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Success can be a headache for Roos
By Alex Brown
Sydney
April 15, 2004
Paul Roos rarely suffered selection headaches last season. And victories, whether achieved gracefully, tenaciously or fortunately, were invariably met with all-round enthusiasm in 2003, given the Swans' indifferent 2002.
But no longer. Entering Sunday's clash against the Kangaroos at Canberra's Manuka Oval, the second-year coach must axe two "unlucky" players from his 22-man squad, allowing for the return of Michael O'Loughlin and Nick Davis from injury.
Furthermore, Roos has been far from chipper when assessing his team's victories this season, the mark of a coach at the helm of a premiership contender.
"I've probably been a little bit negative towards the team, but we're 2-1 and we ran Brisbane to two points in the first round," Roos said. "Our form has actually been very good when you stack it up against the rest of the competition. It is easy to get a bit ahead of yourself, even as a coach, and get a bit down.
"We are the hunted a little bit now and when the pressure is on, perhaps in the past that's when we've struggled a bit. I probably am a little bit surprised (at the Swans' early season success). Your expectations as a coach are always very high and I found myself this week being disappointed after the Geelong game."
Of all the surprising Swans players last season, Adam Schneider emerged as the most unlikely. The goalsneak was, for all intents and purposes, an unknown quantity against the Kangaroos last year, having played just eight AFL games entering a contest Sydney would eventually lose by 25 points.
But his 30-goal season, coupled with Sydney's finals appearance, ensured the "surprise packet" tag was jettisoned.
"We know what we're capable of and we know what works and doesn't work," Schneider said. "We can't say that's a lucky win - we've got to do it every game now.
"To me it's a challenge. The main thing is it's still a forward versus a back and they've still got to beat me. We still haven't played good football yet and we've won two games, so that's a positive. Our best is yet to come."
Sydney has managed victories over Fremantle and Geelong this season, as well as a two-point defeat to the Brisbane Lions.
Those efforts, Schneider believes, prove the Swans are a side brimming with self-belief. And for Roos, those same results indicate Sydney's player depth has improved dramatically, ensuring a difficult time at the selection table with the returns of O'Loughlin and Davis this week. "Two blokes won't play this week and they're going to be unlucky," Roos said.
By Alex Brown
Sydney
April 15, 2004
Paul Roos rarely suffered selection headaches last season. And victories, whether achieved gracefully, tenaciously or fortunately, were invariably met with all-round enthusiasm in 2003, given the Swans' indifferent 2002.
But no longer. Entering Sunday's clash against the Kangaroos at Canberra's Manuka Oval, the second-year coach must axe two "unlucky" players from his 22-man squad, allowing for the return of Michael O'Loughlin and Nick Davis from injury.
Furthermore, Roos has been far from chipper when assessing his team's victories this season, the mark of a coach at the helm of a premiership contender.
"I've probably been a little bit negative towards the team, but we're 2-1 and we ran Brisbane to two points in the first round," Roos said. "Our form has actually been very good when you stack it up against the rest of the competition. It is easy to get a bit ahead of yourself, even as a coach, and get a bit down.
"We are the hunted a little bit now and when the pressure is on, perhaps in the past that's when we've struggled a bit. I probably am a little bit surprised (at the Swans' early season success). Your expectations as a coach are always very high and I found myself this week being disappointed after the Geelong game."
Of all the surprising Swans players last season, Adam Schneider emerged as the most unlikely. The goalsneak was, for all intents and purposes, an unknown quantity against the Kangaroos last year, having played just eight AFL games entering a contest Sydney would eventually lose by 25 points.
But his 30-goal season, coupled with Sydney's finals appearance, ensured the "surprise packet" tag was jettisoned.
"We know what we're capable of and we know what works and doesn't work," Schneider said. "We can't say that's a lucky win - we've got to do it every game now.
"To me it's a challenge. The main thing is it's still a forward versus a back and they've still got to beat me. We still haven't played good football yet and we've won two games, so that's a positive. Our best is yet to come."
Sydney has managed victories over Fremantle and Geelong this season, as well as a two-point defeat to the Brisbane Lions.
Those efforts, Schneider believes, prove the Swans are a side brimming with self-belief. And for Roos, those same results indicate Sydney's player depth has improved dramatically, ensuring a difficult time at the selection table with the returns of O'Loughlin and Davis this week. "Two blokes won't play this week and they're going to be unlucky," Roos said.
