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Swans fear bad landing
By NIKKI TUGWELL and TIM MORRISSEY
March 15, 2004
THE Swans risk playing Russian roulette with a number of stars seven days before their season opener against Brisbane if they cannot relocate Saturday's final hitout from Lakeside Oval.
Sydney are expected to seek permission from the AFL for Michael O'Laughlan, Adam Schneider, Ben Mathews, Stephen Doyle and Jason Ball, whose preparation has been limited by injury, to play in Saturday's reserves game.
However, the poor condition of the Swans' official training ground which has disrupted their pre-season preparations has forced the club to consider an alternative venue, possibly Monarch Field in Campbelltown.
Rookie Daniel Hunt is out for three weeks with torn ligaments after twisting his ankle in a goal-kicking drill on Lakeside last week which had team officials once again questioning the standard of the surface.
Fortunately the Swans commence training at the SCG next week after what has been an almost inconceivable situation whereby a multi-million dollar sporting outfit has completed preseason on a ground that puts players at an added injury risk.
"This summer clearly isn't acceptable," Ireland said. "What you do risk is whether the hardness of the ground and the condition of the ground are going to cause injury. One of the reasons we are considering going somewhere else this week is because up until now we've been fortunate that we haven't [had a major injury because of it] but getting so close to the season we don't want to risk any chance."
Swans doctor Nathan Gibbs has questioned the Lakeside surface which has affected the rehabilitation of O'Laughlan and Doyle.
"One of the biggest issues is the ground hardness that definitely correlates with lower limb injuries," Gibbs said. "Mick O'Laughlan and Stephen Doyle, training on hard ground has been a factor with their comebacks."
Drought, water restrictions and social sports groups that plough the communal ground have attributed to the deterioration of Lakeside.
Upgrading Lakeside and restricting use to elite sporting teams is one option for the Swans, the other is buying their own ground.
SWANS captain Stuart Maxfield believes rookies Aaron Rogers and Paul Beven could be surprise selections for Sydney's round one showdown at the Gabba against triple premiers the Brisbane Lions.
Maxfield also rates promising youngster Mark Powell as a serious contender to make the 22-man squad for round one after the Swans wrapped up the official pre-season campaign with a resounding 116-64 victory over an undermanned Essendon side in Newcastle.
By NIKKI TUGWELL and TIM MORRISSEY
March 15, 2004
THE Swans risk playing Russian roulette with a number of stars seven days before their season opener against Brisbane if they cannot relocate Saturday's final hitout from Lakeside Oval.
Sydney are expected to seek permission from the AFL for Michael O'Laughlan, Adam Schneider, Ben Mathews, Stephen Doyle and Jason Ball, whose preparation has been limited by injury, to play in Saturday's reserves game.
However, the poor condition of the Swans' official training ground which has disrupted their pre-season preparations has forced the club to consider an alternative venue, possibly Monarch Field in Campbelltown.
Rookie Daniel Hunt is out for three weeks with torn ligaments after twisting his ankle in a goal-kicking drill on Lakeside last week which had team officials once again questioning the standard of the surface.
Fortunately the Swans commence training at the SCG next week after what has been an almost inconceivable situation whereby a multi-million dollar sporting outfit has completed preseason on a ground that puts players at an added injury risk.
"This summer clearly isn't acceptable," Ireland said. "What you do risk is whether the hardness of the ground and the condition of the ground are going to cause injury. One of the reasons we are considering going somewhere else this week is because up until now we've been fortunate that we haven't [had a major injury because of it] but getting so close to the season we don't want to risk any chance."
Swans doctor Nathan Gibbs has questioned the Lakeside surface which has affected the rehabilitation of O'Laughlan and Doyle.
"One of the biggest issues is the ground hardness that definitely correlates with lower limb injuries," Gibbs said. "Mick O'Laughlan and Stephen Doyle, training on hard ground has been a factor with their comebacks."
Drought, water restrictions and social sports groups that plough the communal ground have attributed to the deterioration of Lakeside.
Upgrading Lakeside and restricting use to elite sporting teams is one option for the Swans, the other is buying their own ground.
SWANS captain Stuart Maxfield believes rookies Aaron Rogers and Paul Beven could be surprise selections for Sydney's round one showdown at the Gabba against triple premiers the Brisbane Lions.
Maxfield also rates promising youngster Mark Powell as a serious contender to make the 22-man squad for round one after the Swans wrapped up the official pre-season campaign with a resounding 116-64 victory over an undermanned Essendon side in Newcastle.
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