O'Loughlin gets fitness test before catfight

[Reggi]

O'Loughlin gets fitness test before catfight
By Jessica Halloran and AAP
April 9, 2004

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Sydney forward Michael O'Loughlin will need to prove his fitness on Friday to determine his availability for the match against Geelong on Saturday night.

O'Loughlin has been named in the side to meet the Cats but, due to a hamstring strain, did not train with the team on Wednesday evening. During the week, coach Paul Roos rated O'Loughlin a 50-50 chance of playing, saying he would not risk him if he was not fully fit for the round-three match. But Roos said if the forward pulled up "pain-free" he would play him.

O'Loughlin suffered a bad tear in his right hamstring in the last round of 2003, and felt a "twinge" in the same hamstring last weekend, causing him to leave the field early in the Swans' win over Fremantle.

Young ruckman Lewis Roberts-Thomson has made way for Stephen Doyle, the 204-centimetre player adding more height to the side. Doyle, who has spent three weeks gaining match fitness in the reserves, is likely to play full-forward as well as in the ruck.

The Swans face a Geelong side under the pump after two humiliating losses: St Kilda thrashed the Cats in the first round by 61 points and they then suffered a 54-point loss to Carlton in the second.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/08/1081326877185.html

[Reggi]

Buchanan in for O'Loughlin
By Tim Morrissey
April 9, 2004

YOUNG Swans on-baller Amon Buchanan will be promoted to the senior list for the match against Geelong if Michael O'Loughlin fails a fitness test on his hamstring today.

"We'll wait on Mick until [today] but if he is not going to play Amon Buchanan will probably come in," Swans coach Paul Roos said. "We think he is a ready-made player to bring in for Mick."

Buchanan, 21, had a strong pre-season and has impressed in the seconds, after a horror 2003 in which he fractured his ankle and blew out his knee.

The Swans delisted him at the end of the season but Roos had enough faith in him to pick the former Geelong junior in the third round of the AFL draft.

The Daily Telegraph

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,9229798-23211,00.html

[Reggi]

Based on his pre-season, Buchanan deserves an opportunity. Worked hard in the games that I saw.

Has been a bit unlucky. Given that we are huge favourites, better to rest MO.

[Charlie]

Hmm... well, for obvious reasons I want Mick to come through... but it'll be great to see Monty get his chance when it comes... going by this article, he's on the verge.

Depth. I like it.

[Dpw]

I would like to see MO fully rested so he his tip top for next week aganist the Roos

[dimelb]

Rest Mickey, we know his quality. And blood the young bloke, we have some hopes for his quality too.

[Charlie]

Don't you think it smacks a little too much of arrogance to 'rest' a player in our best 22?

Round 5, 2002.
Round 12, 2002.

I know they're evil memories, but we mustn't forget them.

[sharpie]

Originally posted by Charlie
Don't you think it smacks a little too much of arrogance to 'rest' a player in our best 22?

Round 5, 2002.
Round 12, 2002.

I know they're evil memories, but we mustn't forget them.

Different year, different coach, different team (pretty much).

Round 12, 2002. What a historic round. A lot has changed since then, in a very short period of time.

[motorace_182]

Play Monty, we will wipe the floor with the Cats. Why play Micky in a game we are deadset certainties for?? We are meant to manage him through the season....playing him vs this mob, when he will be needed next week isnt really overly smart, but Roosy knows best.
Yes i know it sounds a bit arrogant, but i can be, providing the boys arent!!

[The Boot]

Originally posted by motorace_182
Play Monty, we will wipe the floor with the Cats. Why play Micky in a game we are deadset certainties for??

I agree, the Brions rested Lynchy and Brown for the last couple of weeks .. and look at the impact they had against the Poys.

Maybe there is something psychologically positive about keeping your stars in the cage ... and ... then ... opening .. the .. door.

[Steve]

Originally posted by Charlie
Round 12, 2002.

I'd suggest we didn't lose to Geelong through arrogance - after all we were 3-1-7 at the time.

Actually, it was more that we played guys who just shouldn't have been playing due to form or injury - Schwass, Lockett, Maxfield and IIRC O'Keefe.

[Charlie]

Originally posted by Steve
I'd suggest we didn't lose to Geelong through arrogance - after all we were 3-1-7 at the time.

Actually, it was more that we played guys who just shouldn't have been playing due to form or injury - Schwass, Lockett, Maxfield and IIRC O'Keefe.

Yeah, realise that. More just suggesting that it isn't a formality that we win this one. Yes, we are raging favourites and have no excuses to lose, but a loss IS technically possible.

[Nico]

Some people may arc up on this statement but here it goes.

Micky is starting to look a bit like a crock IMO given that he has a gammy knee and very suss hammies. He seems very fragile to me and you just wonder how his hammy problems were managed in the off season as there seems to be no improvement.

I would have thought that he would be doing hammy stretches for 6 hours a day every day to try to prevent any recurrance. He may have done, but boy he is looking decidedly like he may not be a genuine factor in our quest for a flag. Every time he gets fit and looks the goods he breaks down, then takes a few games to get back his touch.

[motorace_182]

Every time he gets fit and looks the goods he breaks down, then takes a few games to get back his touch.

Micky O is one of the few players around today who gain regain their touch in thier first game back, and turn a game on its head in five minutes. You have obviously forgotten his effect vs Lions last year, and how when firing, he is nigh unstoppable. He may be the difference between a flag and another preliminary final like 03