Tweet
Roos revved up for meeting with Lions
By Peter Kogoy, Australian Football
May 08, 2003
IF the AFL required any more proof that its expansion plans are working, it need look no further than Sunday's match between Sydney and the Brisbane Lions.
Sydney are chasing a their third successive win after beating 2002 grand finalists Collingwood in Melbourne last Saturday night after coming home strongly to topple Melbourne the previous round.
The unbeaten Lions are showing every sign of being on track for a third successive crown.
Sydney coach Paul Roos believes the Mother's Day encounter at the SCG between two teams from states where Australian football is not the main code has all the markings of a blockbuster and is worthy of a sell-out crowd.
"We're not taking Brisbane lightly. They are a side capable of knocking us around a bit," Roos said.
"They are very good all over the ground, can score quick goals and boast in Simon Black, Michael Voss and Jason Akermanis three Brownlow medallists. I can't ever recall in my time in football any side in the VFL or AFL boasting that sort of a line-up.
"We are approaching the game confidently, but it still remains a great challenge for us. It is going to be a good test for our guys."
Roos' only selection problem is key utility Matthew Nicks, who missed the win against Collingwood with a back injury. "Nicks remains a bit doubtful," he said.
Sidelined for three games with a calf injury, veteran Daryn Cresswell believes he is close to full fitness after playing the past two matches.
Brisbane will be looking to mark the 300th game of veteran defender Marcus Ashcroft with a win.
Ashcroft, 31, will become the first Queenslander to play 300 games of league football, having started as a Brisbane Bear in 1989.
He has since watched seven coaches come and go, survived 15 seasons, missing only 21 matches in that time.
Ashcroft, who played 170 of his 299 games in succession, has never been reported or been engaged in controversy. "I think I'm not a real flash player," Ashcroft said. "I think I am a player that may do the ordinary things extraordinarily well without being noticed too much by the outside world. And that's the way I like to be."
Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews has lost key forward Jonathan Brown to injury. Key defender Justin Leppitsch (groin) and ruckman Beau McDonald (shoulder) face fitness tests tomorrow.
The loss of Brown has been offset by news that fellow key forward Alastair Lynch is expected to be available as he manages the lingering effects of chronic fatigue syndrome.
By Peter Kogoy, Australian Football
May 08, 2003
IF the AFL required any more proof that its expansion plans are working, it need look no further than Sunday's match between Sydney and the Brisbane Lions.
Sydney are chasing a their third successive win after beating 2002 grand finalists Collingwood in Melbourne last Saturday night after coming home strongly to topple Melbourne the previous round.
The unbeaten Lions are showing every sign of being on track for a third successive crown.
Sydney coach Paul Roos believes the Mother's Day encounter at the SCG between two teams from states where Australian football is not the main code has all the markings of a blockbuster and is worthy of a sell-out crowd.
"We're not taking Brisbane lightly. They are a side capable of knocking us around a bit," Roos said.
"They are very good all over the ground, can score quick goals and boast in Simon Black, Michael Voss and Jason Akermanis three Brownlow medallists. I can't ever recall in my time in football any side in the VFL or AFL boasting that sort of a line-up.
"We are approaching the game confidently, but it still remains a great challenge for us. It is going to be a good test for our guys."
Roos' only selection problem is key utility Matthew Nicks, who missed the win against Collingwood with a back injury. "Nicks remains a bit doubtful," he said.
Sidelined for three games with a calf injury, veteran Daryn Cresswell believes he is close to full fitness after playing the past two matches.
Brisbane will be looking to mark the 300th game of veteran defender Marcus Ashcroft with a win.
Ashcroft, 31, will become the first Queenslander to play 300 games of league football, having started as a Brisbane Bear in 1989.
He has since watched seven coaches come and go, survived 15 seasons, missing only 21 matches in that time.
Ashcroft, who played 170 of his 299 games in succession, has never been reported or been engaged in controversy. "I think I'm not a real flash player," Ashcroft said. "I think I am a player that may do the ordinary things extraordinarily well without being noticed too much by the outside world. And that's the way I like to be."
Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews has lost key forward Jonathan Brown to injury. Key defender Justin Leppitsch (groin) and ruckman Beau McDonald (shoulder) face fitness tests tomorrow.
The loss of Brown has been offset by news that fellow key forward Alastair Lynch is expected to be available as he manages the lingering effects of chronic fatigue syndrome.
Comment