Ball and Barry Likely to miss

[ScottH]

For the Sydney Swans yesterday, the bad news was that Sunday's best on ground Leo Barry is likely to miss Sunday's significant Port Adelaide match and ruckman Jason Ball is definitely out.

However, in Sydney's favour is the team's uncanny record of winning the apparently un-winnable. They did it last year against Port on the South Australian side's home ground in a qualifying final and they did it on Sunday against the undefeated St Kilda.

Roos said yesterday that while it felt good to have knocked off the ladder leaders, the injuries from the match had turned out to be worse than the club expected.

"Ball had an MRI (scan) and has a slight hamstring tear so he's unlikely to play this week," Roos said. "Leo's ankle is probably a bit worse than we'd hoped, as well, so we'll just have to wait and see on him."

Roos admitted that replacing Ball will be a problem, given the club's lack of available tall players.

"Unfortunately, the win's come at a bit of a cost, but we'll enjoy the win and then worry about that later in the week," Roos said.

"We are hoping (Stephen) Doyle will play a bit more in the ruck but we know that he certainly can't play 120 minutes.

"We'd need to bring someone else in. It might be young (James) Meiklejohn coming in for his first game for the season."

The Swans coach ruled out using Adam Goodes in the ruck after the Brownlow medallist tore his posterior cruciate in a ruck contest earlier this year.

"I certainly don't think we'd be risking Adam in the ruck at this particular stage, given what we've been able to achieve with him down back and his form there," Roos said.

Barry soundly defeated Fraser Gehrig on Sunday and would be a certainty to line up on Warren Tredrea if he is fit this weekend.

Port Adelaide's acting captain said he had been looking forward to playing on the Swans defender. "He's played in a different role this year. I'd expect to get him if he does come up. But there's also Goodes, who has been playing well in defence, too," Tredrea said.

"Barry's played more as a running half-back flanker in the last couple of years but he seems to be relishing the big jobs.

"I hope he comes up; I hope I get to play against him.

"It's just a challenge every week. I played on (Justin) Leppitsch last week and he's a similar type player.

"So, if there's anything, there's a bit of form on playing on those guys, compared with those who just shut down and are straight-out negative."

The Swans are not expecting reliable defender Andrew Schauble back for his first game of the year for another three weeks. Young gun Adam Schneider is also ruled out for the same period.

Forward Nick Davis should be available for this weekend's match after missing the Saints game with a bruised ankle.

Port have similar injury problems, and Tredrea denies they will be looking to square up for last year's finals loss.

"I think anything that's happened in the past has happened," Tredrea said.


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...5E2722,00.html

[ScottH]

Sydney's stunning victory over St Kilda has come at a cost - two crucial players, Jason Ball and Leo Barry, are unlikely to recover in time to play this weekend against Port Adelaide.

Barry, the man who led the Swans to their compelling win with his outstanding defence, has just a "slight chance" of playing. And the prognosis for Sydney's top ruckman, Ball, is even less optimistic for the game at Football Park this Sunday.

Barry limped off late in the fourth quarter on Sunday after rolling his ankle. Ball hobbled off during the third with a hamstring strain.

"We've just got to wait and see over the next four or five days," Swans coach Paul Roos said yesterday. "Ballie had an MRI and has a real slight hamstring tear so he's unlikely to play this week. Leo's ankle is a bit worse than we hoped . . . he's a slight chance but the week will tell the tale."

Without Ball, Roos's options are severely limited in the ruck. Stephen Doyle will take on the bulk of the rucking duties and James Meiklejohn may be elevated from the reserves to pick up some slack.

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Roos refuses to risk Adam Goodes in the role since he tore his posterior cruciate ligament in the ruck against West Coast nearly a month ago. Besides, the Brownlow medallist has been strong across half-back.

"We are hoping that Doyley will play a bit more in the ruck, we know he certainly can't play 120 minutes, he's probably looking at 60-70 minutes in the ruck maximum, so we need to bring someone else in," Roos said. "Might be young Meiklejohn, coming back in for his first game of the season."

The Swans' injury list has grown of late. Jason Saddington (knee) is out for the duration, Andrew Schauble (hamstring) is unlikely to be back before the match against Collingwood in a few weeks, and Adam Schneider is recovering from a hamstring tear.

Roos acknowledged his medical room was busy.

"Look, it's not great if you factor in all the other blokes we can't pick at the moment, we certainly couldn't afford to add too many more to that [injury] list. Unfortunately, you know the win has come at a bit of cost, but we'll enjoy the win and then worry about [the consequences] later."

One bright note is that Nick Davis, a late withdrawal from the St Kilda game with an ankle injury, should be fit. The Swans enjoyed a swim at Clovelly yesterday and then had a team lunch. After such a stirring win over the competition leaders, the mood was, obviously, upbeat.

Roos took the opportunity to preach some caution, saying the challenge against Port this weekend may be greater than the one just completed on Sunday.

"I'm sure they're pleased but by the same token they know you've got to move on pretty quickly and next week is another week and a new challenge," Roos said.

"[Port] had a loss on the weekend and good teams, normally, don't lose two in a row, so you know it's going to be very hard over there. It's going to be as difficult, if not more difficult, than it was yesterday."


http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/...460239259.html