COLLINGWOOD coach Mick Malthouse believes his young team possesses that something special, the "X-factor" that turns a good side into a champion side with the potential to win premierships.
After the club's final training session yesterday, before taking on premiership favourite Geelong in tonight's preliminary final, the dual premiership coach said he was confident his young team would give a strong account of itself in front of a full house at the MCG.
"It's an intangible; sometimes it's just something about the squad," he said.
"I can't guarantee a victory tomorrow night but nor can they.
"All we can do is go out there, enjoy each other's company, work hard together, forget the scoreboard, because that's only relevant at the end of the game, and see what takes place."
Malthouse pointed to last week's semi-final win over West Coast as an example of the team's determination.
"Last week, when we were 20 points down we could have looked at the scoreboard and thought, 'that's it, it's too late, enjoy the trip' but that's not their manner. That may be the intangible, the great belief they have in each other."
He dismissed any fears that last week's victory, which was forced into time-on when both teams were level at the final siren, will have a negative effect on the Magpies.
"The last 10 minutes only made the match a classic," he said when asked about the lingering affect of the extra-time. Tonight's clash is the most anticipated final in Melbourne for years and the first time two Victorian clubs will play off in a preliminary final since Essendon defeated Hawthorn in 2001.
Hundreds of Collingwood fans yesterday lined the fence at Gosch's Paddock to watch their team go through their paces.
Tonight up to 95,000 fans are expected to attend the match. Malthouse said his team was looking forward to the challenge.
"The side has come through this week very well with the confidence gained from the last three weeks, " he said.
And for once, a coach threw away any suggestion of a match being just another match.
"It's not another game," Malthouse said.
"I'm not here to say it's just another game, because if it was you'd have 12 other sides playing (this weekend).
"It's a preliminary final and it takes you through to the grand final if you're good enough to win."
