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Rookies left to pick up the Ball
29 July 2003 AFL
By SHANNON McRAE
SYDNEY must fast-track a young ruckman to fill the void left by Jason Ball, ruled out for the season yesterday after he dislocated his shoulder against Fremantle.
James Meiklejohn, promoted from the rookie list, and Lewis Roberts-Thomson are the strongest prospects to shoulder the load as the Swans fight for a finals berth.
Meiklejohn looks set to ruck alongside Adam Goodes in Sunday's crucial encounter with Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, with Roberts-Thomson sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Ruckman Stephen Doyle, who has played just one match this year, will be unavailable for a further three matches after a Round 1 knee injury.
Swans coach Paul Roos said Ball, who missed all of 2002 after ripping a groin muscle from his pelvis during pre-season, had been devastated by the injury.
"It's a huge blow," Roos said last night.
"It definitely will (leave a hole). He's been such a strong player for us this year, after coming back from injury last year.
"He's been a key member of the team. It's going to leave us short. It's disappointing, but we'll have to adapt.
"It's disappointing for Jason, with him missing last year, and he'd had a fantastic year up until this stage. He's been great."
Ball had played every match this season until the injury, averaging eight kicks and 16 hitouts a match as an integral cog in the Swans' engine room.
Scans yesterday revealed he had ruptured his shoulder rotator cuff, and will require surgery followed by a 3-4 month rehabilitation period.
"If it was only the shoulder dislocation, Jason could quite possibly have attempted to play on," Swans doctor Nathan Gibbs said.
"However, the rotator cuff means he can't lift his arm, and won't be able to until such time as he has surgery on the shoulder."
Roos said the Swans' ruck problems were compounded by the fact none of its alternative options was fully fit.
Meiklejohn, who has played just three senior games, sustained a minor cheekbone injury playing for the reserves this month.
"Doyley's been out since Round 1 and we're not really sure when he'll be right to play at this stage," Roos said.
"And Roberts-Thomson and Meiklejohn are just two younger players who've played a little bit this year. They'll obviously be expected to do a little bit more work than we'd first thought.
"Lewis will be back in if he's right to play. Jimmy's been out for a couple of weeks also, but hopefully he'll be right to play as well, but we just won't know until the end of the week."http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/foo...E20322,00.html
Rookies left to pick up the Ball
29 July 2003 AFL
By SHANNON McRAE
SYDNEY must fast-track a young ruckman to fill the void left by Jason Ball, ruled out for the season yesterday after he dislocated his shoulder against Fremantle.
James Meiklejohn, promoted from the rookie list, and Lewis Roberts-Thomson are the strongest prospects to shoulder the load as the Swans fight for a finals berth.
Meiklejohn looks set to ruck alongside Adam Goodes in Sunday's crucial encounter with Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, with Roberts-Thomson sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Ruckman Stephen Doyle, who has played just one match this year, will be unavailable for a further three matches after a Round 1 knee injury.
Swans coach Paul Roos said Ball, who missed all of 2002 after ripping a groin muscle from his pelvis during pre-season, had been devastated by the injury.
"It's a huge blow," Roos said last night.
"It definitely will (leave a hole). He's been such a strong player for us this year, after coming back from injury last year.
"He's been a key member of the team. It's going to leave us short. It's disappointing, but we'll have to adapt.
"It's disappointing for Jason, with him missing last year, and he'd had a fantastic year up until this stage. He's been great."
Ball had played every match this season until the injury, averaging eight kicks and 16 hitouts a match as an integral cog in the Swans' engine room.
Scans yesterday revealed he had ruptured his shoulder rotator cuff, and will require surgery followed by a 3-4 month rehabilitation period.
"If it was only the shoulder dislocation, Jason could quite possibly have attempted to play on," Swans doctor Nathan Gibbs said.
"However, the rotator cuff means he can't lift his arm, and won't be able to until such time as he has surgery on the shoulder."
Roos said the Swans' ruck problems were compounded by the fact none of its alternative options was fully fit.
Meiklejohn, who has played just three senior games, sustained a minor cheekbone injury playing for the reserves this month.
"Doyley's been out since Round 1 and we're not really sure when he'll be right to play at this stage," Roos said.
"And Roberts-Thomson and Meiklejohn are just two younger players who've played a little bit this year. They'll obviously be expected to do a little bit more work than we'd first thought.
"Lewis will be back in if he's right to play. Jimmy's been out for a couple of weeks also, but hopefully he'll be right to play as well, but we just won't know until the end of the week."http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/foo...E20322,00.html
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