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Pagan issues challenge

Monday, July 16, 2001

KANGAROOS coach Denis Pagan loves challenges, thrives on them in fact.

It's just as well.

In the next fortnight his Kangaroos, surging towards the finals, lock horns with raging premiership favourite Essendon and the white-hot Brisbane Lions.

At 8-7 and with a percentage still below 100, the Roos are on the brink. Failure to win one of those matches would just about kill off the Kangas' hopes of yet another September campaign, Pagan said.

''Out of the last nine, we've won seven and we weren't super impressive today,'' he said.

''At times we were very good. At times we weren't very good. But it's hard to sit down and quantify our performances.

''But we've got a lot of work to do and in the next two weeks, we play the Bombers and the Lions and they're going to be tough games. We have to win one of those.''

Fortunately for the Roos, they regain rugged utility Glenn Archer, but will be without Anthony Stevens, who is likely to have his right knee reconstructed this week.

''Those two games are important in the whole psyche of the year and that sort of thing,'' Pagan said.

''If we drop the next two, it's going to be tough. It puts us under pressure for the remaining games.

''They're real benchmark games that we have to play in.''

Pagan was delighted at how his players responded late yesterday, especially after an interesting night at the team hotel on Saturday.

''The hotel we stayed at last night, there was a wedding downstairs. Everyone was running down the corridors and banging on doors,'' he said.

''I just wonder whether Judgey sent them around there. It wasn't a good night.''

 

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Byron lords it over Eagles
By Digby Beacham

Monday, July 16, 2001

THE sleeping giant continues to stir.

The Kangaroos, inspired by a six-goal haul from Byron Pickett, remained in touch with the top eight when they staved off a spirited challenge from West Coast yesterday.

It was the Roos' seventh win in nine games and kept them on the verge of the top eight with seven rounds remaining.

The Roos, surprised by the Eagles' early physical approach, had 2.3 to their name at quarter-time, but piled on another 22.7 in the final three quarters, including 8.0 in the last term.

Pickett's six shaded Brent Harvey for best-afield honours, while Sav Rocca and Wayne Carey combined for 11 goals, some of which are sure to take pride of place on the club's end-of-season highlights reel.

However, the 44-point win came at a huge cost, with experienced onballer Anthony Stevens suffering suspected anterior cruciate ligament damage to his right knee.

If the worst fears about Stevens are realised, he will undergo a reconstruction this week and miss 12 months.

Pickett, out of contract at the end of the season and in the sights of both WA clubs, turned in a performance that will not be forgotten in a hurry.

The 23-year-old started in the centre square, where he manned up on West Coast youngster Daniel Kerr.

He was then shifted to half-forward early in the match, where he was picked up by Peter Matera.

Matera's rebound off half-back was instrumental in the home team leading by 11 points at quarter-time, gaining nine possessions and four marks.

Pagan responded by shifting Pickett to the goalsquare, where he turned the game on its head and cancelled any influence Matera was having.

Already responsible for Brady Rawlings' first goal, Pickett laid a tackle on Matera that led to Carey kicking his second, before adding another himself deep in time on.

Then, in the space of eight minutes in the third quarter, Pickett added four goals on Matera, forcing coach Ken Judge into a belated change.

The moment Michael Collica replaced Matera, Pagan shifted his wildcard up the ground.

The Eagles were gallant.

In fact, their effort yesterday would have been sufficient to overcome several teams.

The Eagles were seemingly gone at the 31st-minute mark of the third quarter when David King goaled on the run to give the visitors a 33-point lead.

But that was cut to 21 points with late goals to Ben Cousins and Phil Matera, before Carey's fourth from near the boundary line early in the last term stretched the lead to 27 points.

In the next 12 minutes, two goals to Mark Merenda and singles to Richard Taylor and Troy Wilson had the margin back at two points.

Rather than ignite a takeover, Merenda's second goal would be the last score West Coast managed.

Pickett kicked his sixth from outside 50m at the 16-minute mark, the first of eight straight, achieved on the back of midfield dominance at the feet of ruckman Matthew Burton and the ability of the Roos to win the contests.

 

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Roos: no merger
By Geoff Poulter

Monday, July 16, 2001

KANGAROOS chief executive Greg Miller yesterday laughed off suggestions from Carlton president John Elliott that the two clubs could merge.

Speaking after the Roos' stirring 44-point win over West Coast at Subiaco, Miller said there was no likelihood of the two teams becoming one.

''Tell big Jack we'll wear the Kangaroos jumper for every match with the Carlton socks,'' Miller said.

On radio on Saturday, Elliott said it would make perfect sense for the Kangaroos to merge with the Blues.

He said the team could play in the Roos' jumper for away games and call themselves the Carlton Kangaroos.

''I'm happy with the Kangaroos, as long as we get their good players and we win premierships,'' Elliott said.

 

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Stevo could miss a year
By Digby Beacham- haha digby

Monday, July 16, 2001

THE Kangaroos' finals aspirations nosedived yesterday when Anthony Stevens sustained suspected anterior cruciate ligament damage to his right knee.

Stevens, who turned 30 two weeks ago and had his 1995 finals campaign shortened by a knee injury, will be examined this morning. But the club fears the brilliant midfielder will require reconstructive surgery.

If so, the two-time Roos best and fairest (1997 and 1999) and 1998 All-Australian will be sidelined for a year.

And Essendon will be sweating on the outcome of tests on Justin Blumfield's knee today after he was injured yesterday.

Stevens appeared to suffer the injury in the first quarter against West Coast at Subiaco when he went to ground heavily near the Eagles' left behind post.

Courageously, he picked himself up and a minute later, was cannoned into by Eagles full-forward Troy Wilson when standing his ground in a marking contest.

Stevens was unable to take the kick and was assisted from the ground by trainers.

He had his knee bandaged when he made his way to the rooms at halftime, but reappeared after the long break in a tracksuit.

''We can't talk about injuries because West Coast have a hell of a lot more than us. But Anthony's probably got an ACL and I don't think he'll play for 12 months,'' Kangaroos coach Denis Pagan said yesterday.

''We'll know a lot more when we see a specialist back in Melbourne tomorrow.

''I don't know whether it happened when Troy Wilson ran into him or it happened earlier. I haven't had a chance to speak to him to yet.''

Only last year, Stevens' life was threatened when a pane of glass fell on his neck after the Round 1 loss to the Eagles at the MCG.

He returned in the second half of the season to help the Roos into the finals and this year has been one of the side's best.