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Doyle high in Swans' plans
By Nikki Tugwell
March 19, 2004
STEPHEN DOYLE predicts and reflects in modest proportions.
Take last year's preliminary final against Brisbane. The beanstalk Sydney ruckman-cum-forward was given three instructions.
He was to be a decoy in the forward line, his 203cm frame was to take a tall Lions defender and he would give Adam Goodes and his back-up Lewis Roberts-Thomson breathers in the ruck.
"They said they didn't expect me to play much game time and just give Lewis or Goodesy a break for five minutes a quarter," Doyle said.
"It wasn't a large role."
But with no Jason Ball, the Swans game revolved around Goodes; oppositions waited for him to be taken off the ball and then pounced.
Doyle and Roberts-Thomson were central to Sydney's need to hold their own while Goodes was rested. The Swans' success was built on 22 players doing their part and Doyle's role was crucial.
This season he again has an important job. His sheer height provides headaches in the forward line and he takes a good contested mark. Doyle rounds out the balance of the Swans attack alongside small forwards Nick Davis and Adam Schneider together with focal points Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin.
For Doyle, 22, to whom injuries have been his nemesis, the challenge is getting out on the park.
Like Michael O'Loughlin, he has been carefully managed through the pre-season. He injured his knee in round one last year and was rushed back for the last minor round game and both finals.
"Pre-Christmas they've just wanted me to get my body right, have a controlled pre-season," Doyle said.
Tomorrow he plays his first game since the preliminary final, against Tuggeranong in Canberra for the Swans reserves. He is likely to spend the first three weeks in the reserves building match fitness.
Having played just 20 games since making his debut in 2000, Doyle is taking a softly, softly approach.
"I would like to play about 18 games, not including finals, out of the 22 rounds," he said. "I just really want to play a full season."
The Daily Telegraph
By Nikki Tugwell
March 19, 2004
STEPHEN DOYLE predicts and reflects in modest proportions.
Take last year's preliminary final against Brisbane. The beanstalk Sydney ruckman-cum-forward was given three instructions.
He was to be a decoy in the forward line, his 203cm frame was to take a tall Lions defender and he would give Adam Goodes and his back-up Lewis Roberts-Thomson breathers in the ruck.
"They said they didn't expect me to play much game time and just give Lewis or Goodesy a break for five minutes a quarter," Doyle said.
"It wasn't a large role."
But with no Jason Ball, the Swans game revolved around Goodes; oppositions waited for him to be taken off the ball and then pounced.
Doyle and Roberts-Thomson were central to Sydney's need to hold their own while Goodes was rested. The Swans' success was built on 22 players doing their part and Doyle's role was crucial.
This season he again has an important job. His sheer height provides headaches in the forward line and he takes a good contested mark. Doyle rounds out the balance of the Swans attack alongside small forwards Nick Davis and Adam Schneider together with focal points Barry Hall and Michael O'Loughlin.
For Doyle, 22, to whom injuries have been his nemesis, the challenge is getting out on the park.
Like Michael O'Loughlin, he has been carefully managed through the pre-season. He injured his knee in round one last year and was rushed back for the last minor round game and both finals.
"Pre-Christmas they've just wanted me to get my body right, have a controlled pre-season," Doyle said.
Tomorrow he plays his first game since the preliminary final, against Tuggeranong in Canberra for the Swans reserves. He is likely to spend the first three weeks in the reserves building match fitness.
Having played just 20 games since making his debut in 2000, Doyle is taking a softly, softly approach.
"I would like to play about 18 games, not including finals, out of the 22 rounds," he said. "I just really want to play a full season."
The Daily Telegraph