I Feel For Him, Roos Says Of Embattled Demons Rival

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday August 7, 2007

Richard Hinds

SWANS coach Paul Roos said comments about the Melbourne line-up that upset acting Demons coach Mark Riley on Sunday were meant to be sympathetic and not a criticism of Riley's selection policy.

Roos said he had been surprised Melbourne had not named more youngsters, as he had done when he became Sydney's caretaker coach in the middle of the 2002 season. But he added that former Swan and now Melbourne assistant coach Paul Williams had told him that injuries had stopped the Demons blooding youngsters.

However, Riley was initially under the impression Roos had criticised him for not playing enough youngsters. "Paul Roos can comment on Sydney and I'll comment on Melbourne," he said.

Roos said yesterday he would consider phoning either Riley or Williams to clarify his remarks.

"I don't know what version of the comments he got but I was actually saying that it is doubly hard for Bomber [Riley] that he can't go for kids even if he wants to," he said. "Hopefully he will have seen the comments in full and understand what I was saying. But I might ring Willo or Bomber."

After his struggling team had lost by 48 points, Riley clumsily said of Aboriginal midfielder Byron Pickett's decision to kick against the wind after winning the toss that "it might have been an indigenous feeling".

Riley is considered the least likely of the three caretaker coaches in place to get the job and his odds lengthened after another poor display by the Demons.

Meanwhile, the Swans will go into the first of four season-defining matches against St Kilda at Telstra Stadium on Saturday night at close to full strength after ruckman Darren Jolly (corked thigh) was cleared of any significant injury.

With Jared Crouch having played just one reserves match after returning from a long-term hamstring injury and defender Lewis Roberts-Thomson yet to return to top form in the seconds, the Swans are likely to make just one change to their line-up, with Leo Barry to return from a hamstring strain for his usual appointment with St Kilda's powerhouse forward Fraser Gehrig.

While Barry has had some epic battles with Gehrig, the Saints full-forward has struggled in recent weeks and failed to get a kick against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night (he took one mark but a free kick was paid against teammate Stephen Milne.)

However, with fellow forward Nick Riewoldt in brilliant form, the Saints still have a potent attack in a game the Swans must win if they are to keep pushing for a top-four berth.

The Swans are unlikely to learn much about St Kilda from their tie with the Bulldogs. "It's one of those ones where you'll watch that game, but you might have to watch another St Kilda game from earlier in the season to see what they are doing," Roos said.

The more pertinent results for Sydney at the weekend were the defeats of top-four rivals the Kangaroos, Port Adelaide and West Coast. Wins over St Kilda, Brisbane (Gabba), Collingwood (MCG) and Hawthorn (SCG) would now almost certainly put the Swans in the top four, although, predictably, Roos would not entertain that possibility.

"All those results really proved is anyone can beat anyone," he said. "That's why you don't spend too much time hoping one team beats another. We've just got to keep making sure we don't slip."

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

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