CTV > Mick Malthouse's post match press conference
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MICK Malthouse says Collingwood’s flat performance in their shock 24 point loss to Fremantle at Subiaco Oval was a sign that a “gut-busting” month had finally taken its toll on the Magpies.

The Magpies blew their chance to press for a top-four spot and now face the real danger of having to travel interstate in the first week of the finals.

The loss to Fremantle came after Collingwood had posted three big wins to secure a finals berth in the wake of the upheaval surrounding the season-ending suspensions of Alan Didak and Heath Shaw.

The Collingwood coach said it was only human nature that the players would be psychologically drained by the emotion of the past month.

“We’ve had a massive, big month,” Malthouse said.

“I think sometimes you just need a little, gentle reminder every now and again about what has transformed in the club in the last 12 months, in regard to young players coming in.

“Quite frankly I think, given our vulnerability of where we’re going to sit on the ladder, we were extremely tired after a very, very solid, emotional, gut-busting month.

“I’ve no doubt that there is a psychological let-down after (big) games, particularly if you’ve got a lot of young players.

“No question about that because they’re human, they’re going to have the frailty of  human nature.”

The Fremantle match was marred by numerous skill errors with both sides struggling to cope with the windy conditions.

Malthouse conceded the match had been “terrible” and said the Magpies’ focus would quickly switch to next week’s do-or-die clash.

“Whoever we’re playing, it doesn’t matter,” he said.

“Finals football in our case is going to be cut-throat; one loss and you’re out , one win and you get another chance.

“So I believe that we can rebound from this. I don’t think our players have been that flat for a number of weeks. We’ll get back early and perhaps a few blokes might come up, I’m not sure how our injury list is.”

“We can’t afford to procrastinate. We’ll have a look at (tonight’s) game and see who we should, and who we shouldn’t, take with us into the next game. But certainly we won’t be spending a lot of time on this game.”

Malthouse flatly ruled out any suggestion that, with finals looming, the club may revisit the Didak and Shaw suspensions.

“Why do we need to go there again? It’s been a month. Why would we be changing?

“It’s until 2009. Unless we have 3,000 draws I’m pretty confident that means the start of next year.”