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Swans end Roos run
April 18, 2004
Kangaroos 10.10 (70) Sydney 18.13 (121)
JASON SADDINGTON turned around his indifferent form to become part of a three-pronged attack as the Swans handed out a 51-point AFL thrashing to the Kangaroos today.
A record Manuka Oval crowd of 14,891 watched the Swans demolish the Roos, despite the home side skipping away to a 25-point lead midway through the first quarter.
A further negative for the previously undefeated Roos was the report of former skipper Anthony Stevens for striking Adam Goodes during the third term.
The Swans punished the Roos in midfield and out of defence but the key was the emergence of Saddington and Goodes in attack alongside spearhead Barry Hall.
All three marked strongly with Saddington and Hall booting four goals each, while Goodes bagged two and set up several others.
Regular defender Saddington enjoyed the move up-forward.
"I guess I was lacking a fair bit of confidence down back," he said.
"I was getting beaten a little bit, so to go up forward and actually chase the ball myself and not worry about a man so much has been a good change.
"I've been able to turn it around."
The Kangaroos shot away to a four-goal lead in the first term with Daniel Motlop, Daniel Wells and Drew Petrie all prominent.
A big turn-around occurred when the Swans' Brett Kirk, previously set the job of minding Shannon Grant, was switched onto the ball and helped swing the momentum back his side's way.
Hall took a big mark and goaled from outside 50m.
Saddington kicked two more and, with Adam Schneider, Goodes, Ben Mathews and Jared Crouch getting involved, the Swans reduced a 25-point deficit to just one point at the first change.
The Swans continued in the same vein in the second quarter with Kirk, Crouch and Paul Williams having a field day.
Goodes, in particular, was back to his Brownlow Medal form and was involved in one passage in which he touched the ball four times before finishing with a spectacular goal.
The Swans led by 26 points at halftime and kicked 12 successive goals before Brent Harvey finally broke the drought for the Roos midway through the third quarter.
Roos skipper Adam Simpson was a dogged fighter throughout and ruckman David Hale took some marks around the ground, but it was a bleak day for the side in only its third loss in 11 outings in Canberra.
Swans coach Paul Roos was delighted at the resurgence of several players, particularly Goodes and Saddington.
"We really don't see (Goodes) as our ruckman long-term," he said.
"Obviously he's won a Brownlow Medal as a ruckman but people forget last year, mainly in the first half of the season he was playing as a forward/pinch-hitting ruckman going on the ball.
"We need to develop him in other areas and I thought today was a huge step forward for the club and for him and Steven Doyle and Bally (Jason Ball) as well.
"It helps when your three key forwards kick 10 goals between them and (take) 30 marks."
Despondent Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley said his players failed to play to instruction after the first 20 minutes.
"I thought our work ethic just dropped off," he said.
"We just stopped working hard for our mates, getting over to support in numbers, getting the ball quickly to where we should have got it.
"It fell away very quickly, which is very disappointing."
SYDNEY 6.3 10.8 16.12 18.13 (121)
KANGAROOS 6.4 6.8 7.7 10.10 (70)
Goals: Sydney: B Hall 4 J Saddington 4 A Goodes 2 B Kirk 2 A Schneider 2 P Bevan S Doyle T Kennelly S Maxfield. Kangaroos: D Hale 2 B Harvey 2 D Motlop 2 D Petrie 2 B Grima C Jones.
Best: Sydney: B Kirk B Hall A Goodes J Saddington P Williams J Crouch S Doyle. Kangaroos: A Simpson D Hale B Harvey M Firrito A Stevens.
Injuries: Nil
Reports: A Stevens (Kangaroos) reported by field umpire M James for allegedly striking A Goodes (Sydney) during the third quarter.
Umpires: M James C Rowston D Morris.
Official Crowd: 14,891 (ground rec) at Manuka Oval.
April 18, 2004
Kangaroos 10.10 (70) Sydney 18.13 (121)
JASON SADDINGTON turned around his indifferent form to become part of a three-pronged attack as the Swans handed out a 51-point AFL thrashing to the Kangaroos today.
A record Manuka Oval crowd of 14,891 watched the Swans demolish the Roos, despite the home side skipping away to a 25-point lead midway through the first quarter.
A further negative for the previously undefeated Roos was the report of former skipper Anthony Stevens for striking Adam Goodes during the third term.
The Swans punished the Roos in midfield and out of defence but the key was the emergence of Saddington and Goodes in attack alongside spearhead Barry Hall.
All three marked strongly with Saddington and Hall booting four goals each, while Goodes bagged two and set up several others.
Regular defender Saddington enjoyed the move up-forward.
"I guess I was lacking a fair bit of confidence down back," he said.
"I was getting beaten a little bit, so to go up forward and actually chase the ball myself and not worry about a man so much has been a good change.
"I've been able to turn it around."
The Kangaroos shot away to a four-goal lead in the first term with Daniel Motlop, Daniel Wells and Drew Petrie all prominent.
A big turn-around occurred when the Swans' Brett Kirk, previously set the job of minding Shannon Grant, was switched onto the ball and helped swing the momentum back his side's way.
Hall took a big mark and goaled from outside 50m.
Saddington kicked two more and, with Adam Schneider, Goodes, Ben Mathews and Jared Crouch getting involved, the Swans reduced a 25-point deficit to just one point at the first change.
The Swans continued in the same vein in the second quarter with Kirk, Crouch and Paul Williams having a field day.
Goodes, in particular, was back to his Brownlow Medal form and was involved in one passage in which he touched the ball four times before finishing with a spectacular goal.
The Swans led by 26 points at halftime and kicked 12 successive goals before Brent Harvey finally broke the drought for the Roos midway through the third quarter.
Roos skipper Adam Simpson was a dogged fighter throughout and ruckman David Hale took some marks around the ground, but it was a bleak day for the side in only its third loss in 11 outings in Canberra.
Swans coach Paul Roos was delighted at the resurgence of several players, particularly Goodes and Saddington.
"We really don't see (Goodes) as our ruckman long-term," he said.
"Obviously he's won a Brownlow Medal as a ruckman but people forget last year, mainly in the first half of the season he was playing as a forward/pinch-hitting ruckman going on the ball.
"We need to develop him in other areas and I thought today was a huge step forward for the club and for him and Steven Doyle and Bally (Jason Ball) as well.
"It helps when your three key forwards kick 10 goals between them and (take) 30 marks."
Despondent Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley said his players failed to play to instruction after the first 20 minutes.
"I thought our work ethic just dropped off," he said.
"We just stopped working hard for our mates, getting over to support in numbers, getting the ball quickly to where we should have got it.
"It fell away very quickly, which is very disappointing."
SYDNEY 6.3 10.8 16.12 18.13 (121)
KANGAROOS 6.4 6.8 7.7 10.10 (70)
Goals: Sydney: B Hall 4 J Saddington 4 A Goodes 2 B Kirk 2 A Schneider 2 P Bevan S Doyle T Kennelly S Maxfield. Kangaroos: D Hale 2 B Harvey 2 D Motlop 2 D Petrie 2 B Grima C Jones.
Best: Sydney: B Kirk B Hall A Goodes J Saddington P Williams J Crouch S Doyle. Kangaroos: A Simpson D Hale B Harvey M Firrito A Stevens.
Injuries: Nil
Reports: A Stevens (Kangaroos) reported by field umpire M James for allegedly striking A Goodes (Sydney) during the third quarter.
Umpires: M James C Rowston D Morris.
Official Crowd: 14,891 (ground rec) at Manuka Oval.
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