Collingwood's 11-game dominance of Sydney and their flawless record in close games this year will give them confidence heading into Friday night's preliminary final, according to assistant coach Rodney Eade.
The Magpies have won five games by 12 points or less in 2012 - including victories over Geelong, West Coast, and Sydney.
Eade said Collingwood's stellar showings in close matches and the 11 straight wins against the Swans dating back to 2006 would hold them in good stead.
Of those victories over Sydney, seven have come at ANZ Stadium, the venue for the preliminary final.
"With the enormity of what the record is it can have an effect," Eade said at Gosch's Paddock on Wednesday.
"People say history doesn't matter too much and most of the time it doesn't.
"Whether it plays on Sydney's minds I'm not too sure, but it'll certainly give our guys a bit of confidence.
"We've won five games by less than 12 points so I think we've proved ourselves to be very good in the clinches in that area."
Eade, who last coached when he was at the helm of the Western Bulldogs in 2011, has pulled out of the race for the vacant job at Port Adelaide according to The Age.
And the 54-year-old said he had held no discussions with the Power, insisting his focus has always been with the Magpies.
"I haven't had any meeting. I'm 100 percent focused with Collingwood," Eade said.
"We've had a couple of big weeks now (which has included the death of former Magpie John McCarthy).
"Hopefully we've got another couple of big weeks to go and my whole focus is totally with them."
Eade is wary of the quality the Swans have and said the Magpies were unwilling to focus solely on Adam Goodes, who starred in Sydney's qualifying final win over Adelaide.
"We know he's a match-winner. We know that but they've got some other good players as well," he said.
"(They're a) very even side, they've got a terrific midfield so we'll certainly need to be at our best to win the game."
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7 Comments
Could have sworn there was 3 other teams in the finals!!!!!!!!!!! Its all about Collingwood!!!!! BORING!!!!!
3 RepliesWe don't even know who he follows. Maybe too embarresed
ReplyHe's not a poosniffer, he's a tockley gobbler.
Replyeade you are just like buckley a big mouth,. didnt your mother tell you actions speak louder than words
ReplyGood on you Rodney - they should have given you the Carlton job - anyone who can have the success you did with the WB must be the best coach in the game
Reply