keefriffhard
9 Feb 2008, 17:21
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/sydney-short-of-players/2008/02/08/1202234169845.html
Sydney short of players as new rules bite into options
Richard Hinds | February 9, 2008
THE Sydney Swans could virtually concede defeat in their NAB Cup match against Hawthorn in Launceston on Sunday week by leaving out most of their big-name players because of the new trial rule limiting the number of interchanges.
At least six players who might have been selected for the match under normal conditions - Adam Goodes, Brett Kirk, Craig Bolton, Luke Ablett, Ben Mathews and Jude Bolton - are unlikely to be selected because of fears that they are not yet fit enough to play the extra minutes that would be required under the trial rule restricting clubs to just 16 changes per quarter.
The Swans were already almost certain to be without Barry Hall, Darren Jolly, Michael O'Loughlin, Leo Barry and Tadhg Kennelly, who are on limited training programs, while Peter Everitt and Nic Fosdike are sidelined by injuries suffered during the pre-season, meaning they will be relying on a large contingent of youngsters and rookie listed players.
Coach Paul Roos acknowledged that several senior players would have played part of the match if interchanges were unlimited but some were simply not advanced enough in their preparation to play the extra time the trial rule would demand. The Swans made 84 interchanges in their NAB Cup matches last year, 20 more than the new limit.
"At this time of year it's not really the coach who determines who plays, it's the medical staff," Roos said. "And our advice on some of those players is that they are ready to play 60 or 70 minutes, but not the 100 minutes they might have to play now."
Roos confirmed yesterday that just nine of his regular senior players - Paul Bevan, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Nick Malceski, Ted Richards, Jarrad McVeigh, Ryan O'Keefe, Amon Buchanan, Nick Davis, and recruit Martin Mattner - were likely to play against Hawthorn.
He also said that the following week he expects to have both Boltons and Kirk, Goodes, Ablett, Mathews, O'Loughlin, Luke Brennan and Jolly ready for selection. Even Hall and Kennelly were a slim chance of playing.
With the Swans fielding a vastly sub-strength line-up against the Hawks it will add further fuel to the already heated debate about the trial rule and the seriousness with which teams take the NAB Cup.
Already Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has attacked the new rule, claiming it could put players at risk of injury, and Geelong coach Mark Thompson has threatened to flout the rule in his team's first match. If teams do exceed the maximum number of interchanges the opposition is awarded a free kick from the goal square.
The trial rule has been introduced to the pre-season competition in attempt to slow down the game, something the AFL claims could reduce injuries and counter the tactic of defensive flooding. But that theory is at odds with research that shows the number of injuries in recent years had already declined, something many coaches, including Roos, believe is due to players being rotated more often from the interchange bench.
With the trial rule in place there is a growing feeling among some clubs, including the Swans, that they will be better off losing their first-round match this year because the team's eliminated from the official competition then play practice matches under regular-season rules.
That could further erode the credibility of the NAB Cup competition and anger the AFL, which is attempting to promote as a legitimate competition in its own right. This week it was announced prizemoney for the winner would be increased from $220,000 to $385,000.
But even before the interchange trial, the Swans particularly have continued to treat the competition for what it is - a chance to gradually ease players into condition before the real thing.
Sydney short of players as new rules bite into options
Richard Hinds | February 9, 2008
THE Sydney Swans could virtually concede defeat in their NAB Cup match against Hawthorn in Launceston on Sunday week by leaving out most of their big-name players because of the new trial rule limiting the number of interchanges.
At least six players who might have been selected for the match under normal conditions - Adam Goodes, Brett Kirk, Craig Bolton, Luke Ablett, Ben Mathews and Jude Bolton - are unlikely to be selected because of fears that they are not yet fit enough to play the extra minutes that would be required under the trial rule restricting clubs to just 16 changes per quarter.
The Swans were already almost certain to be without Barry Hall, Darren Jolly, Michael O'Loughlin, Leo Barry and Tadhg Kennelly, who are on limited training programs, while Peter Everitt and Nic Fosdike are sidelined by injuries suffered during the pre-season, meaning they will be relying on a large contingent of youngsters and rookie listed players.
Coach Paul Roos acknowledged that several senior players would have played part of the match if interchanges were unlimited but some were simply not advanced enough in their preparation to play the extra time the trial rule would demand. The Swans made 84 interchanges in their NAB Cup matches last year, 20 more than the new limit.
"At this time of year it's not really the coach who determines who plays, it's the medical staff," Roos said. "And our advice on some of those players is that they are ready to play 60 or 70 minutes, but not the 100 minutes they might have to play now."
Roos confirmed yesterday that just nine of his regular senior players - Paul Bevan, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Nick Malceski, Ted Richards, Jarrad McVeigh, Ryan O'Keefe, Amon Buchanan, Nick Davis, and recruit Martin Mattner - were likely to play against Hawthorn.
He also said that the following week he expects to have both Boltons and Kirk, Goodes, Ablett, Mathews, O'Loughlin, Luke Brennan and Jolly ready for selection. Even Hall and Kennelly were a slim chance of playing.
With the Swans fielding a vastly sub-strength line-up against the Hawks it will add further fuel to the already heated debate about the trial rule and the seriousness with which teams take the NAB Cup.
Already Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse has attacked the new rule, claiming it could put players at risk of injury, and Geelong coach Mark Thompson has threatened to flout the rule in his team's first match. If teams do exceed the maximum number of interchanges the opposition is awarded a free kick from the goal square.
The trial rule has been introduced to the pre-season competition in attempt to slow down the game, something the AFL claims could reduce injuries and counter the tactic of defensive flooding. But that theory is at odds with research that shows the number of injuries in recent years had already declined, something many coaches, including Roos, believe is due to players being rotated more often from the interchange bench.
With the trial rule in place there is a growing feeling among some clubs, including the Swans, that they will be better off losing their first-round match this year because the team's eliminated from the official competition then play practice matches under regular-season rules.
That could further erode the credibility of the NAB Cup competition and anger the AFL, which is attempting to promote as a legitimate competition in its own right. This week it was announced prizemoney for the winner would be increased from $220,000 to $385,000.
But even before the interchange trial, the Swans particularly have continued to treat the competition for what it is - a chance to gradually ease players into condition before the real thing.