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Roos cautious for Port clash
September 5, 2003
SYDNEY coach Paul Roos isn't under-estimating the massive challenge of tackling minor premier Port Adelaide on home turf.
His Power counterpart Mark Williams isn't under-estimating the Swans, either.
Sydney will go into Sunday's qualifying final at AAMI Stadium as the biggest outsider in any of the weekend's four matches.
Daryn Cresswell is likely to play after the veteran Swans midfielder made a stunning recovery from a groin injury.
But youngster Ryan O'Keefe will miss the match after jarring his shoulder in a collision at training today.
"If you play an interstate team at a neutral venue you give yourself more of a chance because they are an away team, as we would be," Roos said today.
"Every interstate team is harder to beat when you play them home ... it's a big challenge but we are confident we can take it up to them."
If Port prevails on Sunday, Sydney would be favoured to win a home semi against Fremantle or Essendon next weekend before advancing to a preliminary final against either Brisbane or Collingwood.
None of which fazes Roos, who rates the Lions, the Magpies and Port as "equal", and Sydney's record against all of them this year is none too shabby.
"Port beat us by 39 points over there, we had a couple of wins over Brisbane, we beat Collingwood once, lost to them once so I think all of those teams in the top bracket are pretty even," Roos said.
Having played his junior football for leading Adelaide club Norwood, Swans midfielder Nic Fosdike fully appreciates the size of the task facing the Swans on Sunday.
"We would rather play them away from AAMI Stadium, obviously they play it pretty well," he said.
"There's no pressure on us - we are just going to go over there and have a crack."
Having been upset by Collingwood at the same stage last season after winning the minor premiership, Williams has no intention of underselling the Swans.
"You can talk down Sydney as much as you want but we certainly know how good they are - they beat Brisbane in Brisbane three weeks ago, just remember that," he said today.
"(Injured key forward Michael) O'Loughlin's gone out of their forward line, but last time we played them he only kicked one goal so he didn't have much influence on that game anyway."
The Port coach has criticised several opposing teams this year for flooding against his free-running outfit and he expects more of the same on Sunday.
"Sydney play that way (defensively), they'll flood back and we're anticipating it, lots of teams do it against us but we're very confident of handling that and getting a winning score," he said.
"We'd like to kick 20, we're going out to kick 20 but as long as we can get over what they kick we'll be happy.
"Teams have been doing that to us for a fair time, and the more times they do it the more we're comfortable with it.
"We've won so many games with teams playing us like that - it's 'oh well, there he goes again'."
AAP
Roos cautious for Port clash
September 5, 2003
SYDNEY coach Paul Roos isn't under-estimating the massive challenge of tackling minor premier Port Adelaide on home turf.
His Power counterpart Mark Williams isn't under-estimating the Swans, either.
Sydney will go into Sunday's qualifying final at AAMI Stadium as the biggest outsider in any of the weekend's four matches.
Daryn Cresswell is likely to play after the veteran Swans midfielder made a stunning recovery from a groin injury.
But youngster Ryan O'Keefe will miss the match after jarring his shoulder in a collision at training today.
"If you play an interstate team at a neutral venue you give yourself more of a chance because they are an away team, as we would be," Roos said today.
"Every interstate team is harder to beat when you play them home ... it's a big challenge but we are confident we can take it up to them."
If Port prevails on Sunday, Sydney would be favoured to win a home semi against Fremantle or Essendon next weekend before advancing to a preliminary final against either Brisbane or Collingwood.
None of which fazes Roos, who rates the Lions, the Magpies and Port as "equal", and Sydney's record against all of them this year is none too shabby.
"Port beat us by 39 points over there, we had a couple of wins over Brisbane, we beat Collingwood once, lost to them once so I think all of those teams in the top bracket are pretty even," Roos said.
Having played his junior football for leading Adelaide club Norwood, Swans midfielder Nic Fosdike fully appreciates the size of the task facing the Swans on Sunday.
"We would rather play them away from AAMI Stadium, obviously they play it pretty well," he said.
"There's no pressure on us - we are just going to go over there and have a crack."
Having been upset by Collingwood at the same stage last season after winning the minor premiership, Williams has no intention of underselling the Swans.
"You can talk down Sydney as much as you want but we certainly know how good they are - they beat Brisbane in Brisbane three weeks ago, just remember that," he said today.
"(Injured key forward Michael) O'Loughlin's gone out of their forward line, but last time we played them he only kicked one goal so he didn't have much influence on that game anyway."
The Port coach has criticised several opposing teams this year for flooding against his free-running outfit and he expects more of the same on Sunday.
"Sydney play that way (defensively), they'll flood back and we're anticipating it, lots of teams do it against us but we're very confident of handling that and getting a winning score," he said.
"We'd like to kick 20, we're going out to kick 20 but as long as we can get over what they kick we'll be happy.
"Teams have been doing that to us for a fair time, and the more times they do it the more we're comfortable with it.
"We've won so many games with teams playing us like that - it's 'oh well, there he goes again'."
AAP
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