Emerging Magpie star Chris Dawes credited the ANZAC Day win to his side's ability in maintaining its composure in front of a massive crowd on Sunday afternoon.
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A seven goal to nil opening term by the Magpies set the pace for the remainder of the match, the win propelling the club into the top four after five rounds.??
“I know both teams had geared themselves up for this match so for us to get on top in the first quarter was important,” Dawes told CTV in the rooms after the win.??
“The match committee will be pretty happy with us.??
“We knew it was going to be pretty hot early. We knew it was possible to get overawed by the crowd so the team who could control the tempo of the game would probably get out on top. ??
“We had our more experienced players controlling that aspect.”??
Dawes worked hard all day in a potent Magpie forward line led by Travis Cloke, who slotted three of his four goals in the first term. ??
“Travis Cloke was absolutely awesome up forward for us and he helped set the tone early.”??
In his first match of the 2010 season, the young Magpie was forced to contend against two-time All-Australian Dustin Fletcher with the 21-year-old finishing with two majors and 15 possessions.??
“He is a brilliant player. I noticed that a couple of times when I was going to mark the ball his go go gadget arms came in and spoiled it.
“I’ll have to learn from that experience playing on a taller defender who has a longer reach than me.”
Forward coach Nathan Buckley made a point of commending the group directly after the team sang the song in the rooms after the win.??
“He came to the forwards at the end and said he was pleased that we were able to hold our structures and play the brand of footy we were asked to play.”