Thousands flock to training as Pies eye MCG ‘advantage’
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Collingwood wingman Steele Sidebottom says the Magpies must turn the MCG into a fortress against the travelling Lions, who have lost 14 of their past 15 matches at the home of football.
The Pies haven’t left Victoria since round 19, playing six of their past seven games at the MCG, and winning their past four.
Thousands of fans attend the last Collingwood open training session before the grand final.Credit: Eddie Jim
Fast starts in their two finals have been critical to their wins, according to Sidebottom, and the 308-game veteran said it would be important again on Saturday.
“For me, I think when we get our tails up and the crowd get involved, I could imagine it’s intimidating for opposition clubs to come and play against,” Sidebottom said.
“We need to use that to our advantage. The last two games we’ve started the game well and that’ll be our plan again on Saturday.
“They’ve been defensive games the last few games, but teams are hard to break through at times, and it’s not always easy to score, but I think it’s important to make the most of the opportunities you get.”
More than 5000 fans turned up to the Pies’ final training session on Thursday, where the club welcomed back a host of past players including Anthony Rocca, Shane Wakelin and Gavin Crosisca.
They also had two-time premiership great Thorold “Titch” Merrett involved. The dual best-and-fairest winner, who played in flags in 1953 and 1958, turns 90 on Saturday, and the Magpies players presented him with a cake and sung happy birthday before beginning training.
“I think it’s something ‘Fly’s’ been good at, touching on our past and bringing a lot of our past players back in,” Sidebottom said of coach Craig McRae.
“We always look to our past and they’re as much a part of it as we are.”
Darcy Moore trains ahead of the decider.Credit: Eddie Jim
Billy Frampton played forward in match simulation and will play in his first final on Saturday, filling the void left by injured recruit Dan McStay.
Sidebottom said Frampton’s role would be simple in Saturday’s decider.
“The big strength I believe in ‘Chooka’ is he’s got that real aggression, and I think that stands up on big games, guys who crack in,” he said.
“We’re not expecting him to go out there and do too much, we just need him to create a contest, whether it’s forward or back, but it’d be nice if he did kick five, that’s for sure.”
Asked whether Collingwood had enough avenues to goal, the 2010 premiership player said: “I’d like to think everyone chips in at some stage, but I think at this time of the year, it’s defence that wins games of footy.”
“It’s probably showed in the past as well, the best defensive teams win the big games,” he said.
“If we can keep the opposition to a low score, we believe we can pip that by whatever margin it is. We’ll look to defend well and hopefully, we can kick enough points at the other end.”
Sidebottom and former captain Scott Pendlebury will become the first two players to win grand finals 13 years apart if Collingwood triumph on Saturday. Drew Banfield and Doug Wade currently hold the record with 12-year gaps between their first and second flags.
Sidebottom, who will take his daughter Matilda in Friday’s parade and sit alongside Jeremy Howe and his son Zander, said he was grateful to be a part of another grand final.
“I debuted in 2009 and played in a prelim and a couple of grand finals after that, and probably took it for granted a little bit,” he said.
“Now I’m a little bit older and understand they don’t come around that often, I want to make sure I take everything in, enjoy the occasion and help a few other guys out along the way.”
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