GVGjr
08-02-2007, 06:39 PM
Spida's red-and-white debut unlikely before early March
PRIZED Swans recruit Peter Everitt will miss Sydney's opening two practice games and make his debut for the club on the first weekend of next month.
There had been speculation Everitt would take part in Sydney's traditional season-opener at North Sydney Oval, against Collingwood on February 16. Swans coach Paul Roos, however, confirmed yesterday his new ruckman would not play in that fixture, nor in the team's opening-round NAB Cup game against the Western Bulldogs the week after.
Roos said Everitt was scheduled to play his first game a week later. If the Swans beat the Bulldogs in their cup game, they will play the winner of the St Kilda-Brisbane game on March 2. Should they lose, they will play the loser of the Geelong-Richmond game on March 3 in Canberra.
"Spida probably wants to play a little bit earlier and there will probably be a little bit more debate go on about that, but given your restrictions on the interchange with the NAB Cup, it's … hard to introduce a guy and say he can only play 40 or 50 minutes, because if someone gets injured, you are forced to play them," Roos said.
"So, sometimes you are putting players at jeopardy by playing them in the NAB Cup because there is only six on the interchange. If there were eight, he might be a chance … I'd say he'll play the week after."
Asked if there was a temptation to give Everitt, who had ankle surgery in the off-season, a run at North Sydney Oval, Roos replied: "I'm sure he's probably tempted to do it, but there's still a fair way to go. Look, there's always a temptation to play them … they are always competitive and they always want to play, but you've got to be mindful of what they can and can't do and how long there still is to go."
PRIZED Swans recruit Peter Everitt will miss Sydney's opening two practice games and make his debut for the club on the first weekend of next month.
There had been speculation Everitt would take part in Sydney's traditional season-opener at North Sydney Oval, against Collingwood on February 16. Swans coach Paul Roos, however, confirmed yesterday his new ruckman would not play in that fixture, nor in the team's opening-round NAB Cup game against the Western Bulldogs the week after.
Roos said Everitt was scheduled to play his first game a week later. If the Swans beat the Bulldogs in their cup game, they will play the winner of the St Kilda-Brisbane game on March 2. Should they lose, they will play the loser of the Geelong-Richmond game on March 3 in Canberra.
"Spida probably wants to play a little bit earlier and there will probably be a little bit more debate go on about that, but given your restrictions on the interchange with the NAB Cup, it's … hard to introduce a guy and say he can only play 40 or 50 minutes, because if someone gets injured, you are forced to play them," Roos said.
"So, sometimes you are putting players at jeopardy by playing them in the NAB Cup because there is only six on the interchange. If there were eight, he might be a chance … I'd say he'll play the week after."
Asked if there was a temptation to give Everitt, who had ankle surgery in the off-season, a run at North Sydney Oval, Roos replied: "I'm sure he's probably tempted to do it, but there's still a fair way to go. Look, there's always a temptation to play them … they are always competitive and they always want to play, but you've got to be mindful of what they can and can't do and how long there still is to go."