KANGAROOS’ midfielder Brady Rawlings says he’s not sure whohe’ll match up against in this weekend’s preliminary final against the Power, but he doesn’t believe he’s the best option to run with Chad Cornes.
“The coach hasn’t told me who I’ll be playing on this week.The last time we played Port I ran around a bit by myself; I’m not sure he’lllet me do that again,” he said.
“I’m not sure with Chad if he’s a good match up for me.He’s a pretty big boy so he’d have me in height and strength, so I’m not toosure that I’ll be playing on him.”
Rawlings says that although last week’s opponent Luke Hodgeis a similar build to Cornes, the Power player is superior in the air.
“Strength-wise he is (like Hodge) but I think Chad’s probablya bit better than him in the air. Chad can play forward, back,midfield so I’m not sure what the coach has got planned for him.”
The 26-year-old who excelled in the victory over the Hawks,racking up 27 possessions, was modest when reminded that his teammate GlennArcher described him as one of the best taggers in the league in the roomsafter the game.
“He might be talking me up a bit just to look after me,”Rawlings laughed.
Former premiership coach and recently departed Carlton boss Denis Paganpaid a visit to the team before their crunch game against the Hawks, andRawlings believes the former coach’s input was valuable after the demoralisingloss to the Cats in the qualifying final.
“It was great to see him here,” he said.
“The initiative for Dean (Laidley) to get him down wastremendous. A lot of young blokes had never heard him speak before and the wayhe speaks about the tradition of this club and the history was great for theyoung blokes and even us blokes who have played under him.”
Rawlings also praised the performances of 2007All-Australian Brent Harvey.
“He’s been very good and he’s been rewarded for it with anAll-Australian. He’s so important for us. He gets us going and does all theteam things as well.”
And as for that word that’s been talked about at theKangaroos all year – respect – Rawlings thinks the team has certainly earnedit.
“We’ve come along way this year. I’m not sure many peopleexpected us to be in the top four and we’re there now. It’s not just aboutbeing top four now we’ve got a chance to take it further and that’s what we’reabout now.”
