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Lucky Roos let off hook
By Tim Morrissey
June 4, 2004
SWANS coach Paul Roos admitted yesterday he didn't have a Plan B to fall back on if Barry Hall was suspended for Sunday's blockbuster against the undefeated StKilda.
Unless you count sticking a cardboard cutout of the Swans' imposing key forward on the SCG at centre half-forward.
On the morning of Hall's date with the tribunal, Roos experimented with several different players at centre half-forward on the magnetic whiteboard in his office.
But no matter how many times Roos shuffled the names around, it was plainly clear Hall's absence would leave a huge hole.
"To be honest I didn't know what I was going to do if Hally was out," Roos said. "I was thinking I'd just leave the centre half-forward position empty.
"Or maybe put a life-size cardboard cutout of Barry on the ground at centre half-forward and hope St Kilda put a couple of defenders on him."
Fortunately, Roos didn't have to make a decision after Hall was cleared of striking Western Bulldogs captain Chris Grant.
Hall is not only the primary focal point of the Swans attack, leading the team with 31 goals - 20 clear of the next Sydney player - he dominated St Kilda in round 15 last year, bagging five goals.
The thought of facing the red-hot Saints without Hall was simply a place Roos didn't want to go.
But with their first strike weapon playing, Swans key defender Ben Mathews is looking forward to the game more than ever.
"I reckon the boys should take it head on, have a lot of respect for them, but treat it as a great challenge," Mathews said.
"We've got a side that is hopefully improving now after going through a rough trot and there's no better challenge than playing the top team."
However, with key forward Nick Davis under an injury cloud for Sunday, Roos might have to make some adjustments to his team which has bounced back from a four-game losing streak to win their past two starts.
Davis has a badly bruised left ankle from the win over the Bulldogs and was still on crutches on Wednesday, but will be given until tomorrow to prove his fitness.
Swans midfielder Nic Fosdike, who missed last round because of tonsillitis, will come back into the team for Jason Saddington after the key defender suffered a season-ending knee injury on Saturday night.
If Davis doesn't pull off a dramatic recovery either Heath James, Sean Demspter or rookie Scott McGlone will take his place.
Roos rates the opportunity to become the first team this year to stop the Saints as the biggest challenges of the season.
"In terms of profile, a 10-0 team coming in, a big crowd around 35,000 and the fact we are coming off two good wins, this is as big a game as we've had this year," said Roos.
While St Kilda are clearly the benchmark in the AFL right now, Roos believes it's too early to call them the new Brisbane Lions.
"I just think both teams at full strength playing each other, gees ... I wouldn't want to sell Brisbane short," he said. "I still think they are the champions and they have yet to be dethroned."
The Swans to a man are going to have to lift in every position on the field to have any chance of upsetting the competition leaders.
"There's not to many weaknesses forward of the centre and St Kilda's defence is probably underrated," said Roos.
"That's why you can't simply afford just to target three or four players and neglect the others."
By Tim Morrissey
June 4, 2004
SWANS coach Paul Roos admitted yesterday he didn't have a Plan B to fall back on if Barry Hall was suspended for Sunday's blockbuster against the undefeated StKilda.
Unless you count sticking a cardboard cutout of the Swans' imposing key forward on the SCG at centre half-forward.
On the morning of Hall's date with the tribunal, Roos experimented with several different players at centre half-forward on the magnetic whiteboard in his office.
But no matter how many times Roos shuffled the names around, it was plainly clear Hall's absence would leave a huge hole.
"To be honest I didn't know what I was going to do if Hally was out," Roos said. "I was thinking I'd just leave the centre half-forward position empty.
"Or maybe put a life-size cardboard cutout of Barry on the ground at centre half-forward and hope St Kilda put a couple of defenders on him."
Fortunately, Roos didn't have to make a decision after Hall was cleared of striking Western Bulldogs captain Chris Grant.
Hall is not only the primary focal point of the Swans attack, leading the team with 31 goals - 20 clear of the next Sydney player - he dominated St Kilda in round 15 last year, bagging five goals.
The thought of facing the red-hot Saints without Hall was simply a place Roos didn't want to go.
But with their first strike weapon playing, Swans key defender Ben Mathews is looking forward to the game more than ever.
"I reckon the boys should take it head on, have a lot of respect for them, but treat it as a great challenge," Mathews said.
"We've got a side that is hopefully improving now after going through a rough trot and there's no better challenge than playing the top team."
However, with key forward Nick Davis under an injury cloud for Sunday, Roos might have to make some adjustments to his team which has bounced back from a four-game losing streak to win their past two starts.
Davis has a badly bruised left ankle from the win over the Bulldogs and was still on crutches on Wednesday, but will be given until tomorrow to prove his fitness.
Swans midfielder Nic Fosdike, who missed last round because of tonsillitis, will come back into the team for Jason Saddington after the key defender suffered a season-ending knee injury on Saturday night.
If Davis doesn't pull off a dramatic recovery either Heath James, Sean Demspter or rookie Scott McGlone will take his place.
Roos rates the opportunity to become the first team this year to stop the Saints as the biggest challenges of the season.
"In terms of profile, a 10-0 team coming in, a big crowd around 35,000 and the fact we are coming off two good wins, this is as big a game as we've had this year," said Roos.
While St Kilda are clearly the benchmark in the AFL right now, Roos believes it's too early to call them the new Brisbane Lions.
"I just think both teams at full strength playing each other, gees ... I wouldn't want to sell Brisbane short," he said. "I still think they are the champions and they have yet to be dethroned."
The Swans to a man are going to have to lift in every position on the field to have any chance of upsetting the competition leaders.
"There's not to many weaknesses forward of the centre and St Kilda's defence is probably underrated," said Roos.
"That's why you can't simply afford just to target three or four players and neglect the others."
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