Analysis

IT'S NOT as if Geelong and St Kilda don't already have enough motivation for this afternoon's qualifying final at the MCG. But there's perhaps even more now after yesterday's events at AAMI Stadium. It's the smell of fear. And its name is Collingwood.

The Magpies did it yet again yesterday. A knockout final. Interstate. A hostile crowd. Without skipper Scott Burns and suspended stars Alan Didak and Heath Shaw. And after hauling back a deficit that just before half-time had blown out to four goals. But wins like yesterday's are becoming commonplace for the Pies.

Now they'll meet the losers of today's clash between the Cats and Saints in a semi-final, having won all three home-and-away meetings against those two this season.

Much mileage has been made of Collingwood's shock 86-point flogging of Geelong in round nine and, more than three months later, despite their superb form, the Cats should still be wary.

Collingwood was as resilient as it has been all season yesterday, and as much psychologically as physically.

Of course, the more likely semi-final clash, given Geelong's unbackable flag status, is against St Kilda. And that won't exactly have the Magpies trembling in their boots, having beaten the Saints by nine points in round eight and 14 points in round 19.

Whatever happens to Collingwood over the next couple of weeks, its supporters at least know they follow a team that can never be discounted against anyone, in any circumstances.

The Magpies have a handful of flashy stars, such as Leon Davis and Dale Thomas, but their greatest asset by far is their team ethos, exemplified by another gem of a midfield effort from Dane Swan. It's an ethos not necessarily in the same sense as for Sydney, for the Pies have shown enough that they can trade in flair as well as grunt, but simply the capacity of even the least-heralded members of the line-up to make important contributions.

John Anthony didn't become a regular in this team until round 14. Now he has an incredibly accurate 24.3 under his belt, he and rookie Chris Dawes sharing a half-dozen against the Crows yesterday, only two of 13 goalkickers who helped put together 19.12, one point shy of the highest score kicked against the steely defensive mindset that was Adelaide all season.

Much-maligned Nick Maxwell did a superb job on key Adelaide midfielder Scott Thompson. Fringe players such as Shannon Cox and Ryan Cook chipped in here and there. Paul Medhurst did not get a heap of the ball, but had five scoring assists and his smarts in the final term were crucial.

The Pies all do their bit at the appropriate times. And whether it's the Cats or Saints who have to deal with that next weekend, they will need to respond in kind or they'll be in big trouble.

Adelaide? The Crows go out in week one of the finals for a second year running, a finish of seventh, an accurate reflection of where they stand in this competition. That is a fair way ahead of where many thought they would end up, but still a fair way off the pace set by the eight.

Neil Craig is a shrewd coach. His teams perform capably and consistently throughout the home-and-away season. It's whether they can take a sufficient step up to a level appropriate for September that is the issue now, the Crows having won only two of seven finals under his tutelage.

Adelaide was cruelled by the loss of Brett Burton and Jason Porplyzia, relying on a career-best performance from Scott Stevens for six of its 14 goals. That's not enough to threaten the best, a fact the Crows will, not for the first time, have a whole summer to ponder as a result.