Tweet
From Courier Mail
Goodes to regain ruck role
By Tim Morrissey
13may04
THE thought of suffering four consecutive losses has forced Sydney coach Paul Roos to throw Adam Goodes back in the ruck for Saturday's match against the West Coast Eagles in Perth.
The key positional change for Goodes from the forward line to back in the ruck, where he dominated in his Brownlow Medal-winning season last year, is a backflip by Roos.
Only last week the Swans mentor conceded he was prepared to play Goodes up forward so he could learn the role better rather than in the ruck, even if it cost Sydney games in the short term.
"Perhaps not playing [Goodes] in the ruck might cost us games in a sense because he's still a very influential ruckman," said Roos after Sydney's round six 10-point loss to Essendon at the MCG in which the Bombers finished with 50 clearances to Sydney's 31.
But after the Swans sunk to their third straight defeat with a mistake-riddled, 13-point loss to Richmond at the SCG on Sunday, Roos confirmed yesterday that forwards school at Subiaco Oval was out for Goodes.
In his past three games, Goodes has been ineffectual by his high standards when he plays up forward and was merely a passenger against Richmond, finishing with just nine disposals and one goal to bring his total for the year to five.
"I'd say we will be looking at getting Goodesy back in the ruck a bit this week," Roos said. "Playing on a bigger ground, he's going to help us in that area."
It has been noticeable this season that when Goodes plays forward his ability to influence a game dramatically diminishes.
Goodes often becomes a spectator in the forward line or ends up spoiling other key forwards such as Barry Hall while contesting the ball.
As a result, coaches have not had to worry about who to play on Goodes in the forward line. But it is a different story when the 23-year-old Sydney star moves into the ruck.
Goodes' athleticism and speed, combined with his strong 191cm frame, makes him almost impossible to match up on when he plays on the ball.
The drive and creativity out of the midfield fuelled by Goodes' presence makes the Swans a completely different and far more potent team than when he's lining up in the midfield.
Roos yesterday admitted that, with the retirement of hard-nosed veteran on-baller Daryn Cresswell last year and the decision to move Goodes into the forward line for extended periods this season has been like losing two key midfielders.
"Whether it's the hardness of Cressa or it's the ball-winning ability or the smarts or whatever, I don't think it's necessarily the one thing," he said.
"It's probably, at times, when we don't have Goodesy in the ruck - he's probably more a midfielder than a ruckman - we are almost two midfielders down to where we were last year."
Roos' view that long term he sees Goodes as a forward or centre half-back rather than a ruckman is probably correct. But right now the Swans, with a 3-4 win-loss record, need him in the ruck.
Goodes to regain ruck role
By Tim Morrissey
13may04
THE thought of suffering four consecutive losses has forced Sydney coach Paul Roos to throw Adam Goodes back in the ruck for Saturday's match against the West Coast Eagles in Perth.
The key positional change for Goodes from the forward line to back in the ruck, where he dominated in his Brownlow Medal-winning season last year, is a backflip by Roos.
Only last week the Swans mentor conceded he was prepared to play Goodes up forward so he could learn the role better rather than in the ruck, even if it cost Sydney games in the short term.
"Perhaps not playing [Goodes] in the ruck might cost us games in a sense because he's still a very influential ruckman," said Roos after Sydney's round six 10-point loss to Essendon at the MCG in which the Bombers finished with 50 clearances to Sydney's 31.
But after the Swans sunk to their third straight defeat with a mistake-riddled, 13-point loss to Richmond at the SCG on Sunday, Roos confirmed yesterday that forwards school at Subiaco Oval was out for Goodes.
In his past three games, Goodes has been ineffectual by his high standards when he plays up forward and was merely a passenger against Richmond, finishing with just nine disposals and one goal to bring his total for the year to five.
"I'd say we will be looking at getting Goodesy back in the ruck a bit this week," Roos said. "Playing on a bigger ground, he's going to help us in that area."
It has been noticeable this season that when Goodes plays forward his ability to influence a game dramatically diminishes.
Goodes often becomes a spectator in the forward line or ends up spoiling other key forwards such as Barry Hall while contesting the ball.
As a result, coaches have not had to worry about who to play on Goodes in the forward line. But it is a different story when the 23-year-old Sydney star moves into the ruck.
Goodes' athleticism and speed, combined with his strong 191cm frame, makes him almost impossible to match up on when he plays on the ball.
The drive and creativity out of the midfield fuelled by Goodes' presence makes the Swans a completely different and far more potent team than when he's lining up in the midfield.
Roos yesterday admitted that, with the retirement of hard-nosed veteran on-baller Daryn Cresswell last year and the decision to move Goodes into the forward line for extended periods this season has been like losing two key midfielders.
"Whether it's the hardness of Cressa or it's the ball-winning ability or the smarts or whatever, I don't think it's necessarily the one thing," he said.
"It's probably, at times, when we don't have Goodesy in the ruck - he's probably more a midfielder than a ruckman - we are almost two midfielders down to where we were last year."
Roos' view that long term he sees Goodes as a forward or centre half-back rather than a ruckman is probably correct. But right now the Swans, with a 3-4 win-loss record, need him in the ruck.
Comment