Respect for Swans the key: Malthouse

COLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse believes his side's excellent recent record against the Sydney Swans is borne of a healthy respect for the Magpies' northern rival.

The Magpies scored their fifth successive win against the Swans with a 29-point result at ANZ Stadium in front of 59,202 spectators.

"If you ask the player group who I respect personally in this competition, as high as anyone, they'll all say I talk about Sydney because I rate their coach, I rate their discipline and I rate their players," Malthouse said.

"Perhaps we do well because we try to take the best out of Sydney and utilise it."

Saturday night's game was a scrappy affair, but Malthouse refused to blame an inconsistent surface at ANZ Stadium for the error-ridden spectacle.

The ground hosted the rugby league State of Origin game on Wednesday night, before being soaked with rain on Thursday.

"It was scrappy because two sides were going at it to stay in the race for the four, or the eight, if you like," he said.

"There was a massive amount of pressure from both sides. Probably no excuse for the goalkicking, but there was a massive amount of pressure.

"Grounds today are that much better than yesteryear, you couldn't compare them. In many respects, we're being spoilt. You've got to adjust to those things."

In the absence of talls Anthony Rocca and Josh Fraser, the performance of Collingwood's restructured forward line delighted Malthouse.

Youngster John Anthony, who kicked a spectacular volleyed goal in the final term, came in for special praise.

The efforts of Tyson Goldsack and resting ruckman Cameron Wood were also noted, and the defensive pressure was pleasing but it wasn't all wine and roses for the Magpies coach.

Three 50m penalties were three too many, he said, particularly in a hard-fought game.

One conceded by Heath Shaw, which resulted in a goal, was particularly irksome.

"I was very, very disappointed in our inability to control our emotions at times. When you get tight games like that, you can't just give up an easy 50m penalty which results in an easy goal," he said.

"The free kick was there, the 50m penality was there; the player needs to be reprimanded and he will be."