JARED Crouch yesterday responded to revelations that the Swans picked their own team - saying he is no more or less taken aback that he was dropped by his peers.
Swans coach Paul Roos yesterday revealed he did not have first nor last say in the selection of the team that beat Port Adelaide last week. Instead he took the unprecedented step of letting the leadership group pick the side.
It was the first time Crouch has been dropped for form in his nine-year career but yesterday he stressed he still felt a valued member of the team. Asked if his omission had been harder to take given his peers had wielded the axe, he said:
"No, definitely not.
"I wasn't playing good football and that is what our club is about . . . honesty. They (the leadership group) definitely value you as a player and realise that when I'm playing my best football, I can certainly make a difference to the side.
"If I am not, I am certainly hurting the side."
Roos, on Melbourne radio station SEN, described handing over team selection to the team as "an interesting exercise" but said they would revert to a traditional selection process this week.
"We had the whole leadership group pick the team last Wednesday so we just sat and watched," Roos said. "It was an interesting exercise."
SEN panelist Tim Watson asked him on air: "Would you have gone with their 22 regardless of who they picked?"
"Absolutely," said Roos. "It is interesting when you watch players pick the team, they really start to think. They begin to realise the implications . . . and then they look for reasons why they should or should not play.
"It was clear, if that's the 22 that you want then we'll find a way to play them and pick them."
Crouch rated himself a definite chance of being selected for the Swans' match against the Western Bulldogs in Canberra on Sunday. If recalled, he would be matched with long-time sparring partner Jason Akermanis.
His prospects of returning, however, have been made more difficult given the outstanding form of the Swans in their win against Port Adelaide.
Sydney had a full-team contribution with a number of players who were previously down on form regaining it. Crouch, however, was buoyed by his form in the reserves and optimistic about a return against the Dogs.
"Definitely (I'm a chance). My body is good, I certainly played a lot better on the weekend than what I have been playing," Crouch said. "I missed a lot of football last year. It's just a matter of reading the play a bit quicker."
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21779352-21543,00.html
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So what do you guys think of the senior players making selections for a match. Is it a good or bad idea?
Swans coach Paul Roos yesterday revealed he did not have first nor last say in the selection of the team that beat Port Adelaide last week. Instead he took the unprecedented step of letting the leadership group pick the side.
It was the first time Crouch has been dropped for form in his nine-year career but yesterday he stressed he still felt a valued member of the team. Asked if his omission had been harder to take given his peers had wielded the axe, he said:
"No, definitely not.
"I wasn't playing good football and that is what our club is about . . . honesty. They (the leadership group) definitely value you as a player and realise that when I'm playing my best football, I can certainly make a difference to the side.
"If I am not, I am certainly hurting the side."
Roos, on Melbourne radio station SEN, described handing over team selection to the team as "an interesting exercise" but said they would revert to a traditional selection process this week.
"We had the whole leadership group pick the team last Wednesday so we just sat and watched," Roos said. "It was an interesting exercise."
SEN panelist Tim Watson asked him on air: "Would you have gone with their 22 regardless of who they picked?"
"Absolutely," said Roos. "It is interesting when you watch players pick the team, they really start to think. They begin to realise the implications . . . and then they look for reasons why they should or should not play.
"It was clear, if that's the 22 that you want then we'll find a way to play them and pick them."
Crouch rated himself a definite chance of being selected for the Swans' match against the Western Bulldogs in Canberra on Sunday. If recalled, he would be matched with long-time sparring partner Jason Akermanis.
His prospects of returning, however, have been made more difficult given the outstanding form of the Swans in their win against Port Adelaide.
Sydney had a full-team contribution with a number of players who were previously down on form regaining it. Crouch, however, was buoyed by his form in the reserves and optimistic about a return against the Dogs.
"Definitely (I'm a chance). My body is good, I certainly played a lot better on the weekend than what I have been playing," Crouch said. "I missed a lot of football last year. It's just a matter of reading the play a bit quicker."
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21779352-21543,00.html
--------------------------------------------------
So what do you guys think of the senior players making selections for a match. Is it a good or bad idea?
