Training

[dawson]

Just got back from training - very nice and relaxed atmosphere.

Doyle was sitting in the stands as was Brad Seymour.
Ryan O'Keefe was running around and looked in good form.

When Neil Cordy did his piece to camera, Barry Hall was kicking 20m grubbers which were hitting the cameraman in the head or leg or in the camera. Quite funny.

Apart from that not much to report - at the end - Nick Davis, Cressa and Willo have a goal kicking contest from the 50m line from the right forward pocket at the Berwongle end. I think Nick won it as he threaded them through from there.

Not many people there.

Took photos - will hopefully post them tomorrow.

[Frosty_13]

Is o'keffe any chance to play? It would be great to see him and Micky come in for the game next week.

[dawson]

I think he would be a certainty to play - especially since Seymour is injured.

[robbieando]

With Seymour out and with O'Keefe, Magic and Saddington all a chance to come back, which other 2 players would you drop???

Ablett despite the good effort from Sunday looks like he'll be dropped (he has done enough in the short time he had to prove he has earnt a spot for next year) The other might be Stevens but he did a good job down back and I think he'll only be dropped if Saddo comes in, which seems unlikely.

[SWANSBEST]

Reading between the lines I would say that Saddo has little chance of returning .



Players happy to get through training unhurt
By Jessica Halloran
September 12, 2003

No one fell over and hurt their shoulder, arm or any other vital muscle or bone. Everything went fine at Swans training at the SCG yesterday, everything was calm. Even the weather was great.

Paul Williams stood in the sun and said the fierce contest with Port Adelaide had taken its toll on some of the team but excitement for the September 20 preliminary final was starting to increase.

"It's pretty calm [around the club]," Williams said. "It will build up a little bit more next week but this week is about the maintenance and getting the body right. It [the Port game] did take a fair bit out of us and it's good to have the week off. They've trained us a little lighter to rest us up a little bit, then we'll have a pretty solid run on Saturday."

Williams is one game away from a grand final and he realises the value of the opportunity. "There's a lot of anticipation in my thoughts," he said. "You don't get there very often and we've just got to make sure we don't let ourselves down and we don't leave any stone unturned. We are just going to do what we did against Port and give it everything."

In the preliminary final the Swans will play the winners of tonight's Adelaide-Brisbane clash. The Swans will gather at Channel Ten studios to watch a live broadcast of the game with their coach Paul Roos. Williams said he didn't mind who won.

"They are going to be as hungry as ever, whoever wins on Friday night," Williams said. "It's going to be a 50-50 ball game come Saturday week.

"Everyone thought we weren't going to do to well this year [but] we've surpassed anything anyone's said. The confidence and belief in each other is as high as I've ever seen it."

Michael O'Loughlin (hamstring) spent time in the pool yesterday while his team ran around on the SCG. Roos rated him a 50-50 chance of playing.

"He ran a bit yesterday, which is where he should be at in terms of his rehab," Roos said. "The doctors are pretty happy with where he is at. Hopefully he will get up and play."

Jason Saddington (knee) is also making a good recovery but his selection is still in question.

"Saddo's starting to run now," Roos said. "Hopefully he might start training early next week. I guess what you've got to be careful of is not playing too many guys that are underdone. If Jason and Mick are both right, it's probably going to be hard to play both of them. We are just going to have to wait and see. Jason is the one who's been out for four weeks - that's when the fitness drop off a bit.

"Mick and Ryan [O'Keefe], if they are both right to play I don't have a problem with them in terms of fitness. Jason is the one we are going to have to make an interesting call on."

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/11/1063268522828.html

[sharp9]

All pretty logical, O'keefe for Seymour and (if fit) Magic For Ablett, Saddington for Stevens....but interesting that Roos was suggesting that bringing back TWO underdone players (Micky and Saddo) would be unlikely. If that were the case and we won next week with Stevens, C. Bolton and Schauble as our three tall backs - then you would be hard pressed to drop Stevens for the Granny, wouldn't you?

[liz]

Bear in mind there's got to be a big question mark over Doyle as well, particularly for the prelim. Given that he wasn't really fit when he lined up against Port, I can't see them risking him in the prelim unless he is 100% over his ankle problem. Stevens would almost certainly stay in if Doyle is out since he can pinch-hit in ruck contests around the ground.

[penga]

Originally posted by SWANSBEST
"Mick and Ryan [O'Keefe], if they are both right to play I don't have a problem with them in terms of fitness. Jason is the one we are going to have to make an interesting call on."

o'keefe and magic can come in underdone as they are forwards, they have the opportunity to determine their own pace, whereas for a defender, they have to follow someone, therefore a need to be fitter...

o'keefe would be far from underdone...

if doyle is out then you would think theyd have to bring JM in...

[Sid]

O'Keefe replaces Seymour.

Saddo and Mickey come in for doyle and abblet i think. Stevens should stay.

[Go Swannies]

Watch the video again. Stevens was as influential as anyone - a couple of his marks in the defensive goal square saved us and his error rate was very low. Great game by any standards but with only 23 (?) games it was excellent. And he's tall. I think, on recent form, he may serve us better than Saddo, especially a Saddo coming back from injury.

[chammond]

Great game by any standards

Actually, he played one good quarter. Which sums Stevens up pretty well.

I don't think anyone doubts that Stevens has the ability to play senior AFL, but he hasn't produced a full game of good football yet in the four years he's been at the Swans.

He often produces ten or fifteen minute bursts where he looks like he could take a game apart, but then goes 'walkabout' until he gets benched.

If he couldn't fit into Eade's team, and can't get a regular game under Roos, it's difficult to see him ever being anything more than a bit-player for the Swans.

It would be nice if he could find a permanent place in the defence, but I think he's running out of time to prove himself.

[jixygirl]

Stevens will stay in if Saddo can't play (which is likely). O'Keefe for Seymour and Micky for Ablett. That looks like what might happen.