Swans forwards need to lift: Goodes - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Swans forwards need to lift: Goodes

By Adrian Warren 08/04/2010 07:37:49 PM Comments (0)

It's not what struggling Richmond wants to hear, but Sydney star Adam Goodes says the Swans' new-look forward line has got a lot of improvement left heading into Saturday's AFL clash at the SCG.

The Tigers are running last on the ladder following beltings by 56 and 72-points at the hands of Carlton and the Western Bulldogs respectively.

Sydney's new-look forward line, which includes prize recruit Daniel Bradshaw alongside Goodes and youngster Jesse White as their three talls, has made a promising start.

A 13-goal opening round tally against the notoriously miserly St Kilda defence in a narrow loss was followed up by an 18-goal fusillade against the Crows in Adelaide.

However, Sydney's three talls have accounted for just over 25 per cent of their goals so far, with Goodes booting four majors, Bradshaw three and White one.

With ruckmen Mark Seaby and Shane Mumford taking turns up forward and a number of smaller players flitting in and out of the forward line, the Swans boast a very different attack half to the Barry Hall-Michael O'Loughlin duopoly of recent years.

Saturday's match will represent the first time the Swans' new-look forward set-up will get to strut their stuff on the SCG.

Goodes, who shifted from the midfield to centre half-forward late last season, said the three talls were still getting to used to their roles.

"Our forward line have got a lot of improvement, myself, Jesse and Braddy haven't really been kicking the majority of goals, which has been a great thing for our forward line," Goodes told reporters at the SCG on Thursday.

"It makes it unpredictable for opposition defences.

"It would be nice for us keys to kick a lot more goals and get involved a little bit more.

"Saturday night back on the SCG, if we can get that forward line really clicking over that would be really great."

Sydney coach Paul Roos said he wasn't expecting Brisbane premiership winner Bradshaw to kick 60 to 80 goals a season and wanted him to play more of a team-orientated role.

"We got him here to be the Mickey O'Loughlin type, Mickey's greatest asset was to bring other players into the game and I think that's what Braddy has done already in the first two games," Roos told reporters.

"Hopefully the way we structure up, we won't rely on a Braddy or a Goodesy to kick six or seven."

Roos believed the composition of his side would eradicate any chance of complacency against the Tigers.

He felt the six recruits and smattering of younger players chosen for the first two rounds would still be trying to cement their places in the team.

Richmond midfielder Ben Cousins returns from injury after missing last week and Roos feels he's far from a spent force.

"We're certainly aware that Ben has still got a lot to offer the football club and he can still turn a game of football," he said.

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