Saddington bids to match Neitz

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • SWANSBEST
    On the Rookie List
    • Jan 2003
    • 868

    Saddington bids to match Neitz

    Saddington bids to match Neitz
    By Alex Brown
    April 20, 2004





    Surf's up: Sydney Brownlow medallist Adam Goodes recovers from Sunday's thrashing of the Kangaroos at Coogee Beach yesterday. Photo: Craig Golding


    It seemed unfathomable a month ago, even last week. But Swans coach Paul Roos is adamant the surprise emergence of Jason Saddington as an attacking force has the potential to negate the goalscoring threat posed by Melbourne captain David Neitz at Telstra Stadium on Saturday night.

    After Saddington's four-goal performance assisted Sydney to a 51-point demolition of the Kangaroos on Sunday, Roos confirmed his intention to continue playing the career defender in the forward line.

    And should Saddington replicate those feats against the Demons, Roos believes Neitz's impact may be limited, despite the Melbourne forward's strong form of late.

    Neitz, held scoreless during the Demons' opening-round loss to Hawthorn, has since kicked 18 goals - three behind league leader Fraser Gehrig - contributing to Melbourne's three-game winning streak.

    "The danger is you get too Neitz-focused, and we don't want to change our game plan dramatically," Roos said. "I'd like to persevere [with Saddington]. They're hard to get, guys that can kick four goals and take 10 marks."

    Saddington's emergence as a forward may ensure the repositioning of Lewis Roberts-Thomson into defence. "I'd probably like to see him eventually settle in down back, but you just don't know with a guy who's played a lot of rugby and not a lot of AFL football," Roos said.

    Michael O'Loughlin (hamstring) remains in doubt for Saturday but Nick Davis will probably return from a hip injury.

    WMP
  • penga
    Senior Player
    • Jan 2003
    • 2601

    #2
    from the title of the thread i thought "NO! saddington has not only got some confidence from the weekend but now he is over-confident thinking he can take on neitz" but there is quite a lot of good news in that article LRT to CHB and Saddington to FF!
    C'mon Chels!

    Comment

    • midaro
      On the Rookie List
      • Jan 2003
      • 1042

      #3
      We'll need options for Neitz.
      I hope James gets first go, then Bolton, but if Saddo is going to become a true tall utility he has to be go where he's needed - he can't be shielded.

      Comment

      • chammond
        • Jan 2003
        • 1368

        #4
        This will be a major test for our defence: Neitz and Holland are genuine tall forwards who can take a strong mark and kick straight.

        Not talls who can't kick, not novices, not resting ruckmen . . . the real McCoy.

        I hope Craig Bolton is fit, because there's no way that James is ready for Neitz!

        Comment

        • ugg
          Can you feel it?
          Site Admin
          • Jan 2003
          • 15970

          #5
          Any chance Schauble will be back this week? Fullback don't require the same level of match fitness as midfielders do.
          Reserves live updates (Twitter)
          Reserves WIKI -
          Top Goalkickers| Best Votegetters

          Comment

          • Go Swannies
            Veterans List
            • Sep 2003
            • 5697

            #6
            Think laterally. Saddo up forward, Bazza on Neitz. I'd pay money to see that!

            Comment

            • hammo
              Veterans List
              • Jul 2003
              • 5554

              #7
              Between James and Bolton i think we have them covered. But to sound cliched, the game will be won in the middle and if the Demons can't get first hands on the ball then the match is already half won.
              "As everyone knows our style of football is defensive and unattractive, and as such I have completely forgotten how to mark or kick over the years" - Brett Kirk

              Comment

              • Dave
                Let those truckers roll
                • Jan 2003
                • 1557

                #8
                Originally posted by hammo
                Between James and Bolton i think we have them covered. But to sound cliched, the game will be won in the middle and if the Demons can't get first hands on the ball then the match is already half won.
                That's what I reckon too. No matter how good your forward line is, if the ball doesn't get down there, it wont have an impact.
                "My theory is that the universe is made out of stupidity because it's more plentiful than hydrogen" - Frank Zappa

                Comment

                • midaro
                  On the Rookie List
                  • Jan 2003
                  • 1042

                  #9
                  If Neitz/Holland really get out of hand, we'll have Doyle/Ball/Goodes dropping back into the hole.

                  I'm not too fussed about Melbourne's attack, and they will miss Robertson variety wise (and because it will free up our Leaper).

                  As always midfield is the key. Even if Johnstone plays, I really don't think their any better than us IN-and-UNDER.

                  BTW This is one game where I would like to see Goodes back in the ruck. He has a good record against White, as White is one ruckman that Goodes can genuinely compete with for hit-outs, whilst also crucifying him around the ground.

                  Comment

                  • SwallowdaFonz
                    Pushing for Selection
                    • Sep 2003
                    • 79

                    #10
                    Go Swannies said:

                    "Think laterally. Saddo up forward, Bazza on Neitz. I'd pay money to see that!"

                    When we start to kill them in the middle, and the traffic is all one way into our forward line a la last week, they'll do the predictable thing and drop Neitz back to CHB. On Bazza. Or Saddo!

                    Comment

                    • lizz
                      Veteran
                      Site Admin
                      • Jan 2003
                      • 16764

                      #11
                      Originally posted by ugg
                      Any chance Schauble will be back this week? Fullback don't require the same level of match fitness as midfielders do.
                      In recent years whenever Schaubs has been making his way back into the team after a hammie (which must happen at least once every year) he's played a couple of games up forward to get some touch.

                      Not quite sure where he'll fit into our current rather "crowded" forward options set up though.

                      Comment

                      • Plugger46
                        Senior Player
                        • Apr 2003
                        • 3674

                        #12
                        Schaubs always tends to struggle for the first 2 or 3 games that he's back for.
                        Bloods

                        "Lockett is the best of all time" - Robert Harvey, Darrel Baldock, Nathan Burke, Kevin Bartlett, Bob Skilton

                        Comment

                        • Plugger46
                          Senior Player
                          • Apr 2003
                          • 3674

                          #13
                          Originally posted by chammond
                          I hope Craig Bolton is fit, because there's no way that James is ready for Neitz!
                          I don't agree with this. The way James has been playing, I reckon he is ready to have first crack at Neitz. Jamesy is both taller and stronger than Bolton.

                          I'm interested in why you don't think James is ready for Neitz, chammond?
                          Bloods

                          "Lockett is the best of all time" - Robert Harvey, Darrel Baldock, Nathan Burke, Kevin Bartlett, Bob Skilton

                          Comment

                          • Nico
                            Veterans List
                            • Jan 2003
                            • 11337

                            #14
                            Far better he get some fitness in the 2's. With our current structure I can't see any value in an unfit Schauble up front or down back. Unfit players are only a liability at the elite level.

                            A dilemma then as to what we do with Micky when ready to return if we are still flying.
                            http://www.nostalgiamusic.co.uk/secu...res/srh806.jpg

                            Comment

                            • sydfan83
                              Senior Player
                              • Jan 2003
                              • 2929

                              #15
                              Schauble will have to come back in the next week or so IMO because it'll be tough with Neitz this week, Lloyd in Round 6 and Richo in Round 7 - a big test for us (not that Richmond will be a test )

                              Comment

                              Working...