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Swans who ruffle feathers
06 August 2003 Herald Sun
By JOHN THIRSK
JARED Crouch has laid 65 tackles this season, while Brett Kirk has an even more impressive 101 bone-crunchers.
They are the unsung heroes of Sydney's remarkable rise up the ladder this season.
And at the SCG on Saturday night, the pair will be at it again, hoping to do a number on Hawthorn's two blond playmakers, Shane Crawford and Sam Mitchell, in a game the Swans must win to keep their top-four hopes alive.
Crouch and Kirk have met a who's who of the AFL this season and come up trumps.
Crouch has been matched up against Jeff Farmer, Stephen Milne, Ashley Sampi, Gary Ablett Jr and Andrew McLeod.
Kirk, regarded as a Brownlow Medal "sleeper" and possible All-Australian, has taken on Ben Cousins, Nathan Buckley, Peter Bell, Mark Ricciuto and Simon Black with distinction.
"My role as a tagger has changed a bit," Crouch said yesterday.
"I'm more of a defensive type player whose job is to stop my opponent from getting a kick and scoring goals.
"Brett is a defensive midfielder who has shut down some of the best in the competition.
"He has had a fantastic season and his discipline is one for the books in the way he can concentrate for the full four quarters and not give his opponent an inch to move all day."
Crouch said that Adelaide's dual premiership player McLeod, whom he came up against on Sunday, was the best he has had to play on.
"You can be on top of McLeod for three quarters and suddenly he can turn a match on its ear, kicking three goals and getting six kicks in as many minutes," he said.
"McLeod has explosive pace from a standing start, possesses great skills and has the ability to change gear whenever he wants.
"You've got to restrict McLeod with negating tactics by keeping his efficiency rate down and not allowing him to operate inside his own attacking 50m area.
"The idea is to put him under pressure from getting kicks rather than letting him run free."
Kirk's 101 tackles is the highest in the competition, ahead of Docker Troy Cook (92), Tiger Mark Coughlan (89) and Saint Lenny Hayes (88).
"We have worked hard as a unit on our tackling and learnt from the rugby league and union players," Crouch said.
06 August 2003 Herald Sun
By JOHN THIRSK
JARED Crouch has laid 65 tackles this season, while Brett Kirk has an even more impressive 101 bone-crunchers.
They are the unsung heroes of Sydney's remarkable rise up the ladder this season.
And at the SCG on Saturday night, the pair will be at it again, hoping to do a number on Hawthorn's two blond playmakers, Shane Crawford and Sam Mitchell, in a game the Swans must win to keep their top-four hopes alive.
Crouch and Kirk have met a who's who of the AFL this season and come up trumps.
Crouch has been matched up against Jeff Farmer, Stephen Milne, Ashley Sampi, Gary Ablett Jr and Andrew McLeod.
Kirk, regarded as a Brownlow Medal "sleeper" and possible All-Australian, has taken on Ben Cousins, Nathan Buckley, Peter Bell, Mark Ricciuto and Simon Black with distinction.
"My role as a tagger has changed a bit," Crouch said yesterday.
"I'm more of a defensive type player whose job is to stop my opponent from getting a kick and scoring goals.
"Brett is a defensive midfielder who has shut down some of the best in the competition.
"He has had a fantastic season and his discipline is one for the books in the way he can concentrate for the full four quarters and not give his opponent an inch to move all day."
Crouch said that Adelaide's dual premiership player McLeod, whom he came up against on Sunday, was the best he has had to play on.
"You can be on top of McLeod for three quarters and suddenly he can turn a match on its ear, kicking three goals and getting six kicks in as many minutes," he said.
"McLeod has explosive pace from a standing start, possesses great skills and has the ability to change gear whenever he wants.
"You've got to restrict McLeod with negating tactics by keeping his efficiency rate down and not allowing him to operate inside his own attacking 50m area.
"The idea is to put him under pressure from getting kicks rather than letting him run free."
Kirk's 101 tackles is the highest in the competition, ahead of Docker Troy Cook (92), Tiger Mark Coughlan (89) and Saint Lenny Hayes (88).
"We have worked hard as a unit on our tackling and learnt from the rugby league and union players," Crouch said.
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