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Promotion enough to make James cry . . . nearly
By Jessica Halloran
August 1 2003
After being delisted, suffering numerous hamstring tears and a bad knee injury, Heath James is doing the unexpected - he is preparing to play his sixth senior game.
After everyone wrote him off, James was elevated from the rookie to the senior list yesterday, a moment that made his mother - and him "nearly"- cry.
James's emotions were mixed with happiness and disbelief as he spoke about the possibility of playing a senior game. The last time he played one was in 2001. "When I found out I nearly cried, I was very excited," he said. "I was hoping to get through 10 games in the 'twos', but now hopefully I'll push up to the 'ones' as I've been listed as an emergency this week. It's all falling into place . . . it's happened way too fast."
Swans coach Paul Roos joked with James when he announced the good news.
"Roosy goes, 'We've got some bad news, mate'," James said. "I thought, 'Here we go'. [Roos said:] 'We've decided to put you back on the list'. I walked straight out and called my parents . . . Mum was a bit of an emotional wreck, but she cries easy though."
Most Swans players list James as their inspiration in their player profiles and Roos said his persistence and attitude were inspiring. His recent performances in the reserves earned him this opportunity.
"Everyone would have thought that his career would have been finished this year, he'd play a couple of games in the reserves this year and that would be it," Roos said. "It's a credit to him . . . we've lost three guys to long-term injury - Amon Buchanan [knee], Josh Thewlis [groin] and Jason Ball [shoulder] . . . When you consider he can go forward and back, a six-foot-three [191-centimetre] defender and forward, he's a good choice. He's looking a lot sharper and fitter."
Despite the injury list, Roos remained positive. "We didn't have 'Bally' last year and we won four games in a row," Roos said. "It is certainly a loss the group has the ability to overcome."
By Jessica Halloran
August 1 2003
After being delisted, suffering numerous hamstring tears and a bad knee injury, Heath James is doing the unexpected - he is preparing to play his sixth senior game.
After everyone wrote him off, James was elevated from the rookie to the senior list yesterday, a moment that made his mother - and him "nearly"- cry.
James's emotions were mixed with happiness and disbelief as he spoke about the possibility of playing a senior game. The last time he played one was in 2001. "When I found out I nearly cried, I was very excited," he said. "I was hoping to get through 10 games in the 'twos', but now hopefully I'll push up to the 'ones' as I've been listed as an emergency this week. It's all falling into place . . . it's happened way too fast."
Swans coach Paul Roos joked with James when he announced the good news.
"Roosy goes, 'We've got some bad news, mate'," James said. "I thought, 'Here we go'. [Roos said:] 'We've decided to put you back on the list'. I walked straight out and called my parents . . . Mum was a bit of an emotional wreck, but she cries easy though."
Most Swans players list James as their inspiration in their player profiles and Roos said his persistence and attitude were inspiring. His recent performances in the reserves earned him this opportunity.
"Everyone would have thought that his career would have been finished this year, he'd play a couple of games in the reserves this year and that would be it," Roos said. "It's a credit to him . . . we've lost three guys to long-term injury - Amon Buchanan [knee], Josh Thewlis [groin] and Jason Ball [shoulder] . . . When you consider he can go forward and back, a six-foot-three [191-centimetre] defender and forward, he's a good choice. He's looking a lot sharper and fitter."
Despite the injury list, Roos remained positive. "We didn't have 'Bally' last year and we won four games in a row," Roos said. "It is certainly a loss the group has the ability to overcome."
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