the "media" dont rate him but they rarely talk about freo players over here other than a little blurb saying if he's injured. The commentators like him (but most are scum anyway) when they commentate on the games.
FREMANTLE coach Chris Connolly said something interesting at the press conference after his team's derby win over West Coast.
Connolly gave second game player Roger Hayden the task of marking dangerous Eagle Phil Matera on Saturday night and told him his career was over if he didn't play well.
Hayden responded with a calm and effective performance which added to the overall defensive effort and limited Matera's impact on the game to virtually nil.
It was risky business from the coach.
The younger Matera has often been a worry for the Dockers and usually commands the attention of a senior defender - Shane Parker is often a candidate. However the size of the West Coast forward line meant Parker couldn't be a small defender on the weekend, he had to don the high heels and play tall.
So Connolly banked on Hayden and it worked. Matera didn't have a kick until the last quarter.
Hayden was elevated from Fremantle's rookie list a couple of weeks ago after a run of good form for South Fremantle. Three years ago he played in the Sunday Football Football League grand final for Gosnells.
The Eagles began the game looking very good with David Wirrpunda, Chris Judd and Ben Cousins in form. But Paul Medhurst and Paul Hasleby helped to kept Fremantle close and in the third quarter the home team took control.
During that quarter Jeff Farmer had 10 kicks; Hasleby made eight disposals; Matthew Pavlich was dynamic and youngster Dion Woods made good use of the ball.
Other players to make significant contributions were confident defender Luke McPharlin; captain Peter Bell; Matthew Carr, who ran with Ben Cousins and kicked three goals and Justin Longmuir, who ran Glen Jakovich around and made the veteran defender lose his cool.
I like listening to the radio from time to time and the commentators are "Hayden dodges traffic kicks to Headland.....boy this Hayden guy can play can't he". Like it's news to them..... classic.
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