Pies stay top but far from settled

Collingwood retained top spot on the AFL ladder through an 82-point drubbing of
Richmond on Saturday, but Magpies coach Mick Malthouse says his side is far from
settled.
Collingwood took a stranglehold through the first five goals at the MCG and posted a
fifth straight win, 19.13 (127) to 6.9 (45).
The versatility in attack was again on display as Brent Macaffer, Leigh Brown and
Alan Didak all kicked three goals and Leon Davis booted four, his best return in a
patchy season.
The Magpies are well placed to strengthen their side as key forward Travis Cloke
will be available after suspension next weekend, defender Heath Shaw is expected to
overcome a back injury and a clutch of seasoned players are pushing hard in the VFL.
Malthouse said the Magpies boasted better depth this season and indicated he would
continue changing the side depending on who was available and opponents in the
lead-up to the finals.
"We want to have the availability of a number of players who can play in a game of
football with the reliance that we know they can come in and play a role, whoever we
play," he said.
"I know some sides have been very, very good and have stuck with the list and if
someone falls out injured they bring someone else in.
"We need to look at our list every week, we need to look at our opponents every week
and we'll keep continuing to do that."
Malthouse also said Collingwood were in the fortunate position to have the likes of
Brown, Macaffer and defender Tyson Goldsack to keep striving to produce their best
given the reserves behind them.
"You don't want a player not to feel comfortable, but in the same token if he feels
that pressure to perform it's probably a good thing," he said.
Malthouse also drew encouragement from Collingwood's refusal to ease off as they
kicked the only four goals of the last quarter.
Dane Swan maintained his great form in the midfield and Ben Johnson turned playmaker
in his 200th game with several neat passes into attack.
Richmond had won four games straight before last week's loss to North Melbourne, but
Saturday was a return to their bad form early in the season.
"We thought we would put in a better show," Tigers coach Damien Hardwick said.
"We were disappointing. We thought our general endeavour around the contest wasn't
great granted our midfield's been decimated through the loss of (suspended pair
Trent) Cotchin and (Daniel) Jackson, but they're self-inflicted wounds in a sense."
But Hardwick was hopeful the 15th-placed Tigers could regain their bounce.
"We'll learn a few things, we'll get our group back together, we'll regroup and look
to play the Crows in six days' time," he said.
Goldsack showed there was still room for the torpedo punt, when he thumped a kick-in
to the centre square, where Swan roved and set up an easy goal for Brown.
Didak booted two brilliant goals in the third quarter, one a great snap after a
one-two with Steele Sidebottom, and a cool finish after he twice sold dummies to
Tigers backmen.
Richmond's Jack Riewoldt kicked two goals to take his season tally to 63.