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Roos backs new-look forwards
The West Australian 20/4
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SYDNEY
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Sydney coach Paul Roos wants to persevere with his new forward line, including converted defender Jason Saddington, even after Michael O'Loughlin and Nick Davis return from injury.
He has also earmarked youngster Lewis Roberts-Thomson for a key defensive position.
Forwards Barry Hall, Adam Goodes and Saddington combined for 10 goals, 30 marks and 58 possessions in last Sunday's 51-point flogging of the Kangaroos in Canberra.
With Jason Ball and Stephen Doyle handling most of the ruck duties, Goodes was a constant menace up forward while Saddington revelled in his new role after struggling for form in the back line.
Roos stressed yesterday that long-time defender Saddington would not automatically return to his previous position once O'Loughlin and Davis came back in the next couple of weeks.
"Three tall forwards, and they are all very mobile, can be pretty potent, so if he (Saddington) plays well there, even if Mick and Nick come back in the side, I still thing there's room for Goodes, Hall and Saddington," Roos said. "Then you've got Ryan O'Keefe, who is a medium and you've got Adam Schneider, Davis and O'Loughlin, so it certainly gives you a number of options, but if Saddo keeps playing well there, we'd definitely like to persevere with him."
Another positive from Saddington's move forward was the opportunity for Roos to use young tall Roberts-Thomson in a key position in the back line on Sunday, where he performed well against dangerous Kangaroos forward Drew Petrie.
"I think Lewis Roberts-Thomson going back on the weekend in the second half was something we've wanted to do for a while, and because Jason was playing so well up forward, we put Lewis back and he was very good," Roos said.
Roos said he expected Davis to play against Melbourne at Telstra Stadium next Saturday but thought O'Loughlin would probably miss the match
The West Australian 20/4
_
_
SYDNEY
_
Sydney coach Paul Roos wants to persevere with his new forward line, including converted defender Jason Saddington, even after Michael O'Loughlin and Nick Davis return from injury.
He has also earmarked youngster Lewis Roberts-Thomson for a key defensive position.
Forwards Barry Hall, Adam Goodes and Saddington combined for 10 goals, 30 marks and 58 possessions in last Sunday's 51-point flogging of the Kangaroos in Canberra.
With Jason Ball and Stephen Doyle handling most of the ruck duties, Goodes was a constant menace up forward while Saddington revelled in his new role after struggling for form in the back line.
Roos stressed yesterday that long-time defender Saddington would not automatically return to his previous position once O'Loughlin and Davis came back in the next couple of weeks.
"Three tall forwards, and they are all very mobile, can be pretty potent, so if he (Saddington) plays well there, even if Mick and Nick come back in the side, I still thing there's room for Goodes, Hall and Saddington," Roos said. "Then you've got Ryan O'Keefe, who is a medium and you've got Adam Schneider, Davis and O'Loughlin, so it certainly gives you a number of options, but if Saddo keeps playing well there, we'd definitely like to persevere with him."
Another positive from Saddington's move forward was the opportunity for Roos to use young tall Roberts-Thomson in a key position in the back line on Sunday, where he performed well against dangerous Kangaroos forward Drew Petrie.
"I think Lewis Roberts-Thomson going back on the weekend in the second half was something we've wanted to do for a while, and because Jason was playing so well up forward, we put Lewis back and he was very good," Roos said.
Roos said he expected Davis to play against Melbourne at Telstra Stadium next Saturday but thought O'Loughlin would probably miss the match