MM getting confident/molloy shitty

[ramjet21]

Transformation is real: Malthouse 2:36:28 PM Fri 7 June, 2002
Samantha Lane
afl.com.au


Reluctant to describe the recent form of his team as momentous, Collingwood coach Michael Malthouse has instead referred to a “remarkable transformation” within Magpie ranks.

The Pies have won six of their last seven matches, and have played numerous games before large crowds and already claimed notable scalps Essendon and the Brisbane Lions.

Malthouse said the leadership group had been central to Collingwood’s impressive form and had grown significantly this season, making particular mention of Glenn Freeborn and Anthony Rocca.
“When they (the players) distribute the workload throughout, there’s no case for complacency or people getting ahead of themselves,” he said.

Malthouse is confident Collingwood will relish its second public-holiday blockbuster on the Queen’s Birthday against Melbourne this Monday.

“I think the bigger the game, the better the occasion for these players,” he said.

“The players understand the significance of the crowd, but the significance of the game is far more important to us. And
I think that’s where we come up to those games, rather than let the occasion take over.”

“If we allow ourselves for one moment to think that we’re not going to be in for a hell of a game, then we won’t win.”

Forward Jarrod Molloy is a forced omission from the match, much to his displeasure. Molloy has played the last three games with a broken toe, with the assistance of pain-killing injections. However Malthouse conceded the match committee had decided a rest was the only means of reaching complete recovery.

“He just wasn’t getting any better. He would have kept on playing, he’s got an enormous heart.”

“At the end of the day, enough’s enough and really the match committee call(ed) it quits, and the medical staff were quite happy about it, but Jarrod’s less than pleased,” Malthouse said.

“The toe actually has been getting better, but it’s still not ideal that we can only bring him on and that he was getting
injections.”

“We feel that given what he’s been through for those three weeks playing, it’s far better in our case to give him a chance to totally get over that injury.”

And while the Magpies enter Monday’s match as warm favourites, Malthouse was quick to draw similarities between the teams, which are separated only by a game.

Melbourne’s see-sawing form over the past six weeks has created a sense of weekly unpredictability about the team.
The Demons were highly disappointing in Geelong last week, losing to the Cats by 26 points, after a gritty four-point victory over the determined Kangaroos the previous round.

“I know that Neale (Daniher) would probably like to think he’s the underdog, but there’s a game difference between us and him,” Malthouse said.

“They’ve beaten a side that we haven’t in Port.”
“I have a high regard for Neale Daniher and his players. I think they’ve got a midfield that is (as) worthy as any side in the competition.”

He said spearhead Scott Cummings, who has been battling a back-related hamstring injury and has only played four
games this season, was now fit to assume a place in the team.

“He’s fine. There’s no dramas,” Malthouse said.

The decision whether to play defender Tarkyn Lockyer, who injured his ankle during the week, will be made on Saturday.