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Injured Swan at crossroads
March 14, 2004
Sydney's Stephen Doyle knows it's time to fly high again.
Photo: Vince Caligiuri
Knee problems are preventing Stephen Doyle from meeting the Swans' expectations, writes James MacSmith.
In a crucial year for Sydney ruckmen, Stephen Doyle readily admits that his career could live and die by his form - and his ability to avoid injury.
The 203-centimetre giant has played only 20 games in four years, and he apparently has been told by club officials that he needs to get more game time this year. Otherwise, his future at the club might be in doubt despite being only 22.
With No. 1 ruckman Jason Ball, 31, on a one-year contract and nearing the end of his career, this year looms as a make-or-break year for the two talls.
Both are yet to play in the pre-season, with Ball overcoming a shoulder injury, but he is expected to play in a week or two.
Doyle, who is battling tendonitis in his left knee, is not expected to be fully fit until round two or three of the premiership season.
And he knows if things don't look up, his football career may have only one more year to go.
"If I can't play football consistently this year, I might be struggling to stay with the club. That's a reality," Doyle said.
"There's no point in keeping someone who isn't playing, but the coaching staff have been really good, they're not pushing me to get back out there too soon, and they've been very encouraging."
Doyle kicked 2.1 in the Swans' first game against Carlton last year, and looked set to become a dangerous ruck-forward under coach Paul Roos, but most of his season was ruined when he injured his right knee late in the same game.
He returned in round 22 and played in both the Swans' finals.
"I'm aiming to play between 15 and 18 games this year," Doyle said. "The thing is that when I've made it out on the field, I've felt comfortable that I can play at that level, which makes it that much more frustrating.
"Speaking to Paul Roos, he doesn't want to rush me back, he only wants me to get out there only when I'm fully fit. But I know they're expecting more from me.
"We've got some good young guys coming through in the ruck like Lewis Roberts-Thomson, and I'm aware of the need to perform."
Doyle's pre-season was going swimmingly until tendonitis struck this month and now his preparation for 2004 has been derailed.
"It's not the knee I hurt last year, it's from overusing my left knee after I hurt my right knee," he said. "The injuries I've had are freak injuries.
"I'm not doing anything wrong. Four or five weeks ago, I felt great. It is a bit of a setback. It's pretty disappointing and frustrating."
When he has played, Doyle has been a dominant force in the forward line, but after losing his title as the club's tallest player to 205-centimetre newcomer Andrew Ericksen, Doyle said he wanted to spend most of his time in the ruck.
"I would prefer to play solely in the ruck and have to get my fitness up for that," he said. "I enjoy going forward and kicking goals and it's good to have someone like (Adam) Goodes who can go into the ruck from time to time.
"But . . . it's in the ruck that I think I can make a real difference in this club, and the time has come to do that."
March 14, 2004
Sydney's Stephen Doyle knows it's time to fly high again.
Photo: Vince Caligiuri
Knee problems are preventing Stephen Doyle from meeting the Swans' expectations, writes James MacSmith.
In a crucial year for Sydney ruckmen, Stephen Doyle readily admits that his career could live and die by his form - and his ability to avoid injury.
The 203-centimetre giant has played only 20 games in four years, and he apparently has been told by club officials that he needs to get more game time this year. Otherwise, his future at the club might be in doubt despite being only 22.
With No. 1 ruckman Jason Ball, 31, on a one-year contract and nearing the end of his career, this year looms as a make-or-break year for the two talls.
Both are yet to play in the pre-season, with Ball overcoming a shoulder injury, but he is expected to play in a week or two.
Doyle, who is battling tendonitis in his left knee, is not expected to be fully fit until round two or three of the premiership season.
And he knows if things don't look up, his football career may have only one more year to go.
"If I can't play football consistently this year, I might be struggling to stay with the club. That's a reality," Doyle said.
"There's no point in keeping someone who isn't playing, but the coaching staff have been really good, they're not pushing me to get back out there too soon, and they've been very encouraging."
Doyle kicked 2.1 in the Swans' first game against Carlton last year, and looked set to become a dangerous ruck-forward under coach Paul Roos, but most of his season was ruined when he injured his right knee late in the same game.
He returned in round 22 and played in both the Swans' finals.
"I'm aiming to play between 15 and 18 games this year," Doyle said. "The thing is that when I've made it out on the field, I've felt comfortable that I can play at that level, which makes it that much more frustrating.
"Speaking to Paul Roos, he doesn't want to rush me back, he only wants me to get out there only when I'm fully fit. But I know they're expecting more from me.
"We've got some good young guys coming through in the ruck like Lewis Roberts-Thomson, and I'm aware of the need to perform."
Doyle's pre-season was going swimmingly until tendonitis struck this month and now his preparation for 2004 has been derailed.
"It's not the knee I hurt last year, it's from overusing my left knee after I hurt my right knee," he said. "The injuries I've had are freak injuries.
"I'm not doing anything wrong. Four or five weeks ago, I felt great. It is a bit of a setback. It's pretty disappointing and frustrating."
When he has played, Doyle has been a dominant force in the forward line, but after losing his title as the club's tallest player to 205-centimetre newcomer Andrew Ericksen, Doyle said he wanted to spend most of his time in the ruck.
"I would prefer to play solely in the ruck and have to get my fitness up for that," he said. "I enjoy going forward and kicking goals and it's good to have someone like (Adam) Goodes who can go into the ruck from time to time.
"But . . . it's in the ruck that I think I can make a real difference in this club, and the time has come to do that."