malthouse also said Port star Shaun Burgoyne's game which featured 33 possessions and a staggering 18 clearances was one of the best he has ever seen.
"We threw I suppose three or four different types of combinations at him - it's one of the best performances I've seen up to half time," he said.
"I thought after half-time we were able to reign it in and he had two (centre clearances) in the third quarter and none in the last. He either got sick of getting it or we did something reasonably well, I reckon it was a combination of both."
Malthouse admitted his side had to reinvent their forward line given the loss of several key players.
“Given we’ve lost Rusling, Rocca, Reid and Dick – and we’ve elected not to play Didak – there’s four that would generally be part of our forward line, so we’ve had to reinvent the forward line," he said.
Travis Cloke (four goals) and Leon Davis (28 possessions) were instrumental in the Pies' 31-point win over Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Friday night but it was Anthony and Dawes who drew extra praise from Malthouse.
“Leon was terrific. He’s been terrific the last couple of weeks,” Malthouse said.
“He’s just starting to get over his ankle injury … He was what we needed today – that sort of finishing off power around the ground."
“I was particularly pleased with Chris Dawes – and Travis, Travis was fantastic."
Dawes collected just seven kicks, five handballs and three marks but Malthouse believes he still had an impact.
"The thing about Chris Dawes was that he was highly competitive, didn't go to ground and was also another target," he said.
"He actually gives Travis a little bit of leeway if you like."
Anthony managed just four possessions but chimed in with two valuable majors.
"Jack Anthony came in and we trained him up as a key back and he's kicked goals again, he's kicked goals in every game he's played, so he takes a little bit of pressure off," Malthouse said.
Malthouse also said Port star Shaun Burgoyne's game which featured 33 possessions and a staggering 18 clearances was one of the best he has ever seen.
"We threw I suppose three or four different types of combinations at him - it's one of the best performances I've seen up to half time," he said.
"I thought after half-time we were able to reign it in and he had two (centre clearances) in the third quarter and none in the last. He either got sick of getting it or we did something reasonably well, I reckon it was a combination of both."
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