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Swans leave doubters red faced
Swans leave doubters red faced
Quentin Hull
It is hard to smile after letting a chance to win a game slip through your fingers but there will be plenty of Sydney fans with a warm fuzzy feeling after Saturday night?s season opener at the Gabba.
Some of the red and white faithful may look at the two-point margin and realise how credibly the Swans performed, but their reasons for optimism can run even deeper.
Despite the pressure that comes with making a preliminary final the year before, even if was viewed by some as a shock, first evidence suggests the ?come and have a kick with Roosy? attitude to the Swans youngsters will again be trait for the Sydneysiders this year.
Disguised in the wash of the Swans bold showing against Brisbane, and Jason Ball?s impersonation of former fellow Sydney ruckman Ricky Mott?s attempt to kick a winning goal, was another clear example of how coach Paul Roos is trying to develop the younger players on his list.
Two young men playing in their debut, along with another pair who are still set to reach double figures in games played, were shown faith by Roos and played important roles which helped the Swans get so close to upsetting the three-time premier.
To start with, first-gamers Paul Bevan and Jarrad McVeigh contributed more than you would expect from teenagers who are thrown in the deep end for their first crack at the big time.
In a Roos move, which had a touch of Kevin Sheedy about it, Bevan and McVeigh were tested in one of the toughest arenas of the AFL football in the 21st century - playing Brisbane at the Gabba.
It was not so much that the debutants picked up 12 possessions each, it was the manner in which they performed which would have pleased the Swans.
Bevan played a bit-part role in defence and was composed under pressure, while McVeigh was given a few spurts in the midfield and looked the part, so much so that this commentator confused him with his more experienced and accomplished team-mate Nic Fosdike on a couple of occasions.
McVeigh should look the part as he is a top 10 draftee (Number five overall in 2002) and spent the season in the Sydney reserves as a 17-year-old last season.
Add to McVeigh?s debut the valuable contribution of nine-gamer Luke Ablett (14 possessions), and Swans fans will smile at the prospect of this pair helping out the Sydney running brigade this season and in years to come.
But perhaps the biggest pat on the back of all should be reserved for the determined Heath James.
James has had well documented injury problems, which have restricted him to just seven games in five seasons before Saturday night, but his performance against the Lions gave footy fans an idea of why the Sydney hierarchy has persisted with him.
In the absence of former best and fairest winner Andrew Schauble, James was thrown to full-back and competed admirably against opponents such as Daniel Bradshaw and Justin Leppitsch.
Key tall defenders is one area where the Swans are a little lacking, and if James stays fit and continues to improve on the form he showed in round one, Sydney is well on its way to finding another man to sure up this element of its game.
One performance does not make a season, but Sydney showed signs on Saturday night that the doubters who termed last year a fluke might be looking a little red-faced in 21 weeks time.
Quentin Hull
It is hard to smile after letting a chance to win a game slip through your fingers but there will be plenty of Sydney fans with a warm fuzzy feeling after Saturday night?s season opener at the Gabba.
Some of the red and white faithful may look at the two-point margin and realise how credibly the Swans performed, but their reasons for optimism can run even deeper.
Despite the pressure that comes with making a preliminary final the year before, even if was viewed by some as a shock, first evidence suggests the ?come and have a kick with Roosy? attitude to the Swans youngsters will again be trait for the Sydneysiders this year.
Disguised in the wash of the Swans bold showing against Brisbane, and Jason Ball?s impersonation of former fellow Sydney ruckman Ricky Mott?s attempt to kick a winning goal, was another clear example of how coach Paul Roos is trying to develop the younger players on his list.
Two young men playing in their debut, along with another pair who are still set to reach double figures in games played, were shown faith by Roos and played important roles which helped the Swans get so close to upsetting the three-time premier.
To start with, first-gamers Paul Bevan and Jarrad McVeigh contributed more than you would expect from teenagers who are thrown in the deep end for their first crack at the big time.
In a Roos move, which had a touch of Kevin Sheedy about it, Bevan and McVeigh were tested in one of the toughest arenas of the AFL football in the 21st century - playing Brisbane at the Gabba.
It was not so much that the debutants picked up 12 possessions each, it was the manner in which they performed which would have pleased the Swans.
Bevan played a bit-part role in defence and was composed under pressure, while McVeigh was given a few spurts in the midfield and looked the part, so much so that this commentator confused him with his more experienced and accomplished team-mate Nic Fosdike on a couple of occasions.
McVeigh should look the part as he is a top 10 draftee (Number five overall in 2002) and spent the season in the Sydney reserves as a 17-year-old last season.
Add to McVeigh?s debut the valuable contribution of nine-gamer Luke Ablett (14 possessions), and Swans fans will smile at the prospect of this pair helping out the Sydney running brigade this season and in years to come.
But perhaps the biggest pat on the back of all should be reserved for the determined Heath James.
James has had well documented injury problems, which have restricted him to just seven games in five seasons before Saturday night, but his performance against the Lions gave footy fans an idea of why the Sydney hierarchy has persisted with him.
In the absence of former best and fairest winner Andrew Schauble, James was thrown to full-back and competed admirably against opponents such as Daniel Bradshaw and Justin Leppitsch.
Key tall defenders is one area where the Swans are a little lacking, and if James stays fit and continues to improve on the form he showed in round one, Sydney is well on its way to finding another man to sure up this element of its game.
One performance does not make a season, but Sydney showed signs on Saturday night that the doubters who termed last year a fluke might be looking a little red-faced in 21 weeks time.
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