Tweet
Sick Swans turn to guru
By Jenny McAsey and Peter Lalor
May 20, 2004
The Australian
SYDNEY coach Paul Roos said he would run around naked if it would guarantee a win on Sunday but, before it gets to that, the Swans have turned to their leadership guru as they try to arrest a form slump.
Ray McLean, the leadership consultant who helped transform Sydney into serious 2003 premiership contenders, flew from Melbourne to hold a review session with the Swans yesterday after four straight losses.
The Swans altered their regular training schedule so the entire playing list could take part in an open and honest assessment of recent disappointing performances.
McLean said the outcome was that the players acknowledged their "attention to detail" had dropped off.
Sydney started the season promisingly, but have slumped to 10th, losing to Melbourne, Richmond, Essendon and West Coast in succession.
Roos last year credited McLean's leadership program with playing a substantial part in unlocking the players' potential, allowing them to defy the critics and finish third.
McLean said yesterday's meeting was to ensure the players were continually learning and improving.
"I think each player realised that it is the little attention-to-detail things that matter, when you look across the group," McLean, who is also working with competition leaders St Kilda, said.
Swans midfielder Jude Bolton, who will play his 100th game on Sunday against Hawthorn at the SCG, typifies the problem -- though he is far from alone.
Bolton, 24, openly conceded yesterday his form was not up to last year's level, when he had a career-best season. He polled 13 Brownlow Medal votes and won the club's most improved player award.
In 2003, he averaged 20 possessions a week, but picked up only 10 in the recent loss to Richmond and 12 against Essendon.
"I've definitely slipped back quite a lot and I've been sitting down with the coaching group and working through where I can improve and get back to where I was last year," Bolton said.
"Besides the possession rate, I have been disappointed with my lack of pressure skills and that has been an important part of my career."
Roos said the coaching staff had pointed out the problems and it was now up to the players to resurrect their form. "Eventually, you are hoping the player works it out themselves, you can give them only so much help," Roos said.
"Jude is a terrific kid and I know he will work his way out of it. We can teach as much as we can but if they are not learning we are wasting our teaching.
"We are at the point now where players really need to take responsibility."
McLean said that was the clear message of yesterday's session. "One of the key themes from today was it is one thing to sit through a review of performance and be told something but until you act on it, we really can't assume it's learned," McLean said.
The Kangaroos turned around their form last week after a chat in the dark about the meaning of life from coach Dean Laidley, and Hawthorn did the same with a team-bonding session which involved climbing 1000 steps.
But Roos said he would not be resorting to any tricks, nude or otherwise, to conjure a win against the Hawks.
"Those things have their place at times but you can only pull so many rabbits out of a hat," he said.
"I'd do anything to win, I'll run around naked if that gets us a win, but I'm not sure people want to see me do that week-in and week-out."
By Jenny McAsey and Peter Lalor
May 20, 2004
The Australian
SYDNEY coach Paul Roos said he would run around naked if it would guarantee a win on Sunday but, before it gets to that, the Swans have turned to their leadership guru as they try to arrest a form slump.
Ray McLean, the leadership consultant who helped transform Sydney into serious 2003 premiership contenders, flew from Melbourne to hold a review session with the Swans yesterday after four straight losses.
The Swans altered their regular training schedule so the entire playing list could take part in an open and honest assessment of recent disappointing performances.
McLean said the outcome was that the players acknowledged their "attention to detail" had dropped off.
Sydney started the season promisingly, but have slumped to 10th, losing to Melbourne, Richmond, Essendon and West Coast in succession.
Roos last year credited McLean's leadership program with playing a substantial part in unlocking the players' potential, allowing them to defy the critics and finish third.
McLean said yesterday's meeting was to ensure the players were continually learning and improving.
"I think each player realised that it is the little attention-to-detail things that matter, when you look across the group," McLean, who is also working with competition leaders St Kilda, said.
Swans midfielder Jude Bolton, who will play his 100th game on Sunday against Hawthorn at the SCG, typifies the problem -- though he is far from alone.
Bolton, 24, openly conceded yesterday his form was not up to last year's level, when he had a career-best season. He polled 13 Brownlow Medal votes and won the club's most improved player award.
In 2003, he averaged 20 possessions a week, but picked up only 10 in the recent loss to Richmond and 12 against Essendon.
"I've definitely slipped back quite a lot and I've been sitting down with the coaching group and working through where I can improve and get back to where I was last year," Bolton said.
"Besides the possession rate, I have been disappointed with my lack of pressure skills and that has been an important part of my career."
Roos said the coaching staff had pointed out the problems and it was now up to the players to resurrect their form. "Eventually, you are hoping the player works it out themselves, you can give them only so much help," Roos said.
"Jude is a terrific kid and I know he will work his way out of it. We can teach as much as we can but if they are not learning we are wasting our teaching.
"We are at the point now where players really need to take responsibility."
McLean said that was the clear message of yesterday's session. "One of the key themes from today was it is one thing to sit through a review of performance and be told something but until you act on it, we really can't assume it's learned," McLean said.
The Kangaroos turned around their form last week after a chat in the dark about the meaning of life from coach Dean Laidley, and Hawthorn did the same with a team-bonding session which involved climbing 1000 steps.
But Roos said he would not be resorting to any tricks, nude or otherwise, to conjure a win against the Hawks.
"Those things have their place at times but you can only pull so many rabbits out of a hat," he said.
"I'd do anything to win, I'll run around naked if that gets us a win, but I'm not sure people want to see me do that week-in and week-out."
Comment