Saturday, July 9, 2011

Malthouse tips North for finals

Updated July 7, 2011 12:37:00

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse says North Melbourne is a big chance to play AFL finals this season.

The Kangaroos had won four games in succession before being stopped by St Kilda last week and are currently 10th on the ladder.

Collingwood and North will clash at the MCG on Sunday.

Malthouse says that, irrespective of the positions on the table, the Magpies are expecting a tough fight against a side he believes will be in the finals mix this year.

"I've had them in the eight before the season started and I still think they've got a wonderful chance to be in the eight," Malthouse said.

"I think they're a terrific side. I look at that side and think, they're young and aggressive, with a fantastic game structure.

"I admire the coach (Brad Scott) and I admire their club spirit - we're in for a fight."

Malthouse said that were it not for a few unlucky decisions this year, the Kangaroos would probably already be in the top eight.

"The win-loss ratio - I think they've been very, very stiff in a couple of decisions that may well have gone either way for them," he said.

Malthouse was highly complimentary of North captain Brent Harvey, who he coached in the Australian team against Ireland in 2008 but said Collingwood would have to tackle an all-round talented side.

"Our energies won't be going towards one player," he said.

Malthouse also rejected suggestions that Scott was out-coached by St Kilda's Ross Lyon last week.

"It's amazing the experts out there who pot-shot from outside in," he said.

"Did they do any different last week than they did the previous four weeks where the applause went out to say how good they were in the air and how good they were crumbing and how great the games were?" he asked.

"They're all experts."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, collingwood-3066, north-melbourne-3051

First posted July 7, 2011 11:56:00


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