Tweet
Roos warns Swans of Eagles' rampant midfield
July 3 2003
Sydney coach Paul Roos concedes the Swans will find it very difficult to counter West Coast's midfield and especially ruckman Michael Gardiner in Sunday's clash at the SCG.
The second- and fifth-placed teams in the competition square off in a match between two of this season's big AFL surprise packages.
The Swans' fast, hard-running midfield has been a revelation in 2003 but Roos acknowledged the much-improved group faced a difficult challenge against the rampant Eagles on-ball unit.
Apart from countering West Coast's running brigade, the Swans could suffer from a marked height disadvantage in the ruck if they use Adam Goodes, rather than Jason Ball, against Gardiner.
"Certainly, West Coast's great strength is their midfield, Michael Gardiner has been in sensational form and is clearly the best ruckman in the competition and you've got Daniel Kerr and Ben Cousins," Roos said yesterday.
"Chad Fletcher has been a terrific player, Andrew Embley has been a great player, Daniel Chick has been very good, so their midfield is a real strength and I think it's a real challenge for our midfield group this week.
"When you've got that combination it's pretty hard for our guys Bally and Goodesy to get over the top of him, so he's going to get his hand on the ball a lot."
Roos said back Jason Saddington would return through the reserves after missing several games through injury. Concern over Saddington's lack of match fitness will see him play in the ACTAFL competition this weekend.
"I'd love to have him back this week because of the match-ups, but if you are playing him, you are going to be playing him for 10 minutes then take him off the ground and that almost compounds your concerns," Roos said.
Meanwhile, Roos said he would love to get two cracks every year at AFL drawcard Collingwood in Sydney.
The AFL is considering scheduling a Magpies home game against the Swans at Sydney's Telstra Stadium during the bye weekend in 2004.
July 3 2003
Sydney coach Paul Roos concedes the Swans will find it very difficult to counter West Coast's midfield and especially ruckman Michael Gardiner in Sunday's clash at the SCG.
The second- and fifth-placed teams in the competition square off in a match between two of this season's big AFL surprise packages.
The Swans' fast, hard-running midfield has been a revelation in 2003 but Roos acknowledged the much-improved group faced a difficult challenge against the rampant Eagles on-ball unit.
Apart from countering West Coast's running brigade, the Swans could suffer from a marked height disadvantage in the ruck if they use Adam Goodes, rather than Jason Ball, against Gardiner.
"Certainly, West Coast's great strength is their midfield, Michael Gardiner has been in sensational form and is clearly the best ruckman in the competition and you've got Daniel Kerr and Ben Cousins," Roos said yesterday.
"Chad Fletcher has been a terrific player, Andrew Embley has been a great player, Daniel Chick has been very good, so their midfield is a real strength and I think it's a real challenge for our midfield group this week.
"When you've got that combination it's pretty hard for our guys Bally and Goodesy to get over the top of him, so he's going to get his hand on the ball a lot."
Roos said back Jason Saddington would return through the reserves after missing several games through injury. Concern over Saddington's lack of match fitness will see him play in the ACTAFL competition this weekend.
"I'd love to have him back this week because of the match-ups, but if you are playing him, you are going to be playing him for 10 minutes then take him off the ground and that almost compounds your concerns," Roos said.
Meanwhile, Roos said he would love to get two cracks every year at AFL drawcard Collingwood in Sydney.
The AFL is considering scheduling a Magpies home game against the Swans at Sydney's Telstra Stadium during the bye weekend in 2004.
Comment