Buckley backs Pie trio
THE intensity of suddendeath finals football will be enough for returning Collingwood trio Adam Treloar, Tyson Goldsack and Jeremy Howe to avoid a secondmatch letdown, according to coach Nathan Buckley.
The three players were part of Collingwood’s narrow qualifying final loss to West Coast last weekend and there were fears they could face second- game blues when the Pies meet GWS tomorrow in their mustwin semi-final at the MCG.
Star midfielder Treloar had not played since Round 14 because of a double hamstring injury, while the Eagles game was utility Goldsack’s first senior match of the season after he ruptured his ACL in March.
Key defender Howe returned following surgery on a troublesome corked thigh.
Buckley said their strong showings against the Eagles had proven they were ready for a recall and he believed they would back up well, particularly in front of a mostly proMagpies crowd.
“It’s something we are aware of and something most AFL clubs would have plans around,” Buckley said yesterday. “There is a little bit of a bounce back after coming back initially but it’s more emotional than physical. I’m not sure we’ll have too much trouble finding the right motivation or emotional intensity to get up for Saturday night — I don’t think that will be an issue.”
The Magpies were overrun by the fast-finishing Eagles in a 16-point defeat, but Buckley said there was a lot to like about the performance.
“We look forward to handling it just as well but executing a little bit better to get the result,” he said. “We don’t feel that we could be any better prepared for this game.”
Collingwood spearhead Mason Cox came under fire post-match about his lack of impact after he had just five touches and Buckley expected the 211cm American forward to respond.
“He’s been pretty good for a lot of the year,” Buckley said.
“Mason wasn’t happy with his game and he’s had a couple of those along the journey and he’s generally responded really well so we’ve got no fears about his mentality going into the game.”