Saints are clearly the No. 1 team: McGuire

[SaintWodonga]

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews ... 01720.html

Eddie trying to take the heat off the Wobbles..

THE favourite for the 2009 premiership is black and white but it is not Collingwood, according to Pies president Eddie McGuire, who yesterday scoffed at the prospect of his club taking top-dog status into September.

''I think St Kilda are clearly the favourites; they've won 19 games, lost two by less than a kick, so we're not worried about that sort of stuff. That's all just part of the byplay,'' he said.

The Magpies share favouritism for the premiership with St Kilda and Geelong.

''(Nick) Riewoldt kicks the ball 53 metres instead of 52 and they beat North. He kicks straight against [Essendon and they win]. He's had a Brownlow Medal season,'' McGuire said.

''They've had a couple of weeks where they've obviously lifted their intensity at training and they've swapped and mixed and matched their on-field line-up as they gave blokes some rest. They're going all right … They're clearly the No. 1 side in 2009.''

Though a proclamation McGuire made in March about Collingwood aiming to win a premiership this year was derided in quarters at the time, the president is not ready to thumb his nose at doubters yet.

''All we've done is qualify in the manner that we hoped to at the start of the year - in the top four. And we've got the Bullies this week - they don't give any prizes out in August,'' he said.

When asked to assess the chances of this Magpies outfit claiming the club's first flag in 19 years, compared with the squad that made back-to-back grand finals in 2002-03, McGuire would not be drawn. ''Really, I haven't thought about it. I'm not even thinking about it.'' All questions relating to the team's on-field performance were for coach Mick Malthouse to answer.

With three of this year's top-four sides to play on Sunday in the last day of home-and-away competition, and the AFL considering an open fixture for round 22 from next season, McGuire re-iterated his belief there should be a week off before finals started.

Moving the Brownlow Medal count and All-Australian presentation to that week of rest would greatly improve the lead-up to the grand final for clubs, players and fans, he said.

''After 22 rounds of bloody hard football it gives everybody a chance to take a deep breath,'' McGuire said.

''You'd actually want a hard, good hitout [in round 22] before you had a week's break in this scenario. That would give everyone a chance to get their injuries right, play out the season properly, not be seduced into resting players in round 22, which compromises the integrity of the final eight. The McClelland trophy, the prize for finishing on top of the ladder, would actually mean something.''

Malthouse would not directly declare yesterday that the current Collingwood team was in better shape for a premiership tilt than in any of his previous nine years at the club, but then reeled off a number of reasons that suggested it was.

''Forty-four, 45 players are ready to play. We've only got a couple of injuries, so you can't be any more prepared,'' he said.

''Let's not discount our opponents this week, Western Bulldogs, who have got a very similar situation: very few injuries, good form, their VFL side's sitting first or second, so it's very evenly poised.''

The Magpies' third placing has them in line to play Geelong in week one of the finals, but Malthouse said it was wrong to suggest a club would deliberately engineer a finals match-up with a particular team.

''I think winning form is good form … If you avoid an opponent going into a finals series you've got no confidence in your group … we're not avoiding anyone."

[saintsRrising]

Nah...let the Pies have the pressure of being No 1 Favourite...

I think that will change after the first round of finals though...or even if the Dogs knock them off this weekend.

[QuestionOfAccuracy]

or even if the Dogs knock them off this weekend.

Wouldn't be surprised one bit if they do. Pies were very lucky to win against them last time they played.

[Teflon]

Let the Pies be favs - fat Ed can't run from form.

Weve lost last 2 theyve won last 10 or so.

Good on them, well done Pies you are the side.

Now just lets see em go out sraight sets....havent seen Mick cry for while...

[Thinline]

Saints win the flag and Pies out in straight sets.

I get all hot and flustered at the possibility.

[bozza1980]

I agree with his call for a weeks break after Rd 22.

No reason to complain about breaks between games in that situation, it also gives a two week build up to the real stuff starting.

It won't happen but I think it's a good idea.

[degruch]

So, tha mind games start with Eddie...who's gonna bring the brain then?

[samoht]

St kilda and Geelong's best is simply too good for Pies best .

the Magpies only chance and hope is if we or Geelong falter for whatever reason - so that they can win by default.

What's working for the Pies at the moment is they have everyone fit and firing - otherwise if they are off a bit they should expect a 20-5 goal drubbing again.

[plugger66]

St kilda and Geelong's best is simply too good for Pies best .

the Magpies only chance and hope is if we or Geelong falter for whatever reason - so that they can win on default.

What's working for the Pies at the moment is they have everyone fit and firing - otherwise if they are off a bit they would expect a 20-5 goal drubbing again.

Luckily the players are to sensible to think like that.

[samoht]

St kilda and Geelong's best is simply too good for Pies best .

the Magpies only chance and hope is if we or Geelong falter for whatever reason - so that they can win on default.

What's working for the Pies at the moment is they have everyone fit and firing - otherwise if they are off a bit they would expect a 20-5 goal drubbing again.

Luckily the players are to sensible to think like that.

Sensible has nothing to do with it.

St kilda and Geelong are stronger teams all being equal.

even Malthouse admitted that.

[reincarnated]

St kilda and Geelong's best is simply too good for Pies best .

the Magpies only chance and hope is if we or Geelong falter for whatever reason - so that they can win on default.

What's working for the Pies at the moment is they have everyone fit and firing - otherwise if they are off a bit they would expect a 20-5 goal drubbing again.

Luckily the players are to sensible to think like that.

Sensible has nothing to do with it.

St kilda and Geelong are stronger teams all being equal.

even Malthouse admitted that.

So if Collingwood somehow beat us in the Grand Final we still we because we have the better team on paper?

Would Collingwood be pretend winners because they scored more than us?

Reincarnated confused

[plugger66]

St kilda and Geelong's best is simply too good for Pies best .

the Magpies only chance and hope is if we or Geelong falter for whatever reason - so that they can win on default.

What's working for the Pies at the moment is they have everyone fit and firing - otherwise if they are off a bit they would expect a 20-5 goal drubbing again.

Luckily the players are to sensible to think like that.

Sensible has nothing to do with it.

St kilda and Geelong are stronger teams all being equal.

even Malthouse admitted that.

They have lost one game in 12. You dont fluke that. They are a very good side as are we but they are far from easy beats. And forget about what coaches say otherwise every game we have played this year the opposition should be favourites.

[degruch]

St kilda and Geelong's best is simply too good for Pies best .

the Magpies only chance and hope is if we or Geelong falter for whatever reason - so that they can win on default.

What's working for the Pies at the moment is they have everyone fit and firing - otherwise if they are off a bit they would expect a 20-5 goal drubbing again.

Luckily the players are to sensible to think like that.

You mean Collingwood players?

TBH, I think everyone is thinking that, the opposition, the media, probably even the Pies themselves. Ability aside, just pull up a comfy sofa and wait for the wheels to wobble.

[samoht]

They have lost one game in 12. You dont fluke that. They are a very good side as are we but they are far from easy beats. And forget about what coaches say otherwise every game we have played this year the opposition should be favourites.

They are clearly the 3rd best team and they are having a great run injury wise.

if they miss 2 of their players they start to wobble to the tune of a 20-5 loss.

a nice tune to wobble to.

[plugger66]

They have lost one game in 12. You dont fluke that. They are a very good side as are we but they are far from easy beats. And forget about what coaches say otherwise every game we have played this year the opposition should be favourites.

They are clearly the 3rd best team and they are having a great run injury wise.

if they miss 2 of their players they start to wobble to the tune of a 20-5 loss.

a nice tune to wobble to.

They had 6 out and it was 15 weeks ago.

[samoht]

They have lost one game in 12. You dont fluke that. They are a very good side as are we but they are far from easy beats. And forget about what coaches say otherwise every game we have played this year the opposition should be favourites.

They are clearly the 3rd best team and they are having a great run injury wise.

if they miss 2 of their players they start to wobble to the tune of a 20-5 loss.

a nice tune to wobble to.

They had 6 out and it was 15 weeks ago.

We had 8 out and beat last year's premiers (away win) - we didn't lose to them to the tune of 20-5.

[Thinline]

They have lost one game in 12. You dont fluke that. They are a very good side as are we but they are far from easy beats. And forget about what coaches say otherwise every game we have played this year the opposition should be favourites.

They are clearly the 3rd best team and they are having a great run injury wise.

if they miss 2 of their players they start to wobble to the tune of a 20-5 loss.

a nice tune to wobble to.

They had 6 out and it was 15 weeks ago.

We bring our A game with a nice little garnish of finals fever I am SUPREMELY confident that we will be too strong, vicious, fanatical, skilful and key position dominant for Collingwood. We stifled them in the final last year, and their Rd 5 side this year was hardly an on-paper rabble.

They are a solid enough side and are capable of decent week in week out footy, but I have severe doubts as to their capacity to improve to the level needed in Finals. I also doubt their scoring power if their small forwards are denied fast service.

Am very interested to see how they go Sunday night. Methinks the Dogs will beat them soundly enough for us to be getting Pies in the QF.

[Thinline]

They have lost one game in 12. You dont fluke that. They are a very good side as are we but they are far from easy beats. And forget about what coaches say otherwise every game we have played this year the opposition should be favourites.

They are clearly the 3rd best team and they are having a great run injury wise.

if they miss 2 of their players they start to wobble to the tune of a 20-5 loss.

a nice tune to wobble to.

They had 6 out and it was 15 weeks ago.

We had 8 out and beat last year's premiers (away win) - we didn't lose to them to the tune of 20-5.

And FWIW the Hawks have a pretty decent record against the Pies too...

[SaintHomer]

Make no mistake, pies are a very very good side and capable of being this years premiers. How a side looks on paper is irrelevant.

Eagles of 2004/5 we red hot "on paper". All Australian midfield of Cox, Judd, Cousins and Kerr and others of the likes of Embley, Braun, Fletcher, etc.

Swans not only took it up to them EVERY time they played, but won the 2005 flag. The record between the two over this period in finals and H&A was spookily even.

Underestimate the pies at your own peril.

[plugger66]

They have lost one game in 12. You dont fluke that. They are a very good side as are we but they are far from easy beats. And forget about what coaches say otherwise every game we have played this year the opposition should be favourites.

They are clearly the 3rd best team and they are having a great run injury wise.

if they miss 2 of their players they start to wobble to the tune of a 20-5 loss.

a nice tune to wobble to.

They had 6 out and it was 15 weeks ago.

We had 8 out and beat last year's premiers (away win) - we didn't lose to them to the tune of 20-5.

And your point? We had them all back in the next week and lost to an ordinary side. The pies have won 11 out of 12. If we are slightly off our game against any team in the finals we are in trouble as is any team. As I said luckily our players are to sensible to think anything but every finals game is a danger game.

[Thinline]

Make no mistake, pies are a very very good side and capable of being this years premiers. How a side looks on paper is irrelevant.

Eagles of 2004/5 we red hot "on paper". All Australian midfield of Cox, Judd, Cousins and Kerr and others of the likes of Embley, Braun, Fletcher, etc.

Swans not only took it up to them EVERY time they played, but won the 2005 flag. The record between the two over this period in finals and H&A was spookily even.

Underestimate the pies at your own peril.

I think I'm simply ESTIMATING them - neither under nor over. They are a solid H and A side. Where I reckon we'll transcend them is by offering up unmatchable finals intensity in close, robust defence, plus a reliable enough attack to kick winning scores; ie everything that as has got us this far. Collingwood are no mugs, but they are also nowhere near as good, particularlly when squeezed, and we squeeze best. Fire up.

[samoht]

All things being equal Geelong is our equal and the team to beat.

It's just that Collingwood is having a great run injury wise and if luck continues to go their way and if things are not equal in that sense, sure they can win the flag.

[borderbarry]

Still a big fan of Eddie I see SaintWodonga.

[BakesFan]

Reincarnated confused

Tell us something we don't know.

[SydneySainter]

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/rfnews ... 01720.html

Eddie trying to take the heat off the Wobbles..

THE favourite for the 2009 premiership is black and white but it is not Collingwood, according to Pies president Eddie McGuire, who yesterday scoffed at the prospect of his club taking top-dog status into September.

''I think St Kilda are clearly the favourites; they've won 19 games, lost two by less than a kick, so we're not worried about that sort of stuff. That's all just part of the byplay,'' he said.

Try telling that to your club supporters Eddie. As far as they're concerned it's a one-horse race!