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Injured Cresswell plays it safe and waits for his second chance
By Jessica Halloran
September 4, 2003
Daryn Cresswell said he could walk but not run and yesterday the Swans midfielder ruled himself out of playing in Sydney's qualifying final on Sunday.
The veteran has a tear in his groin and got through last Saturday's match against Melbourne only with the aid of painkilling injections.
Before training at Telstra Stadium yesterday, Cresswell said he was devastated to be missing the match against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, but could see the advantages of resting for the week.
"I don't think I'll play this week," Cresswell said. "You'd like to play finals but there is no use risking it this week and breaking down, and then next week, potentially a preliminary final and a grand final.
"It's pretty devastating but I've just got to look on the bright side - I could play next week. Hopefully the boys will do the right thing, and we'll get a week off, and I'll get three weeks."
Cresswell injured his groin last Wednesday during training and played for only half of the match against Melbourne.
Sydney coach Paul Roos said possible replacements for the veteran were Luke Ablett and the experienced Daniel McPherson.
"He's an important player for us but if he's not fit, and he certainly wasn't last weekend . . . if he's not fit, like most of our players, it's very hard for him to play his best football," Roos said.
"If he's only 80 or 90 [per cent] you are better to have someone 100 per cent fit, particularly playing in a finals game."
Cresswell, 32, announced at the start of the season that this would be his last, but he has been tempted to play on due to his form and the Swans' surprising success.
His is the latest name on the Swans' growing injury list. Michael O'Loughlin has a torn hamstring, and even Roos ruptured his Achilles tendon in a social game of basketball on Monday.
Roos was in high spirits yesterday after having an operation on the tendon, joking his way through questions about his leg at a press conference.
"I've made a sacrifice to the injury gods that we don't lose any more," he said. "I've just made a commitment to the team that I'll take the injuries for the other players and we won't lose anyone this week. I think it's a positive. It will just take a little longer to get from the coach's box to the ground."
Roos respects Port Adelaide. "They are a terrific team. They are three games clear on top, so they are three games better than any other team this year," he said.
Port coach Mark Williams has said his team hadn't operated at full strength in the win over Adelaide last round. Roos was hoping otherwise.
"I hope they don't have too much more up their sleeves," he said.
"It certainly didn't look like they held back watching the game, but whether they did or not I guess is for him only to say."
By Jessica Halloran
September 4, 2003
Daryn Cresswell said he could walk but not run and yesterday the Swans midfielder ruled himself out of playing in Sydney's qualifying final on Sunday.
The veteran has a tear in his groin and got through last Saturday's match against Melbourne only with the aid of painkilling injections.
Before training at Telstra Stadium yesterday, Cresswell said he was devastated to be missing the match against Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, but could see the advantages of resting for the week.
"I don't think I'll play this week," Cresswell said. "You'd like to play finals but there is no use risking it this week and breaking down, and then next week, potentially a preliminary final and a grand final.
"It's pretty devastating but I've just got to look on the bright side - I could play next week. Hopefully the boys will do the right thing, and we'll get a week off, and I'll get three weeks."
Cresswell injured his groin last Wednesday during training and played for only half of the match against Melbourne.
Sydney coach Paul Roos said possible replacements for the veteran were Luke Ablett and the experienced Daniel McPherson.
"He's an important player for us but if he's not fit, and he certainly wasn't last weekend . . . if he's not fit, like most of our players, it's very hard for him to play his best football," Roos said.
"If he's only 80 or 90 [per cent] you are better to have someone 100 per cent fit, particularly playing in a finals game."
Cresswell, 32, announced at the start of the season that this would be his last, but he has been tempted to play on due to his form and the Swans' surprising success.
His is the latest name on the Swans' growing injury list. Michael O'Loughlin has a torn hamstring, and even Roos ruptured his Achilles tendon in a social game of basketball on Monday.
Roos was in high spirits yesterday after having an operation on the tendon, joking his way through questions about his leg at a press conference.
"I've made a sacrifice to the injury gods that we don't lose any more," he said. "I've just made a commitment to the team that I'll take the injuries for the other players and we won't lose anyone this week. I think it's a positive. It will just take a little longer to get from the coach's box to the ground."
Roos respects Port Adelaide. "They are a terrific team. They are three games clear on top, so they are three games better than any other team this year," he said.
Port coach Mark Williams has said his team hadn't operated at full strength in the win over Adelaide last round. Roos was hoping otherwise.
"I hope they don't have too much more up their sleeves," he said.
"It certainly didn't look like they held back watching the game, but whether they did or not I guess is for him only to say."
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