CTV > Final Siren with Guy McKenna

The players’ ability to run away with an emphatic ANZAC Day victory over Essendon pleased assistant coach Guy McKenna.

Speaking on CTV’s weekly Final Siren show in the MCG rooms after the match, McKenna praised the “mental application” of the playing group as they recorded a memorable 73-point win, the club’s third triumph of the season.

The Magpies have let slip two final quarter leads in 2008, in round two against Brisbane and round five against the Kangaroos, but booted 12 goals to six in the second half on ANZAC Day to build on a 31-point lead at the main break.

“They (the players) stuck to their guns pretty well, we’ve still got some areas to tidy up, but we’re never happy as coaches of course,” McKenna said.

“But I thought, given where we’d been in a couple of matches before, the mental application by the boys was fantastic.”

After an even first 40 minutes or so last Friday, the Magpies blew the game open with a six-goal burst in 15 minutes prior to half time, and McKenna said it was a combination of intensity and improved ball use that got the side going.

“Our intensity went up to another level, and we just started to get three or four possessions in a row, and put that player out into some time and space and actually use it.

“Then we got better bang for our buck so to speak, because we were having shots on goal as opposed to turning possessions over, and because of that continuation and momentum, two goals turned into four pretty quickly.”

McKenna, who has taken on the role of midfield coach in 2008, spoke of Scott Pendlebury’s excellent 33-disposal performance against the Bombers and his overall start to the season, which in the eyes of some may have been quieter than last year, but to McKenna he has been just as good.

“Scotty’s been playing a pretty vital role for us, sometimes that’s in the centre square and sometimes that’s around the centre square, and on some dangerous people outside the centre square that need to be taken care of.

“He hasn’t played in the same sort of role which has given him the numbers, but I’d say from a midfield point of view he’s been just as vital, as I suppose having spent more time through the midfield (on ANZAC Day) he got his just desserts.

“He had a pretty hard pre-season, and I think from now on we’re going to see the best of Scott Pendlebury.”

McKenna also discussed Rhyce Shaw’s game and his excellent start to the season, and the contribution of ANZAC medallist Paul Medhurst.

Watch The Final Siren by clicking on the link at the top of this article.