Kennelly set for quick comeback

[Reggi]

Kennelly set for quick comeback
7:10:34 PM Thu 1 April, 2004
Bren O'Brien
Sportal/Exclusive to sydneyswans.com.au
Sydney has named Tadhg Kennelly in Sunday?s clash with Fremantle at the SCG, despite the fact he underwent knee surgery only last Thursday.

Kennelly suffered a setback at training leading up to the Swans? first match against Brisbane resulting in a subsequent procedure, but his miraculous recovery should see him take the field for the Swans? first home game.


The Irishman is one of four players to come onto a seven-man interchange bench, which will be trimmed before the match.

Adam Schneider has shrugged off a hamstring problem, Stephen Doyle is back and Aaron Rogers is given a chance to make his AFL debut.

Nick Davis is the only absentee from the side that was beaten narrowly by the Lions. He is expected to miss at least four weeks with a hip injury.

Graham Polak returns to the Dockers? side after overcoming knee trouble, and has been named at centre-half-forward.

Troy Longmuir and Ben Cunningham have been added to the bench, and will be vying with Andrew Browne, Justin Longmuir, Daniel Gilmore, Ryley Dunn and Shaun McManus for a spot in the final 22.

SYDNEY v FREMANTLE
Sunday, 1:10pm, SCG

SYDNEY
B: Mathews, James, Crouch
HB: Barry, Bolton, Roberts-Thomson
C: Maxfield, Kirk, Ablett
HF: Goodes, Hall, Williams
F: O?Keefe, O?Loughlin, Saddington
FOLL: Ball, Fosdike, Bolton
I/C from: Bevan, Doyle, Kennelly, McVeigh, Powell, Rogers, Scneider
IN: Doyle, Kennelly, Rogers, Schneider
OUT: Davis (thigh)

FREMANTLE
B: Parker, Haddrill, Woods
HB: Carr, McPharlin, Hayden
C: Headland, Pavlich, Walker
HF: Farmer, Polak, Waterhouse
F: Medhurst, Simmonds, Schammer
FOLL: Sandilands, Hasleby, Bell
I/C from: Browne, J.Longmuir, Gilmore, Dunn, McManus, T.Longmuir, Cunningham
IN: Cunningham, Polak, T.Longmuir
OUT: -
NEW:

http://sydneyswans.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=141040

[thommoone]

NB: The post below is me rambling on

Last year James only played a few games dew to injury and LRT a dozen. These 2 look to have a permenant spot in the 22 atm, and by the end of the season i think will easily be in the 18, injuries permitting. Thats nice improvement isn't it?
I was just think about it. Made me feel good bout our future.
Am i thinking clearly or was Cressa, mcpherson, Stevens and seymoure the only ones to exit. Cressa being the only one in the 22. Who is the other person these 2 have replaced then if they will be in the 22 still when shauble, schneider, kenelly and davis return. Add to that Doyle who will be in the 22, along with prob McVeigh. who would not be in the 22 that was in there last year???
The players to come in is what i think our full strength team would be. If all this makes sense.
So do i not make sense or can anyone figure out who will be left out of the 22 that was in their last year?

[Charlie]

The 'best 22' is only ever a hypothetical that we ponder during the off-season. It doesn't really exist.

It's a very fortunate team that EVER has its 'best 22' on the park at the one time. Therefore, it doesn't really matter who is 'in' and who isn't. What is important is that there's more good footballers deserving of a place in the 22 than there are places available. That's the truest indication of a good football team.

[dendol]

Originally posted by Charlie
The 'best 22' is only ever a hypothetical that we ponder during the off-season. It doesn't really exist.

It's a very fortunate team that EVER has its 'best 22' on the park at the one time. Therefore, it doesn't really matter who is 'in' and who isn't. What is important is that there's more good footballers deserving of a place in the 22 than there are places available. That's the truest indication of a good football team.

in other words: DEPTH

There were alot of questions asked of our depth of talent in the preseason. I am definately liking what I am seeing here - the future looks strong!

[timthefish]

tell me i'm not backing his courage and determination...i don't care, i don't want to see kennelly play on sunday.

if there is one thing that i can't stand it is players being rushed back into a team. it's only round two for pete's sake and this guy is one of our most important developing players.

give him another week's rest to allow the surgery to completely knit and for the surrounding tissue to toughen up.

i hope i'm wrong, but i think we can afford to err on the side of caution at this stage.

tim

[SWANSBEST]

AFL

Irish eyes smile on Kennelly

By TIM MORRISSEY

April 2, 2004

NINE days ago Tadhg Kennelly's season suddenly flashed before his eyes as the Swans' dashing Irish-born half-back sat distraught on the SCG clutching his left knee.


"I was trying to stay positive but I couldn't put any pressure on the actual knee," said Kennelly.

"One of the boys, Nick Malceski, done his knee a couple of weeks ago and that was all I was thinking about, 'Oh no, this can't happen to two blokes in two weeks'."


A few hours later the total devastation that comes with the prospect of a torn cruciate ligament ? Malceski's season-ending injury ? turned to sheer delight.


Kennelly was told by the Swans team doctor Nathan Gibbs that the football gods were smiling on him and he was given a second chance.


"It's was an awakening," said Kennelly. "For me personally I'm just going to enjoy [the season] now. I was so close to losing it, I'm going to really enjoy it now."


After Kennelly underwent an arthroscopy to remove his torn left medial meniscus cartilage, the 22-year-old Swans star will cap off a remarkable recovery by playing in Sunday's home opener against the Fremantle Dockers at the SCG.


When asked yesterday if he would have the confidence to back himself to run the back out of the backline on his first touch, Kennelly responded: "100 per cent.


"Like I said because I was so close to losing the whole thing it has just opened me up to think I'm just going to enjoy it now and just play like I do and have a crack."


Kennelly is not completely over the line yet to play and must pass a fitness test on the SCG today during the team's final training session before he will included in the team for Sunday.


But if successful results of yesterday's private running session are anything to go by the dashing halfback will be in action against the Dockers.


"I'm confident it will be right but obviously if swelling comes I'm in trouble. That's why I've got to keep icing," said Kennelly, who rates himself an 80 per cent chance to play.


"I still haven't done a whole lot of side stepping and agility [drills] and I've still got to see how this pulls up from yesterday."


However, the word around the club is that everyone is very confident Kennelly as well as exciting young forward Adam Schneider will both play against the Dockers.


Schneider is coming back from a 14cm hamstring tear but easily got through yesterday's tough training session and is also expected to pass today's final test.


The other half of Sydney's explosive running backs, Leo Barry, believes Kennelly's stunning comeback will prove a huge lift for the team, especially after the Swans heartbreaking two-point loss at the Gabba last Saturday to reigning triple premiers the Brisbane Lions.


"Without a doubt Tadhg is such a good player for us which he showed with a superb performance last year," said Barry.


"We missed his running a bit last week . . . there's no doubt we are a better side when he's running around."


Kennelly was with the other Swans "rehab boys" at injured veteran forward Matthew Nicks' place last Saturday when Jason Ball's set shot from 35 metres out directly in front with less than a minute to go missed.


"It was pretty disappointing the way it finished," said Kennelly. "But it was a good start to the year you know, if you can play every game of the first round like that it would be fantastic."

http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1264&storyid=1136877