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AAP reports that ruckman Jason Ball will make a long-awaited return from injury today, but full-forward Barry Hall was ruled out of today's game with a hip problem.
Former Collingwood forward Nick Davis was yesterday cleared to play his first game for Sydney, the city in which he was raised, and Canberra-bred Craig Bolton, who Sydney got from Brisbane, will be coming back to play in his home city for the first time in almost five years.
Ball, Sydney's most experienced ruckman, did not play a senior game last season because of recurring groin problems. The 30-year-old big man broke down three times in VFL and SFL games last year but will face Melbourne in the practice match at Canberra's Manuka Oval. Ball said he was now fit despite starting full training only four weeks ago.
Coach Paul Roos said Ball was an important player for the Swans and saw him forming a three-pronged ruck attack with Stephen Doyle and Adam Goodes.
"Jason has been frustrated over the last twelve months and it?s good to have him back," Roos said. "I think as a player three games is probably an ideal preparation. If you can get a half and probably two full games, then the bye weekend, that is really the way to go. He?s a pretty important player to us as he?s so strong and will complement Stephen Doyle and Adam Goodes. For us to have a good season he is extremely important."
Roos plans to play him in practice matches in the next two weekends before seeking dispensation for him to play with Swans' reserve side the week before the AFL premiership opener, against Carlton on March 29.
"I'll have three weeks of footy under my belt, being bashed and banged around and getting my body used to playing footy again," Jason Ball said. "Roosy is great, the boys really respect him and he shows confidence in the players as well, and we've probably got a new club culture."
"It?s a relief to finally get back out on the field again. It has been a while, and it?s hard being on the outside looking in," he said. "But I have been working hard for a long while now, and I?m just glad to get back out there in a full on game."
Roos is glad to see the senior players returning, but is still frustrated by the number of injuries.
"Nick Davis will return this weekend as he is ahead of where we thought he would be which is a real positive for us," Roos said. "It?s important for our preparation to get these guys back. The unfortunate thing is Saddo rolled his ankle at training on Wednesday, but hopefully will be right to play this weekend while Barry Hall is still injured and will be replaced by Nick Malceski.
"Really, what we need now are our better players on the field as you want to start to prepare for round one. It?s been frustrating, even for the players playing it has been frustrating as we haven?t had our best team," he said. "The result is not the main thing - it?s really playing the way you want to play and certainly that is the main concern, to get players back for two games."
Leo Barry and Ben Fixter are hopeful of returning for next Saturday?s match against Richmond at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Michael O?Loughlin and Stephen Doyle are struggling to be on deck for the opener against Carlton at Telstra Stadium.
Nick Davis is looking forward to playing his part this season.
"I've already been through a rebuilding thing at Collingwood, so I don't think Sydney are after a super-human effort from anyone this year," said Davis. "If the whole team can perform together, then I think the wins will come, that's what Collingwood did."
Craig Bolton, who has missed the last couple of matches with a groin niggle, has already spent time at fullback.
"I don't think I will be a direct substitute for Dunks, I think at the same time I might be able to fit in and take some players he may have taken," said Bolton. "But I think the backline as a whole is just going to have to mould and change a bit to make up for his loss."
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Former Collingwood forward Nick Davis was yesterday cleared to play his first game for Sydney, the city in which he was raised, and Canberra-bred Craig Bolton, who Sydney got from Brisbane, will be coming back to play in his home city for the first time in almost five years.
Ball, Sydney's most experienced ruckman, did not play a senior game last season because of recurring groin problems. The 30-year-old big man broke down three times in VFL and SFL games last year but will face Melbourne in the practice match at Canberra's Manuka Oval. Ball said he was now fit despite starting full training only four weeks ago.
Coach Paul Roos said Ball was an important player for the Swans and saw him forming a three-pronged ruck attack with Stephen Doyle and Adam Goodes.
"Jason has been frustrated over the last twelve months and it?s good to have him back," Roos said. "I think as a player three games is probably an ideal preparation. If you can get a half and probably two full games, then the bye weekend, that is really the way to go. He?s a pretty important player to us as he?s so strong and will complement Stephen Doyle and Adam Goodes. For us to have a good season he is extremely important."
Roos plans to play him in practice matches in the next two weekends before seeking dispensation for him to play with Swans' reserve side the week before the AFL premiership opener, against Carlton on March 29.
"I'll have three weeks of footy under my belt, being bashed and banged around and getting my body used to playing footy again," Jason Ball said. "Roosy is great, the boys really respect him and he shows confidence in the players as well, and we've probably got a new club culture."
"It?s a relief to finally get back out on the field again. It has been a while, and it?s hard being on the outside looking in," he said. "But I have been working hard for a long while now, and I?m just glad to get back out there in a full on game."
Roos is glad to see the senior players returning, but is still frustrated by the number of injuries.
"Nick Davis will return this weekend as he is ahead of where we thought he would be which is a real positive for us," Roos said. "It?s important for our preparation to get these guys back. The unfortunate thing is Saddo rolled his ankle at training on Wednesday, but hopefully will be right to play this weekend while Barry Hall is still injured and will be replaced by Nick Malceski.
"Really, what we need now are our better players on the field as you want to start to prepare for round one. It?s been frustrating, even for the players playing it has been frustrating as we haven?t had our best team," he said. "The result is not the main thing - it?s really playing the way you want to play and certainly that is the main concern, to get players back for two games."
Leo Barry and Ben Fixter are hopeful of returning for next Saturday?s match against Richmond at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Michael O?Loughlin and Stephen Doyle are struggling to be on deck for the opener against Carlton at Telstra Stadium.
Nick Davis is looking forward to playing his part this season.
"I've already been through a rebuilding thing at Collingwood, so I don't think Sydney are after a super-human effort from anyone this year," said Davis. "If the whole team can perform together, then I think the wins will come, that's what Collingwood did."
Craig Bolton, who has missed the last couple of matches with a groin niggle, has already spent time at fullback.
"I don't think I will be a direct substitute for Dunks, I think at the same time I might be able to fit in and take some players he may have taken," said Bolton. "But I think the backline as a whole is just going to have to mould and change a bit to make up for his loss."
The stories are at
and
