Mickey O to play expansive role

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  • SWANSBEST
    On the Rookie List
    • Jan 2003
    • 868
    #1

    Mickey O to play expansive role

    O'Loughlin to play expansive role
    By Tim Morrissey
    March 18, 2004

    SWANS goal-kicking wizard Michael O'Loughlin will play a bigger role up the field this season according to Sydney coach Paul Roos.

    O'Loughlin was restricted to playing full forward exclusively last season because of chronic tendinitis which forced him to miss the opening three games.

    However, despite the injury again restricting O'Loughlin to limited game time this pre-season, the flashy forward is ahead of his fitness schedule.

    "I've got no doubt that he's actually better prepared this year than what he was this time last year," said Roos. "I think the first couple of weeks we'll see him play mainly at full forward.

    "Certainly I would think from round three or four onwards we will push him up the ground to half forward." O'Loughlin will play for the Swans' reserves in Canberra at Ainslie Oval on Saturday to get some extra match fitness going into Sydney's round one clash against the Brisbane Lions.

    Alongside him will be Jason Ball, Ben Mathews, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Mark Powell, Michael O'Loughlin and Stephen Doyle.



    http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,8997115-23211,00.html
    WMP
    Tags: expansive, mickey, play, role, Swans, sydney
    • floppinab
      Senior Player
      • Jan 2003
      • 1681
      #2
      Given the now well publicised issues with his knees can we really see him playing up field more often????

        Comment

        • SWANSBEST
          On the Rookie List
          • Jan 2003
          • 868
          #3
          When I first read the article it seemed to be a puzzle also. For Mickey to play a more "EXPANSIVE " role he would need to improve his durability somewhat. No doubting that he has the ability to do anything and I remember him playing a brilliant game as a ruck rover in an inter state match some years ago. But time marches on and injuries have obviously taken their toll. We will see.
          WMP

            Comment

            • CureTheSane
              Carpe Noctem
              • Jan 2003
              • 5032
              #4
              Paul Roos has read my concerns and is trying to alleviate my fears.

              Nice try Paul.
              The difference between insanity and genius is measured only in success.

                Comment

                • JF_Bay22_SCG
                  expat Sydneysider
                  • Jan 2003
                  • 3978
                  #5
                  My attitude to this is WHY?!

                  At the start of last season I was seriously on the verge of writing Micky O off, because I thought he was labouring in quite a few matches.

                  But since Roosey put him to full forward/forward pocket, our forward line has been one of the most potent in the AFL. He acts as a perfect foil for BBBB, is an excellent lead, has a good kick, is a fantastic crumber despite still being 6'3" tall, and unlike Nicks for example is a good mark in a high marking contest.

                  Just as you could not tag Goodes out of the game is his highly unconventional ruckman/on-baller role, I think Roosey has revolutionised the role of full forward by putting Mickey there. If you put a physical defender on him, Micky will rip them up with his roving skills and deadly reflexes. If you put a small player on him in an attempt to counter his pace, he will outmark you on a lead.

                  My attitude is that Micky's career has become rejuvenated by Roosey putting him up forward. His body is somewhat suspect, so puttting him on the HF line or as an on-baller will acheive what exactly?

                  I'm actually a little sad that Roosey didn't actually admit to saying that he had found a new position where Micky is of best use for the team.

                  I hope Roosey does not risk one of the better things we had going for us last season-Micky O at Full Forward.

                  What are your thoughts gang?

                  JF
                  "Never ever ever state that Sydney is gone.They are like cockroaches in the aftermath of a nuclear war"
                  (Forum poster 'Change', Big Footy 04Apr09)

                    Comment

                    • Charlie
                      On the Rookie List
                      • Jan 2003
                      • 4101
                      #6
                      While his move to full-forward wasn't exactly a 'revolutionary' move (there have been a fair few similar full-forwards, not least of them Gary Ablett), I agree with you JF.

                      If FF is working for Micky... why not keep him there?
                      We hate Anthony Rocca
                      We hate Shannon Grant too
                      We hate scumbag Gaspar
                      But Leo WE LOVE YOU!

                        Comment

                        • CureTheSane
                          Carpe Noctem
                          • Jan 2003
                          • 5032
                          #7
                          Why not?

                          Where do all these comments from Paul come from?

                          I am hoping they are taken from interviews and are based on direct questions.

                          It MUST be a context thing.

                          I mean, play Michael at FF, CHF, FB< CHB Wing, hell even in the ruck.
                          If it doesn't work, he gets put back where he belongs.

                          The only forseeable problem is the injury risk being played out of position.

                          Bit of a nothing comment in the wash up, IMO
                          The difference between insanity and genius is measured only in success.

                            Comment

                            • dimelb
                              pr. dim-melb; m not f
                              • Jun 2003
                              • 6889
                              #8
                              I'm in favour of keeping him up forward. It became obvious last season that he is very hard to match up at FF or FPocket - Brisbane had real trouble with him and his (and Jason Ball's) absence in the QF were the main reasons we didn't go all the way imo. There is no more naturally talented player on our list, perhaps on anyone's list. He is a sheer joy to watch - but he's best down the front.
                              He reminds him of the guys, close-set, slow, and never rattled, who were play-makers on the team. (John Updike, seeing Josh Kennedy in a crystal ball)

                                Comment

                                • stellation
                                  scott names the planets
                                  • Sep 2003
                                  • 9737
                                  #9
                                  Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG

                                  Just as you could not tag Goodes out of the game is his highly unconventional ruckman/on-baller role, I think Roosey has revolutionised the role of full forward by putting Mickey there. If you put a physical defender on him, Micky will rip them up with his roving skills and deadly reflexes. If you put a small player on him in an attempt to counter his pace, he will outmark you on a lead.
                                  In a game against West Coast last year he ran rings around poor old Daniel Chick. The commentators kept replaying Micky's leading and they were swooning.

                                  Damn straight though with being confused, I can't understand it either. Isn't FF a glamour position any more?????
                                  I knew him as a gentle young man, I cannot say for sure the reasons for his decline
                                  We watched him fade before our very eyes, and years before his time

                                    Comment

                                    • Dpw
                                      On the Rookie List
                                      • Jan 2003
                                      • 829
                                      #10
                                      I doubt MO will be playing anywhere other than the FF line,

                                      Lets face it, it was something to say and something to print.

                                        Comment

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