Click here to watch James Clement's Wednesday press conference on CTV

 Click here to watch Dale Thomas' Wednesday press conference on CTV

COLLINGWOOD vice-captain James Clement believes the fact selectors couldn’t find room for one Magpie in their initial 40-man list of All-Australian nominations was testament to his side’s evenness.

Magpies president Eddie McGuire has described the absence of Collingwood players as a “farce” and Clement – a two-time All-Australian – also found it hard to fathom how a couple of his teammates could miss out on making the first-round cut.

“The players are well aware that it’s a pretty subjective process and it’s an opinion of a small panel of people,” Clement said.

“But that said, to have a squad of 40 and to leave out the likes of Tarkyn Lockyer and Heath Shaw is very surprising.”

Clement said the star pair wasn’t disappointed, and the lack of a Magpie actually showed that Collingwood might not have many weaknesses in its line-up.

“It’s obviously fantastic recognition for the work that you’ve put in [to make All-Australian], the form you’ve played, but outside of that, that’s it,” he said.

“I suppose that is a testament to the evenness of the side and the contribution that each player has made this year.”

Clement hopes that evenness comes to the fore at the MCG this Saturday night when his side plays its second elimination final in as many years.

Last season Collingwood was bundled out by a hard-running Western Bulldogs although Clement believes the 2007 Magpies are a fitter unit.

They also meet a team which they have beaten twice this year – the Sydney Swans. Although Clement doesn’t think that automatically gives his team an edge.

“They’ve been very close games and I think we’ve seen in the past that the result could have gone either way,” he said.

“And Sydney have been probably one of the better finals sides in this decade and we’re well aware of that.

“We’re as positive as they are about the outcome of the game but, that said, we know it’s going to be a hard slog that can go either way.”

One player who might help swing the ledger the Magpies’ way is young gun Dale Thomas, who possesses the ability to do something special – often on the big stage – in matches when his team needs it.

Thomas, still only 20, will play just his second final this weekend but is already considered a ‘big game’ player by many.

So what is it about the occasion of big matches that spurs players to achieve great things?

“I think it brings out the best in everyone,” Thomas said.

“You look outside, the weather’s nice and it’s just a great occasion. You get pumped up, everyone gets pumped up and you just try to help out the team and put in a good performance.”