Disregard form book for Swans, Blues

[Reggi]

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,8747670-23211,00.html

Disregard form book for Swans, Blues
February 21, 2004

LAST season's form guide is meaningless in any assessment of tomorrow's Wizard Cup AFL clash between the recycled Carlton Blues and the rookie Sydney Swans at Telstra Stadium.

Tomorrow's teams bear little resemblance to the line-ups which took the two clubs to opposite ends of the 2003 ladder.

Carlton, the prime mover in last year's trading market, named 11 recruits in its initial squad for tomorrow's game, with newcomers drawn from seven different clubs.

They included three former Hawks, two Kangaroos, ex Port star Nick Stevens and former Sydney and Fremantle ruckman Ricky Mott.

Sydney, last season's surprise packet, also named a new-look line-up for the game, including no fewer than 11 players yet to play senior football.

The number of new faces could be reduced by tomorrow with the AFL still resisting pleas from both clubs for an expanded interchange bench because of forecast hot conditions.

While Carlton finished way below Sydney on last season's ladder, the Blues should field a vastly more experienced line-up tomorrow.

The only player in the Blues' squad yet to play a senior game is the speedy Stephen Kenna.

While the Blues had almost a full-strength list to choose from, Sydney selected a squad without 15 senior players, who were either injured or rested.

Among the Swans absent from tomorrow's fixture are Michael O'Loughlin, Paul Williams, Jason Ball, Leo Barry, Jude Bolton, Jared Crouch, Nick Davis and Ben Mathews.

"This week is going to be a big test for us, because obviously there's still a lot of guys that will be rested and Carlton will be out to prove a point," said Sydney midfielder Brett Kirk said.

For Carlton coach Denis Pagan, tomorrow's game is his first chance to see his many new recruits in opposed action.

"In terms of what they are going to do under pressure - how they are going to perform - the only way we're going to find that out is to get against quality opposition and we will know a little more about are group come Sunday afternoon," said Pagan.

AAP

[Reggi]

I will unfortunaly miss the game but going from the lists they should account for us easily - we are putting out such an inexperienced side.

Could be as ugly as the Cwood West Coast game

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by Reggi
Could be as ugly as the Cwood West Coast game

That's not ugly - it's a thing of beauty!!

[Reggi]

Yeah it pretty interesting even from afar - Cwood have had two years of the most incredible run with soft tissue injuries to players - they rarely have them - a bit of exposure devestates them