Paralowiepower
19 Aug 2004, 01:25
Admiration, but no sympathy for Port
4:12:22 PM Wed 18 August, 2004
Paul Gough
Sportal
Related Content:
Listen to Mick Malthouse
Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has no sympathy for Port Adelaide's complaints about having only six days to prepare for Friday night's clash at the MCG despite the Power playing in 26 degree heat in Darwin last week.
While there is nothing at stake for the Magpies on Friday night, the Power must win their remaining two matches to be assured of a top two finish and the chance to have home state advantage throughout the finals.
And Port coach Mark Williams is furious his team has only been given six days to prepare for such a crucial game after taking part in the historic first AFL match for premiership points in Darwin last week.
However Williams' concerns drew little sympathy from Malthouse on Wednesday as the teams prepare for their first clash at the MCG since the Pies thrashed Port in last year's preliminary final.
"You are talking to a bloke who coached for 10 years in Western Australia and was denied (home) finals umpteen times," he said, when asked about Williams' complaints.
"And in one finals series (1990) we traveled six weeks in a row."
"So I hardly think there is cause to be upset about those sorts of things (a six day break)."
On two occasions during his time as coach of the West Coast Eagles, Malthouse saw his team have to play knockout semi-finals at the MCG - due to the AFL's finals agreement with the MCC - even though his team had finished higher on the ladder and on both occasions (in 1996 against Essendon and 1999 against Carlton) they were thrashed.
But while Malthouse was dismissive of Port's complaints about being treated unfairly in the lead-up to Friday night's game - he was full of praise for their performances this season.
While Collingwood has managed only eight wins for the season amidst a high injury toll - Port is challenging for its third successive minor premiership despite battling an even greater injury toll.
"I'm not generally that generous in praise of the opposition but they are one side that can hold their head up high given how they have just got on with it," he said of a season in which Port has been without Matthew Primus and Josh Francou all season as well as a host of other stars at various stages of the season.
"They have just got on with it this year after missing playing off in a grand final last year and in doing so they become a lot harder."
"And I'm not talking about being physically harder but mentally harder."
"They have become very strong mentally and to me they are less vulnerable than they have been."
4:12:22 PM Wed 18 August, 2004
Paul Gough
Sportal
Related Content:
Listen to Mick Malthouse
Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has no sympathy for Port Adelaide's complaints about having only six days to prepare for Friday night's clash at the MCG despite the Power playing in 26 degree heat in Darwin last week.
While there is nothing at stake for the Magpies on Friday night, the Power must win their remaining two matches to be assured of a top two finish and the chance to have home state advantage throughout the finals.
And Port coach Mark Williams is furious his team has only been given six days to prepare for such a crucial game after taking part in the historic first AFL match for premiership points in Darwin last week.
However Williams' concerns drew little sympathy from Malthouse on Wednesday as the teams prepare for their first clash at the MCG since the Pies thrashed Port in last year's preliminary final.
"You are talking to a bloke who coached for 10 years in Western Australia and was denied (home) finals umpteen times," he said, when asked about Williams' complaints.
"And in one finals series (1990) we traveled six weeks in a row."
"So I hardly think there is cause to be upset about those sorts of things (a six day break)."
On two occasions during his time as coach of the West Coast Eagles, Malthouse saw his team have to play knockout semi-finals at the MCG - due to the AFL's finals agreement with the MCC - even though his team had finished higher on the ladder and on both occasions (in 1996 against Essendon and 1999 against Carlton) they were thrashed.
But while Malthouse was dismissive of Port's complaints about being treated unfairly in the lead-up to Friday night's game - he was full of praise for their performances this season.
While Collingwood has managed only eight wins for the season amidst a high injury toll - Port is challenging for its third successive minor premiership despite battling an even greater injury toll.
"I'm not generally that generous in praise of the opposition but they are one side that can hold their head up high given how they have just got on with it," he said of a season in which Port has been without Matthew Primus and Josh Francou all season as well as a host of other stars at various stages of the season.
"They have just got on with it this year after missing playing off in a grand final last year and in doing so they become a lot harder."
"And I'm not talking about being physically harder but mentally harder."
"They have become very strong mentally and to me they are less vulnerable than they have been."