ID :
17701
Mon, 09/01/2008 - 19:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/17701
The shortlink copeid
Laidley adds heat to clash with Swans
North Melbourne fired an early shot at Sydney ahead of Saturday night's AFL elimination final, accusing Swans defenders fo "tunnelling" and chopping opponents' arms. AFL umpires coach Rowan Sawers was kept busy on Monday, fielding calls from North
and then Sydney coach Paul Roos.
Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley volunteered the club's approach to Sawers, saying they wanted to ensure their forwards had a clear run at the ball. Roos responded a few hours later, warning that Laidley's tactic might backfire because it could help motivate Swans players.
"Last time we played the Swans, I thought our key forwards were tunnelled, I thought their arms were taken," Laidley said. "We've spoken to the umpires department this morning and they acknowledge they probably missed some stuff - you know, Leo Barry on Nathan Thompson and Craig Bolton.
"They're very good at it, the Swans, very good at it, but we're going to have the best umpires this weekend and I'm sure they won't miss it ... I'm sure it will be at the forefront of their minds.
"We've got some key forwards in pretty good form and we want to keep them in good form - we want to give them an opportunity to compete for the ball unimpeded."
Laidley rang Sawers after Sunday night reviewing the dramatic round-six draw between the two teams. Sydney was fined $50,000, half of which was suspended, for having 19 men on the field near the end of the game. The furore over the Swans' mistake was a major factor in the league's mid-season overhaul of the interchange laws. Tunnelling is a tactic where an opponent's legs are bumped while he is in mid-air, throwing him off balance.
Roos said it was Laidley's prerogative to speak to Sawers and handle the issue in his own way, but added it was not how he would have behaved. "We speak to the umpires all the time and I think out of respect for the umpires, Rowan and Jeff (Gieschen) do a good job, you try to keep them private," Roos said. "But given Dean's assessment in the paper, I just rang Rowan to clarify firstly what the rule is because tunnelling is quite a strange term in a sense.
"Early in the season there was a couple of incidents that were highlighted. But according to Rowan of recent times they don't have problems with anything specifically that our players do.
"We just expect the game to be umpired as it normally does - umpire every contest on its merits."
Roos also subtly returned fire at Laidley, saying he was always careful what he said publicly about other teams in case his comments came back to haunt him. "If our players read that, they'll be very keen to get out there on Saturday night and very keen to prepare," Roos said. "Sometimes that one or two percent can make a bit of a difference. "If the players read it, I won't highlight it, it doesn't particularly worry me.
"But if they read it and they get galvanised by it and the fans come and cheer louder well that's fantastic." Meanwhile, Laidley said Leigh Harding was "50-50" after hurting his knee in Saturday's shock 76-point loss to Port Adelaide and would need a fitness test.
The loss cost North fourth spot and the double chance.
and then Sydney coach Paul Roos.
Kangaroos coach Dean Laidley volunteered the club's approach to Sawers, saying they wanted to ensure their forwards had a clear run at the ball. Roos responded a few hours later, warning that Laidley's tactic might backfire because it could help motivate Swans players.
"Last time we played the Swans, I thought our key forwards were tunnelled, I thought their arms were taken," Laidley said. "We've spoken to the umpires department this morning and they acknowledge they probably missed some stuff - you know, Leo Barry on Nathan Thompson and Craig Bolton.
"They're very good at it, the Swans, very good at it, but we're going to have the best umpires this weekend and I'm sure they won't miss it ... I'm sure it will be at the forefront of their minds.
"We've got some key forwards in pretty good form and we want to keep them in good form - we want to give them an opportunity to compete for the ball unimpeded."
Laidley rang Sawers after Sunday night reviewing the dramatic round-six draw between the two teams. Sydney was fined $50,000, half of which was suspended, for having 19 men on the field near the end of the game. The furore over the Swans' mistake was a major factor in the league's mid-season overhaul of the interchange laws. Tunnelling is a tactic where an opponent's legs are bumped while he is in mid-air, throwing him off balance.
Roos said it was Laidley's prerogative to speak to Sawers and handle the issue in his own way, but added it was not how he would have behaved. "We speak to the umpires all the time and I think out of respect for the umpires, Rowan and Jeff (Gieschen) do a good job, you try to keep them private," Roos said. "But given Dean's assessment in the paper, I just rang Rowan to clarify firstly what the rule is because tunnelling is quite a strange term in a sense.
"Early in the season there was a couple of incidents that were highlighted. But according to Rowan of recent times they don't have problems with anything specifically that our players do.
"We just expect the game to be umpired as it normally does - umpire every contest on its merits."
Roos also subtly returned fire at Laidley, saying he was always careful what he said publicly about other teams in case his comments came back to haunt him. "If our players read that, they'll be very keen to get out there on Saturday night and very keen to prepare," Roos said. "Sometimes that one or two percent can make a bit of a difference. "If the players read it, I won't highlight it, it doesn't particularly worry me.
"But if they read it and they get galvanised by it and the fans come and cheer louder well that's fantastic." Meanwhile, Laidley said Leigh Harding was "50-50" after hurting his knee in Saturday's shock 76-point loss to Port Adelaide and would need a fitness test.
The loss cost North fourth spot and the double chance.
