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Swans gang ready to plunder
By Jessica Halloran
May 10 2003
He tones down the odd savage message. He mixes up names and faces. Not the perfect runner, is Paul Kelly, but a considerate one.
On his debut he confused Craig Bolton with Jude Bolton at a practice match in Coffs Harbour.
"Early on I was a bit ordinary," said Kelly, who has officially been a runner for six rounds.
"There's a bit to it the role of the runner, it's a bit bigger than I imagined."
Last week, against Collingwood, when Rowan Warfe was to be sent onto the ground, Kelly gave Jason Ball the call instead. Still short of his form as a player, but there's more than enough credit in the Kelly account.
Swans coach Paul Roos says to see him walk through the rooms, talk to players before a game, to have his experience, is invaluable. The respect for him is immense.
Yesterday was officially Paul Kelly Tribute Day. There was a barbie, sausages scoffed, soft drink drunk, and fans watched the Swans train wearing Kelly's famous No.14 on their backs.
Roos wishes for a team of Paul Kellys. That hardness, skill and attitude in every player would be handy tomorrow against a team like Brisbane Lions, who are renowned not only for their skills but their desperation for the ball.
Nonetheless, Roos believes his side has a chance: "I don't think anyone can beat them if [Brisbane] are 100 per cent, they are unbeatable if they are playing their best football," he said.
"You hope a little bit that they are off the boil. If we play to our potential we'll give them a really good shake."
Roos has constantly reiterated that "Brisbane is the benchmark". His pitch to gain the Swans' coaching job showed the Lions as the role-model team.
Brisbane have regained Alastair Lynch after a two-week lay-off. The full-forward has been the Lions' leading goalkicker of the past three years, who along with Daniel Bradshaw will be a major challenge for the Swans' defence.
The Lions, who have won five and drawn one this season, are riddled with challenges. There are three Brownlow medallists in midfield - Simon Black, Michael Voss and Jason Akermanis - plus a stoic, tough defence line.
Kelly will be trying to lift the Swans despite his admissions that it's not easy being a runner. He says it's been good for him being involved with the club but he's learnt that he needs to keep up his levels of concentration.
He believes that there are perhaps too many runners on the field: "You probably only need one," Kelly said. "You probably don't need two, two's probably too much."
By Jessica Halloran
May 10 2003
He tones down the odd savage message. He mixes up names and faces. Not the perfect runner, is Paul Kelly, but a considerate one.
On his debut he confused Craig Bolton with Jude Bolton at a practice match in Coffs Harbour.
"Early on I was a bit ordinary," said Kelly, who has officially been a runner for six rounds.
"There's a bit to it the role of the runner, it's a bit bigger than I imagined."
Last week, against Collingwood, when Rowan Warfe was to be sent onto the ground, Kelly gave Jason Ball the call instead. Still short of his form as a player, but there's more than enough credit in the Kelly account.
Swans coach Paul Roos says to see him walk through the rooms, talk to players before a game, to have his experience, is invaluable. The respect for him is immense.
Yesterday was officially Paul Kelly Tribute Day. There was a barbie, sausages scoffed, soft drink drunk, and fans watched the Swans train wearing Kelly's famous No.14 on their backs.
Roos wishes for a team of Paul Kellys. That hardness, skill and attitude in every player would be handy tomorrow against a team like Brisbane Lions, who are renowned not only for their skills but their desperation for the ball.
Nonetheless, Roos believes his side has a chance: "I don't think anyone can beat them if [Brisbane] are 100 per cent, they are unbeatable if they are playing their best football," he said.
"You hope a little bit that they are off the boil. If we play to our potential we'll give them a really good shake."
Roos has constantly reiterated that "Brisbane is the benchmark". His pitch to gain the Swans' coaching job showed the Lions as the role-model team.
Brisbane have regained Alastair Lynch after a two-week lay-off. The full-forward has been the Lions' leading goalkicker of the past three years, who along with Daniel Bradshaw will be a major challenge for the Swans' defence.
The Lions, who have won five and drawn one this season, are riddled with challenges. There are three Brownlow medallists in midfield - Simon Black, Michael Voss and Jason Akermanis - plus a stoic, tough defence line.
Kelly will be trying to lift the Swans despite his admissions that it's not easy being a runner. He says it's been good for him being involved with the club but he's learnt that he needs to keep up his levels of concentration.
He believes that there are perhaps too many runners on the field: "You probably only need one," Kelly said. "You probably don't need two, two's probably too much."
