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O'Loughlin just 20m from return
15 September 2003 Herald Sun
By TIM MORRISSEY
THE need for speed will decide Michael O'Loughlin's fate for Saturday night's showdown against Brisbane.
If the Swans' goalkicking wizard's injured right hamstring can handle a series of 20m sprints, O'Loughlin will play in the preliminary final.
But with a Grand Final berth up for grabs at Telstra Stadium, O'Loughlin knows he can't afford to be a liability.
"It all depends on the sprint," O'Loughlin said yesterday.
"If I can sprint, I'll play. If I can't, I'll rule myself out straight away."
After Brisbane brushed aside Adelaide at the Gabba on Friday night, many feel the Swans can't afford to be without the man they call "Magic" at full-forward.
O'Loughlin, who had been in superb form, tore his hamstring just minutes before the end of Sydney's Round 22 game against Melbourne.
But the Swans' heroic victory over minor premier Port Adelaide in their qualifying final gave O'Loughlin an extra week in his race to get fit.
O'Loughlin's explosiveness off the mark and evasive moves at top speed are the keys to him having an impact.
"That first 5m, then the next 15-20m, are critical to me," O'Loughlin said.
"I definitely need to sprint. If I can't sprint, I'm just going to be buggered.
"They may as well put one of the young guys in and they'll give 100 per cent as well. We've shown all year that we will cover for each other helping each other out. That's what our whole year has been about."
While all of Sydney is sweating on "Mick's muscle" healing in time for Saturday, Swans key defender Jason Saddington "should be OK" to play, Sydney coach Paul Roos predicted.
The Swans' other injury concerns ? Tadhg Kennelly (corked thigh), Stephen Doyle (ankle) and Ryan O'Keefe (shoulder) ? should all be fit.
If O'Loughlin ? who is only a 50-50 chance ? does play, Roos will face a selection dilemma.
The Swans mastermind is wary of having too many players on the interchange bench without the fitness to play 120 minutes of footy.
"What you have to be careful of is not playing too many guys who are underdone," said Roos. "Port showed you can easily have a couple of injuries hit you during the game.
"Jason is the one who's been out now for four weeks ? and that's when the fitness starts to drop off a bit."
15 September 2003 Herald Sun
By TIM MORRISSEY
THE need for speed will decide Michael O'Loughlin's fate for Saturday night's showdown against Brisbane.
If the Swans' goalkicking wizard's injured right hamstring can handle a series of 20m sprints, O'Loughlin will play in the preliminary final.
But with a Grand Final berth up for grabs at Telstra Stadium, O'Loughlin knows he can't afford to be a liability.
"It all depends on the sprint," O'Loughlin said yesterday.
"If I can sprint, I'll play. If I can't, I'll rule myself out straight away."
After Brisbane brushed aside Adelaide at the Gabba on Friday night, many feel the Swans can't afford to be without the man they call "Magic" at full-forward.
O'Loughlin, who had been in superb form, tore his hamstring just minutes before the end of Sydney's Round 22 game against Melbourne.
But the Swans' heroic victory over minor premier Port Adelaide in their qualifying final gave O'Loughlin an extra week in his race to get fit.
O'Loughlin's explosiveness off the mark and evasive moves at top speed are the keys to him having an impact.
"That first 5m, then the next 15-20m, are critical to me," O'Loughlin said.
"I definitely need to sprint. If I can't sprint, I'm just going to be buggered.
"They may as well put one of the young guys in and they'll give 100 per cent as well. We've shown all year that we will cover for each other helping each other out. That's what our whole year has been about."
While all of Sydney is sweating on "Mick's muscle" healing in time for Saturday, Swans key defender Jason Saddington "should be OK" to play, Sydney coach Paul Roos predicted.
The Swans' other injury concerns ? Tadhg Kennelly (corked thigh), Stephen Doyle (ankle) and Ryan O'Keefe (shoulder) ? should all be fit.
If O'Loughlin ? who is only a 50-50 chance ? does play, Roos will face a selection dilemma.
The Swans mastermind is wary of having too many players on the interchange bench without the fitness to play 120 minutes of footy.
"What you have to be careful of is not playing too many guys who are underdone," said Roos. "Port showed you can easily have a couple of injuries hit you during the game.
"Jason is the one who's been out now for four weeks ? and that's when the fitness starts to drop off a bit."
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