Johnson Says Pies Have Found That Mental Edge

Air of arrogance

Ben Johnson at training with Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley. The Magpies hope to continue their fine record against the Swans in tonight’s preliminary final Picture: TIM CARRAFA Johnson says Pies have found that mental edge

SWANS V COLLINGWOOD thorn) is a completely differ- loss to West Coast in before flying to Sydney — out of the game with a prem- (Sydney), you know it is go- By GLENN McFARLANE ent team to what we are Round 22 had played a cru- had galvanised the group. iership,’’ he said. ing to be hard.’’ now,’’ Johnson said. cial role. ‘‘To hear something like ‘‘He has worked really Alan Didak was ruled out BEN Johnson says Colling- ‘‘We have improved a lot. ‘‘We had a chat after that that happening was devastat- hard and he deserves it.’’ of the Collingwood team wood has got its ‘‘arrogance’’ We are really getting that ar- West Coast game . . . we bas- ing, but it has definitely Johnson admitted to- against Sydney but ruck- back ahead of tonight’s pre- rogance back. You need it to ically just . . . made a commit- brought us closer together,’’ night’s clash with Sydney forward Chris Dawes is in liminary final against Syd- win a premiership. ment that we were going to he said. would be a tough one, despite the lineup. ney at ANZ Stadium. ‘‘From the Essendon game have a crack at it,’’ he said. ‘‘A lot of the boys were the fact Collingwood has won Didak and Dawes were And the Magpie veteran (Round 23) to the West Coast ‘‘We made a focus of being still very close to him, so no its past 11 matches against hurt in last Saturday night’s says that key ingredient game (last week’s semi-final), more defensive across the doubt we will be thinking the Swans. semi-final win against West could help push the club to we have improved a hell of a ground. And having confid- about him.’’ ‘‘We have had some good Coast. its second flag in three lot and hopefully over the ence in our defensive game Johnson said the players wins over Sydney, but they Collingwood recalled Ben

seasons, with retiring de- next two weeks, we are going brings out the offence part.’’ are desperate to send Chris have all been very close ga- Sinclair as Sydney defender PUB: fender Chris Tarrant and the to improve even more.’’ Johnson said last week’s Tarrant — who has played in mes,’’ he said. Heath Grundy returns from NTNE-WS-21-S25KGE:MDA-TE: Y-C-CO-LO-R: late John McCarthy provid- Johnson, who is deter- tragic passing of former three losing grand finals — ‘‘We don’t really talk about suspension and comes in for ing extra motivation. mined to play on again next teammate McCarthy — into his retirement with a how many wins we have had injured forward Ben ‘‘The team that we were in season, said a frank team whose funeral the players at- premiership medal. in the past because we know McGlynn. the first final (against Haw- meeting after the 49-point tended in Sorrento yesterday ‘‘I would love for Taz to go that when you play them Hawks’ tech edge Page 29