Swans to tackle a problem

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  • ScottH
    It's Goodes to cheer!!
    • Sep 2003
    • 23665

    Swans to tackle a problem

    By Nikki Tugwell
    June 1, 2004

    PAUL Roos estimates the Swans are one big-bodied defender short on the magnetic board match-ups against St Kilda on Sunday.

    The Saints forward line of Brent Guerra, Fraser Gehrig, Stephen Milne, Justin Koschitzke, Aaron Hamill and Nick Riewoldt plus Stephen Powell and possibly Nick dal Santo has troubled all backlines this season.

    So how will the Swans contain the incredible bulk of a forward line that has proved insurmountable so far?

    Adam Goodes is likely to stand Aaron Hamill while Fraser Gehrig (nine goals against Carlton) and Nick Riewoldt are likely to be minded by Leo Barry and Craig Bolton.

    Leo Barry has been in outstanding form and his ability to spoil when out of position and run off full forward Fraser Gehrig lends itself to starting him at full back. However for team balance having Barry on Nick Riewoldt and Bolton on Gehrig is perhaps the option Sydney will take. While Tadhg Kennelly is an option on Koschitzke, he gives away 7cm in height and Barry on Riewoldt takes him away from an ideal match-up on Gehrig.

    The relatively small Swans defence often has an advantage with their speed and skill at ground level but Saints Guerra, Riewoldt and Milne equal them in that department.

    "With Goodesy down back that sort of consolidates [our defensive end]," Roos said. "We're probably one bigger body short and we've been able to manufacture match-ups and that's probably what we'll have to do this week."

    The Swans would have watched with interest Carlton's move to improvise against St Kilda last weekend with interest. The decision to start leading goalkicker Brendan Fevola in defence on St Kilda's Fraser Gehrig came out of left field. But after Gehrig had kicked five goals in one quarter on Fevola the experiment was over.
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