CTV > Dale Thomas' Tuesday press conference

CTV > Dale Thomas post-match interview
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COLLINGWOOD star Dale Thomas says his side must "keep raising the bar" as it tries to cement its spot in the top eight – and hopefully force its way into the top four.

The Magpies are coming off a superb 29-point win over the Sydney Swans at ANZ Stadium in which the visitors' tackling and pressure skills were a feature.

Collingwood's harassment of the Swans sparked memories of its remarkable round nine hammering of Geelong, a game in which the Magpies gave the reigning premiers no time to execute their skills by applying relentless pressure throughout.

Thomas said it was something his team must strive to achieve on a weekly basis, starting with Saturday's clash with Adelaide at the MCG.

"I think, yeah, we always need to replicate our intensity," he said.

"The Geelong game is probably the best we've had it all year and probably for some time, so we've got to keep trying to raise that bar and keep applying the pressure and getting our game going from there."

The mercurial forward said Collingwood, fifth on the AFL table and six premiership points behind the fourth-placed Swans, were well-placed for a charge towards the top four over the final eight weeks of the season.

"Obviously you've got to think pretty positively going forward," he said.

"Coming off a win you get a little bit of confidence … we've got to keep winning to try to get in that top four and cement a spot in the eight.

"There's sides biting at our heels, so we've just got to keep trying to win."

While Saturday's showdown with the Crows – another top-eight side – looms as crucial to both teams' finals chances, Thomas said no match would be more critical than any other in the coming two months.

"All games are important for us going forward," Thomas said.

"When it comes to this time of the year heading towards finals, I think we're seven or eight weeks out, every game's important.

"You know we're in the eight and we're level with a few teams and we want to try to get in that top four.

"We've just got to keep winning, it's as simple as that.

"[But] as I say, there's no more importance to this game than what there is the week after or the week after that. You've just got to keep going forward."

Thomas played a vital part in his team's win over the Swans. While he had just 12 disposals, he booted 3.2 in a low-scoring affair but added some spark to what had been a dreary opening three quarters.

The Magpies livewire said it was hard to say if his game, which included two spectacular marks, was his best of 2008.

"I think when the team's going well you probably play a bit better."