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AFL
Angry Roos turns up heat on AFL
By TIM MORRISSEY
February 21, 2004
PAUL Roos believes the Melbourne-centric AFL needs to brush up on its Sydney geography after the league left the Swans coach sweating on his request to add two players to his interchange bench for tomorrow's Wizard Cup game.
With temperatures in western Sydney expected to reach an oppressive 37 degrees, Roos has repeatedly asked the AFL for permission to increase the Swans interchange from six to eight players for the Carlton game at Telstra Stadium.
However, the league has so far denied his request on the basis, according to one AFL spokesperson, that tomorrow's predicted average temperature for Sydney is going to be 29 degrees.
Roos believes the indecision by the league. and their lack of understanding when it comes to Sydney geography. is not only a farce but also places the players' health at risk.
"The AFL is using the predicted temperature at Bondi on the beach on Sunday," said Roos. "So why don't we relocate the game and we can play beach volleyball instead.
"The league should look at the temperatures out west. It's going to be somewhere between 33-37 degrees.
"What does it matter to the AFL if both teams want eight players on the interchange?"
The Swans had a taste of what tomorrow has install for them when they trained at Homebush in sweltering conditions, made worst by the fact that Telstra Stadium's unique design intensifies the heat by reducing air circulation.
The AFL's stance, on top of their refusal to budge on trialing a new rule that limits runners to five messages a quarter, has incensed the Swans coach.
Roos is one of many AFL coaches calling for the league to rethink the scheduling and rule changes pertaining to Wizard Cup.
"You'd like to think that common sense prevails and you'd try and look after the players," said Roos.
"For the players safety, you'd want to be able to get them on and off," he added.
"But with only five messages you might be faced with a situation were the coach wants somebody off ? but the player hasn't looked over and seen his number and plays four or five minutes longer than he should have and does a hamstring.
"But there's a couple of strange things going on at the moment which is a bit concerning for the coaches and clubs."
Roos also took a back-handed swipe at the self interests of television scheduling and the impact it's had on Wizard Cup game times.
"I have no idea why it wasn't a Saturday night game," said Roos.
But the simple answer why the Swans are playing at 3.45pm tomorrow in the middle of the hottest month of the year is live television.
It's why the Kangaroos face Melbourne from 1.10pm today in Canberra.
AFL
Angry Roos turns up heat on AFL
By TIM MORRISSEY
February 21, 2004
PAUL Roos believes the Melbourne-centric AFL needs to brush up on its Sydney geography after the league left the Swans coach sweating on his request to add two players to his interchange bench for tomorrow's Wizard Cup game.
With temperatures in western Sydney expected to reach an oppressive 37 degrees, Roos has repeatedly asked the AFL for permission to increase the Swans interchange from six to eight players for the Carlton game at Telstra Stadium.
However, the league has so far denied his request on the basis, according to one AFL spokesperson, that tomorrow's predicted average temperature for Sydney is going to be 29 degrees.
Roos believes the indecision by the league. and their lack of understanding when it comes to Sydney geography. is not only a farce but also places the players' health at risk.
"The AFL is using the predicted temperature at Bondi on the beach on Sunday," said Roos. "So why don't we relocate the game and we can play beach volleyball instead.
"The league should look at the temperatures out west. It's going to be somewhere between 33-37 degrees.
"What does it matter to the AFL if both teams want eight players on the interchange?"
The Swans had a taste of what tomorrow has install for them when they trained at Homebush in sweltering conditions, made worst by the fact that Telstra Stadium's unique design intensifies the heat by reducing air circulation.
The AFL's stance, on top of their refusal to budge on trialing a new rule that limits runners to five messages a quarter, has incensed the Swans coach.
Roos is one of many AFL coaches calling for the league to rethink the scheduling and rule changes pertaining to Wizard Cup.
"You'd like to think that common sense prevails and you'd try and look after the players," said Roos.
"For the players safety, you'd want to be able to get them on and off," he added.
"But with only five messages you might be faced with a situation were the coach wants somebody off ? but the player hasn't looked over and seen his number and plays four or five minutes longer than he should have and does a hamstring.
"But there's a couple of strange things going on at the moment which is a bit concerning for the coaches and clubs."
Roos also took a back-handed swipe at the self interests of television scheduling and the impact it's had on Wizard Cup game times.
"I have no idea why it wasn't a Saturday night game," said Roos.
But the simple answer why the Swans are playing at 3.45pm tomorrow in the middle of the hottest month of the year is live television.
It's why the Kangaroos face Melbourne from 1.10pm today in Canberra.
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