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Swans backed a winner in Roos
7:54:58 PM Sun 1 June, 2003
Patrick Smith
afl.com.au
When the Sydney players ringed coach Paul Roos at the end of last season it was a memorable moment in sport. It was spontaneous. They chanted his name. We had seen nothing like it before.
The act paid tribute to some of the clubs old warriors whose career came to an end with that game but it also was a very public endorsement of Roos, a rookie coach.
Roos, a club champion, who had taken over the coaching role after Rodney Eade decided to snatch his time well before the end of the season.
The act by the players was a political statement. Clearly, the club board was prepared to replace Roos with Terry Wallace who had become available after he walked out on the Bulldogs with a game to go in the season. Clearly, the players thought this the wrong move.
It was symbolic act that was impossible for the board to resist. As well as demanding the board appoint Roos, it also galvanised the public, supporters, members and the media in a campaign to install Roos as the coach for season 2003.
It became irresistible and Roos was duly made the Swans coach. Eade and Wallace are now on media duties and doing an impressive job.
As for the Swans they are in sixth position on the ladder with six wins from 10 games. Ahead of them on the ladder are the other five non-Victorian clubs.
There is another side to this. When the players engaged in their public election of Roos they took an enormous responsibility upon themselves. For one, they really didn?t know whether Roos would be a better coach than Wallace. What they really only knew was they enjoyed the end of the season when Roos took over.
It might have been that life was better under Roos compared to Eade but they had no measuring stick to say life under Wallace would not be better still. That should have been a decision for the Swans board but the players? dance about Roos made that an almost impossible process.
So far the players? emotional validation of Roos has proved an overwhelming success. The season began a little shakily but the team is now playing a fast, possession game that six teams have had no answer for.
The key appears to be that Roos coaching style has proved very different to that of Eade, who was a wonderful tactician but an intense man.
On Sunday, Adam Goodes, the Swans ruckman who is now considered a favorite for the Brownlow Medal, spoke of life under Roos and away from Eade.
Goodes was out to offend no one but he made it clear that Roos had released the players to enjoy their football more. For the follower in the old football palance, Goodes career has taken off again. Roos has given him a licence to, well, do his own thing. He can ruck, he can push forward or back, he can mark whoever he likes.
That obviously presents opposition coaches with an unenviable task. If Goodes can move as freely ? and quickly ? as the coach allows then match-up problems are obvious.
But you can see it everywhere in the Sydney team. Look at Jude Bolton.
Under Eade, he had been identified as an honest hard working football but who was too slow. As well as he could get the ball, opposition players could exploit him. There is no secret that had the previously football department remained in place at Sydney Bolton would have been up for trade.
On Saturday night against Richmond, Bolton had 21 possessions ? the same as Goodes ? and was voted best on ground by most commentators.
Next week the Swans play Essendon at Telstra Stadium in Sydney. A crowd of some 50,000 is expected. With the Swans on a roll and Essendon back on the winning list with super stars to return, we might yet see another record AFL crowd in the harbor city.
There is little doubt the players had no idea of the actual responsibility that fell on their shoulders when they all but demanded the Swans board to select Roos. But as good as Roos has been for them, they have been as good for Roos.
Swans backed a winner in Roos
7:54:58 PM Sun 1 June, 2003
Patrick Smith
afl.com.au
When the Sydney players ringed coach Paul Roos at the end of last season it was a memorable moment in sport. It was spontaneous. They chanted his name. We had seen nothing like it before.
The act paid tribute to some of the clubs old warriors whose career came to an end with that game but it also was a very public endorsement of Roos, a rookie coach.
Roos, a club champion, who had taken over the coaching role after Rodney Eade decided to snatch his time well before the end of the season.
The act by the players was a political statement. Clearly, the club board was prepared to replace Roos with Terry Wallace who had become available after he walked out on the Bulldogs with a game to go in the season. Clearly, the players thought this the wrong move.
It was symbolic act that was impossible for the board to resist. As well as demanding the board appoint Roos, it also galvanised the public, supporters, members and the media in a campaign to install Roos as the coach for season 2003.
It became irresistible and Roos was duly made the Swans coach. Eade and Wallace are now on media duties and doing an impressive job.
As for the Swans they are in sixth position on the ladder with six wins from 10 games. Ahead of them on the ladder are the other five non-Victorian clubs.
There is another side to this. When the players engaged in their public election of Roos they took an enormous responsibility upon themselves. For one, they really didn?t know whether Roos would be a better coach than Wallace. What they really only knew was they enjoyed the end of the season when Roos took over.
It might have been that life was better under Roos compared to Eade but they had no measuring stick to say life under Wallace would not be better still. That should have been a decision for the Swans board but the players? dance about Roos made that an almost impossible process.
So far the players? emotional validation of Roos has proved an overwhelming success. The season began a little shakily but the team is now playing a fast, possession game that six teams have had no answer for.
The key appears to be that Roos coaching style has proved very different to that of Eade, who was a wonderful tactician but an intense man.
On Sunday, Adam Goodes, the Swans ruckman who is now considered a favorite for the Brownlow Medal, spoke of life under Roos and away from Eade.
Goodes was out to offend no one but he made it clear that Roos had released the players to enjoy their football more. For the follower in the old football palance, Goodes career has taken off again. Roos has given him a licence to, well, do his own thing. He can ruck, he can push forward or back, he can mark whoever he likes.
That obviously presents opposition coaches with an unenviable task. If Goodes can move as freely ? and quickly ? as the coach allows then match-up problems are obvious.
But you can see it everywhere in the Sydney team. Look at Jude Bolton.
Under Eade, he had been identified as an honest hard working football but who was too slow. As well as he could get the ball, opposition players could exploit him. There is no secret that had the previously football department remained in place at Sydney Bolton would have been up for trade.
On Saturday night against Richmond, Bolton had 21 possessions ? the same as Goodes ? and was voted best on ground by most commentators.
Next week the Swans play Essendon at Telstra Stadium in Sydney. A crowd of some 50,000 is expected. With the Swans on a roll and Essendon back on the winning list with super stars to return, we might yet see another record AFL crowd in the harbor city.
There is little doubt the players had no idea of the actual responsibility that fell on their shoulders when they all but demanded the Swans board to select Roos. But as good as Roos has been for them, they have been as good for Roos.
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