Tweet
The Sun Herald
High-flyers are contenders for All-Oz six-pack
By James MacSmith
August 24, 2003
All-Australian selector Gerard Healy says at least six Swans could find themselves selected in the representative side at season's end.
The 1988 Brownlow medallist said he was delighted by his former club's form this year after initially expecting them to finish mid-table.
He said any side that had enjoyed the success Sydney has this year was entitled to have several of their best players chosen.
"There are a number of guys in that team who are more than a chance," Healy said.
"A lot of sides in past years who have done what they have done have had at least six players vying for spots. And that could certainly happen again this year with Sydney.
"Some selections will already be apparent to everyone, but there are still a lot of spots wide open."
Tagger Brett Kirk and unpredictable defender Leo Barry already have been tipped as possible All-Australian selections.
While three-time Swans best-and-fairest Healy was reluctant to comment on the selection chances of individual players, he did praise the performances so far this year of Adam Goodes, Barry Hall, Michael O'Loughlin and Paul Williams.
"Barry Hall has become one of the dominant forces of the competition while Adam Goodes has shown what he can do and I think he will only get better," Healy said. "O'Loughin has been sensational and, if he can continue in coming years what he's been doing this year, the Swans will continue to be one of the top sides.
"Paul Williams has been in great form. He was desperately unlucky not to be selected in the All-Australian side last year. He's certainly a chance again this year, and this time the cards might fall in his favour, or they might not."
Healy will again select the All-Australian side with AFL football administration manager Rod Austin, Tigers legend Kevin Bartlett, AFL football operations general manager and 2004 chief executive Andrew Demetriou, dual premiership player Chris Mainwaring, hall of fame member Neil Kerley, former premiership coach and player Robert Walls, with outgoing chief executive Wayne Jackson the non-voting chairman.
If a Swan is selected in the team, it will be the first time since O'Loughlin in 2001 that Sydney has had a representative.
AFL legend Ron Barassi, among others, has claimed Swans coach Paul Roos to be a certainty for coach of the year.
But if Roos is to emulate former Sydney coach Rodney Eade's feat of being named All-Australian coach in his first full year at the helm of the Swans, Roos will have to go one better than Eade and steer them to the flag.
Recent selection rule changes mean that the premiership-winning coach is automatically named All-Australian coach.
High-flyers are contenders for All-Oz six-pack
By James MacSmith
August 24, 2003
All-Australian selector Gerard Healy says at least six Swans could find themselves selected in the representative side at season's end.
The 1988 Brownlow medallist said he was delighted by his former club's form this year after initially expecting them to finish mid-table.
He said any side that had enjoyed the success Sydney has this year was entitled to have several of their best players chosen.
"There are a number of guys in that team who are more than a chance," Healy said.
"A lot of sides in past years who have done what they have done have had at least six players vying for spots. And that could certainly happen again this year with Sydney.
"Some selections will already be apparent to everyone, but there are still a lot of spots wide open."
Tagger Brett Kirk and unpredictable defender Leo Barry already have been tipped as possible All-Australian selections.
While three-time Swans best-and-fairest Healy was reluctant to comment on the selection chances of individual players, he did praise the performances so far this year of Adam Goodes, Barry Hall, Michael O'Loughlin and Paul Williams.
"Barry Hall has become one of the dominant forces of the competition while Adam Goodes has shown what he can do and I think he will only get better," Healy said. "O'Loughin has been sensational and, if he can continue in coming years what he's been doing this year, the Swans will continue to be one of the top sides.
"Paul Williams has been in great form. He was desperately unlucky not to be selected in the All-Australian side last year. He's certainly a chance again this year, and this time the cards might fall in his favour, or they might not."
Healy will again select the All-Australian side with AFL football administration manager Rod Austin, Tigers legend Kevin Bartlett, AFL football operations general manager and 2004 chief executive Andrew Demetriou, dual premiership player Chris Mainwaring, hall of fame member Neil Kerley, former premiership coach and player Robert Walls, with outgoing chief executive Wayne Jackson the non-voting chairman.
If a Swan is selected in the team, it will be the first time since O'Loughlin in 2001 that Sydney has had a representative.
AFL legend Ron Barassi, among others, has claimed Swans coach Paul Roos to be a certainty for coach of the year.
But if Roos is to emulate former Sydney coach Rodney Eade's feat of being named All-Australian coach in his first full year at the helm of the Swans, Roos will have to go one better than Eade and steer them to the flag.
Recent selection rule changes mean that the premiership-winning coach is automatically named All-Australian coach.