TonyK
CibbuanoTop four at stake, says Burns
July 4th 2008 07:01
COLLINGWOOD needs to beat Sydney at ANZ Stadium if they are going to remain in the hunt for a top-four finish, according to skipper Scott Burns.
The seventh-placed Magpies (7-6) trail the fourth-placed Swans (9-1-3) by six premiership points, and Burns said that a loss on Saturday night would all but end their hopes of securing a double chance.
"Knowing that we’re probably challenging Sydney (for a top four spot), if Sydney knock us off it makes it pretty hard to catch up, but if we can get the points then that fourth spot may be open to three or four other teams," Burns said at Melbourne airport on Friday.
"This will give us a little bit of an idea, but we're pretty confident within ourselves we know where we're at."
Collingwood has won its past four matches against Sydney, but Burns said their past performances counted for little.
"It's nearly 12 months since we last played them and there's a few different players each since into the team and we're playing them up there at their home ground, so it’s pretty tough."
Sydney will be without suspended star Adam Goodes, who has averaged 29 disposals and nine marks in his past three matches against the Magpies, but Burns said it will still be very tough to beat an even Swans side.
"He's probably been their best player the last three or four times, but it's such an even team that if any side can lose their No.1 onballer and cover them very well then it’s Sydney," Burns said.
"We know it’s going to be very tough with him or without him."
Burns said the break had rejuvenated the playing group and that he was confident the Magpies weren't far away from producing their best form.
"We really want to have a good run in the next nine weeks," he said.
"Another four or five weeks will give us more of an indication where we really are at … whether we can challenge the top teams or not."
"We've probably let ourselves down in 10 minutes of football in quite a few games and I would think that in three to three and-a-half quarters of football against every team we've played against, we've accounted ourselves pretty well."
The seventh-placed Magpies (7-6) trail the fourth-placed Swans (9-1-3) by six premiership points, and Burns said that a loss on Saturday night would all but end their hopes of securing a double chance.
"Knowing that we’re probably challenging Sydney (for a top four spot), if Sydney knock us off it makes it pretty hard to catch up, but if we can get the points then that fourth spot may be open to three or four other teams," Burns said at Melbourne airport on Friday.
"This will give us a little bit of an idea, but we're pretty confident within ourselves we know where we're at."
Collingwood has won its past four matches against Sydney, but Burns said their past performances counted for little.
"It's nearly 12 months since we last played them and there's a few different players each since into the team and we're playing them up there at their home ground, so it’s pretty tough."
Sydney will be without suspended star Adam Goodes, who has averaged 29 disposals and nine marks in his past three matches against the Magpies, but Burns said it will still be very tough to beat an even Swans side.
"He's probably been their best player the last three or four times, but it's such an even team that if any side can lose their No.1 onballer and cover them very well then it’s Sydney," Burns said.
"We know it’s going to be very tough with him or without him."
Burns said the break had rejuvenated the playing group and that he was confident the Magpies weren't far away from producing their best form.
"We really want to have a good run in the next nine weeks," he said.
"Another four or five weeks will give us more of an indication where we really are at … whether we can challenge the top teams or not."
"We've probably let ourselves down in 10 minutes of football in quite a few games and I would think that in three to three and-a-half quarters of football against every team we've played against, we've accounted ourselves pretty well."
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