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Swans yet to earn lower numbers
February 05, 2004
SYDNEY's No.8 guernsey, worn with distinction by Team of the Century member Daryn Cresswell, will not be sighted on AFL grounds this year with club officials deciding no player has yet earned the right.
Midfielder Cresswell finished fifth on Sydney's all-time appearance list after logging 244 games in 12 seasons before retiring at the end of last year.
Cresswell, who made the interchange list on the Swans' team of the century, was subsequently appointed an assistant coach at AFL rival Geelong.
Sydney coach Paul Roos said a couple of players had put in for Cresswell's number.
However, No.8, and the No.16 guernsey formerly worn by Scott Stevens, were not granted to players who applied.
Roos and the match committee did, however, allow top draft pick Josh Willoughby to wear No.7 formerly worn by 1996 grand final player Brad Seymour, who left the club at the end of last season.
The only significant number change among the Swans was Adam Schneider, who was granted his wish to wear the No.13 shirt formerly occupied by Daniel McPherson who was delisted at the end of last season.
"Some of the young blokes put in for a few different numbers and we probably didn't feel at this stage they earned the right to change their number and go down to a lower number," Roos said.
"The reason Josh Willoughby got seven (was) last year we gave Jarrad McVeigh, who was our first (draft) pick, a choice, this year we gave Josh a lower number.
"But generally speaking it's about trying to earn the jumper. Schneider (who used to wear 36) wanted 13 and we felt he earned it."
The most revered Sydney guernsey, the No.14 worn by club champions Bob Skilton and Paul Kelly, remained unused for a second season following the retirement of the latter.
"No one even put in for it to be honest," Roos said.
"There's never any thoughts from our point of view of giving it away."
Meanwhile, the players relished the opportunity to have a hit out on a full sized field during this week's Community Camp in Newcastle after problems with their main training ground in Sydney.
"It was the best session they've had since we started, that's an indication of how important it was, the guys are jumping out of their skin and trained outstandingly well," Roos said.
Sydney trained at the Newcastle No.1 Sports Ground earlier this week and hoped to have their own ground fit for use next Monday.
February 05, 2004
SYDNEY's No.8 guernsey, worn with distinction by Team of the Century member Daryn Cresswell, will not be sighted on AFL grounds this year with club officials deciding no player has yet earned the right.
Midfielder Cresswell finished fifth on Sydney's all-time appearance list after logging 244 games in 12 seasons before retiring at the end of last year.
Cresswell, who made the interchange list on the Swans' team of the century, was subsequently appointed an assistant coach at AFL rival Geelong.
Sydney coach Paul Roos said a couple of players had put in for Cresswell's number.
However, No.8, and the No.16 guernsey formerly worn by Scott Stevens, were not granted to players who applied.
Roos and the match committee did, however, allow top draft pick Josh Willoughby to wear No.7 formerly worn by 1996 grand final player Brad Seymour, who left the club at the end of last season.
The only significant number change among the Swans was Adam Schneider, who was granted his wish to wear the No.13 shirt formerly occupied by Daniel McPherson who was delisted at the end of last season.
"Some of the young blokes put in for a few different numbers and we probably didn't feel at this stage they earned the right to change their number and go down to a lower number," Roos said.
"The reason Josh Willoughby got seven (was) last year we gave Jarrad McVeigh, who was our first (draft) pick, a choice, this year we gave Josh a lower number.
"But generally speaking it's about trying to earn the jumper. Schneider (who used to wear 36) wanted 13 and we felt he earned it."
The most revered Sydney guernsey, the No.14 worn by club champions Bob Skilton and Paul Kelly, remained unused for a second season following the retirement of the latter.
"No one even put in for it to be honest," Roos said.
"There's never any thoughts from our point of view of giving it away."
Meanwhile, the players relished the opportunity to have a hit out on a full sized field during this week's Community Camp in Newcastle after problems with their main training ground in Sydney.
"It was the best session they've had since we started, that's an indication of how important it was, the guys are jumping out of their skin and trained outstandingly well," Roos said.
Sydney trained at the Newcastle No.1 Sports Ground earlier this week and hoped to have their own ground fit for use next Monday.
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