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Interesting. I would have thought a gun midfielder or three would be more important right now. A big body down back to help Schaubs will be very helpful though.
Swans need defensive backup
By Jessica Halloran
May 11, 2004
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Recovery time: Heath James, foreground, and Swans teammates during a pool session yesterday. Photo: Steve Christo
Sydney will try to recruit a fullback at the end of the season unless a solution is found quickly for dealing with "monster" full-forwards.
The Swans' defensive problems were exposed again in Sydney on Sunday with Richmond spearhead Matthew Richardson kicking seven goals in the wet in the Tigers' 10.7 (67) to 8.6 (54) victory. Melbourne's David Neitz also dined out on the Swans with six goals in round five in the Demons' 12-point win at Telstra Stadium.
Coach Paul Roos said the Swans could look to the trade table to fix the troubles which have been highlighted by the prolonged absence of 2000 club champion Andrew Schauble.
"If they are not internally in the club, we need to go out and recruit one at the end of the year and see how we are going," Roos said.
Schauble has not played this season because of a hamstring complaint and is likely to miss another month, leaving the likes of Craig Bolton, Heath James and Leo Barry to fill the void.
"There is no question we miss Schaubs, because Schaubs is one, certainly in the second half of last year, we'd play on Neitz, we'd play on [Alastair] Lynch, we'd play on [Warren] Tredrea," Roos said.
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"Last year his second half of the season was as good as any fullback going around. There's no question we miss his ability to play on a bigger body.
"Unfortunately that means we have to play [Heath] James who's not quite ready yet. He has done some really good jobs but it would be nice to play him on some second talls. Craig Bolton . . . they weigh [themselves] before they go out and he was 86 kilos. Richo's probably 106. So we've asked him to do a pretty tough job."
Fortunately for Sydney, West Coast do not have that big forward weapon this week, rather the speed and skill of small forwards Phillip Matera (171cm) and Ashley Sampi (177cm).
"The strengths of our defence is that they can play on the smalls. Matera and Sampi are key forwards for them and outstanding players," Roos said. "We've probably got [Jared] Crouch, Barry, [Tadhg] Kennelly and you've got [Paul] Bevan; we've got a few more options. That doesn't mean you are going to stop them."
Roos expects Sydney's forward line to at last be bolstered by Michael O'Loughlin's return this weekend when they face West Coast in Perth. O'Loughlin has not played since round two because of a hamstring injury and was a late withdrawal against Richmond on Sunday.
The Tigers fan who manhandled Nick Davis on Sunday has been fined $110 by police.
Swans need defensive backup
By Jessica Halloran
May 11, 2004
Page Tools
Email to a friend Printer format
Recovery time: Heath James, foreground, and Swans teammates during a pool session yesterday. Photo: Steve Christo
Sydney will try to recruit a fullback at the end of the season unless a solution is found quickly for dealing with "monster" full-forwards.
The Swans' defensive problems were exposed again in Sydney on Sunday with Richmond spearhead Matthew Richardson kicking seven goals in the wet in the Tigers' 10.7 (67) to 8.6 (54) victory. Melbourne's David Neitz also dined out on the Swans with six goals in round five in the Demons' 12-point win at Telstra Stadium.
Coach Paul Roos said the Swans could look to the trade table to fix the troubles which have been highlighted by the prolonged absence of 2000 club champion Andrew Schauble.
"If they are not internally in the club, we need to go out and recruit one at the end of the year and see how we are going," Roos said.
Schauble has not played this season because of a hamstring complaint and is likely to miss another month, leaving the likes of Craig Bolton, Heath James and Leo Barry to fill the void.
"There is no question we miss Schaubs, because Schaubs is one, certainly in the second half of last year, we'd play on Neitz, we'd play on [Alastair] Lynch, we'd play on [Warren] Tredrea," Roos said.
Advertisement
Advertisement
"Last year his second half of the season was as good as any fullback going around. There's no question we miss his ability to play on a bigger body.
"Unfortunately that means we have to play [Heath] James who's not quite ready yet. He has done some really good jobs but it would be nice to play him on some second talls. Craig Bolton . . . they weigh [themselves] before they go out and he was 86 kilos. Richo's probably 106. So we've asked him to do a pretty tough job."
Fortunately for Sydney, West Coast do not have that big forward weapon this week, rather the speed and skill of small forwards Phillip Matera (171cm) and Ashley Sampi (177cm).
"The strengths of our defence is that they can play on the smalls. Matera and Sampi are key forwards for them and outstanding players," Roos said. "We've probably got [Jared] Crouch, Barry, [Tadhg] Kennelly and you've got [Paul] Bevan; we've got a few more options. That doesn't mean you are going to stop them."
Roos expects Sydney's forward line to at last be bolstered by Michael O'Loughlin's return this weekend when they face West Coast in Perth. O'Loughlin has not played since round two because of a hamstring injury and was a late withdrawal against Richmond on Sunday.
The Tigers fan who manhandled Nick Davis on Sunday has been fined $110 by police.