TonyK
CibbuanoPies run out of puff: Malthouse
September 13th 2008 23:50
COLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse believes his side simply ran out of puff in going down to St Kilda by 34 points in the first semi-final at the MCG on Saturday night.
The Magpies had to travel three times in the past five weeks and while Malthouse refused to use it as an excuse he said it was a reasonable explanation for his side’s poor performance against the Saints.
"It's been a long year for a lot of our players and I just sensed at quarter time that almost every element of our indicators were down," Malthouse said.
"We just didn't seem to have that energy … and I thought a few of our senior players just never got near their best."
"If you're off marginally, the scoreline is what it was."
Malthouse said skipper Scott Burns, who was a late withdrawal, pulled up sore after training on Friday morning from the corked calf which had kept him sidelined for matches against Fremantle and Adelaide.
"It was his call in the end," Malthouse said.
"The player has got to feel comfortable and he wasn't - you can't play a player who doesn't feel he can get through the game."
Malthouse said Simon Prestigiacomo, who was also a late withdrawal with a shoulder injury sustained against the Crows last weekend, was 'always going to struggle' to play and confirmed that key forward Travis Cloke had been suffering from a virus.
Asked whether Prestigiacomo and Shane Wakelin would be required next year, Malthouse said: "I think one should go on, just to give us some support."
"We'll talk to both players and see how they feel about it."
"Both might say they want to go on and both might say we want to give it away."
The Magpies had to travel three times in the past five weeks and while Malthouse refused to use it as an excuse he said it was a reasonable explanation for his side’s poor performance against the Saints.
"It's been a long year for a lot of our players and I just sensed at quarter time that almost every element of our indicators were down," Malthouse said.
"We just didn't seem to have that energy … and I thought a few of our senior players just never got near their best."
"If you're off marginally, the scoreline is what it was."
Malthouse said skipper Scott Burns, who was a late withdrawal, pulled up sore after training on Friday morning from the corked calf which had kept him sidelined for matches against Fremantle and Adelaide.
"It was his call in the end," Malthouse said.
"The player has got to feel comfortable and he wasn't - you can't play a player who doesn't feel he can get through the game."
Malthouse said Simon Prestigiacomo, who was also a late withdrawal with a shoulder injury sustained against the Crows last weekend, was 'always going to struggle' to play and confirmed that key forward Travis Cloke had been suffering from a virus.
Asked whether Prestigiacomo and Shane Wakelin would be required next year, Malthouse said: "I think one should go on, just to give us some support."
"We'll talk to both players and see how they feel about it."
"Both might say they want to go on and both might say we want to give it away."
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